The National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) concluded its 2026 Spring Conference, bringing together 430 industry professionals from across the equipment finance and leasing community.
The conference began with purpose at Compass for Change, the NEFA Foundation’s philanthropic event. Participants assembled weekend meals for children facing food insecurity while raising funds for the NEFA Foundation, Blessings in a Backpack and the Chris Walker Education Fund.
Throughout the week, 59 exhibitors and 51 sponsors showcased the latest tools, technologies and financial solutions, helping attendees explore new ways to enhance operations, credit strategies, and capital access. The official kickoff event, Kickstart & Connect, encouraged early networking and involvement in NEFA’s committees and community groups.
A highlight of the opening day included the Women in Leasing Luncheon, which celebrated leadership, fostered connection and highlighted the growing impact of women across the equipment finance and leasing sector.
Educational programming began with a session from Elliot Eisenberg, whose presentation, “The U.S. Economy: Remarkably Resilient,” delivered an insightful look into economic trends, including GDP performance, inflation, labor markets, interest rates and construction outlooks.
The conference also celebrated professional achievement with the CLFP Toast & Photo, recognizing individuals who earned the Certified Lease & Finance Professional designation.
The conference recognized outstanding contributions to the industry, including honoring Shari Lipski, CLFP, principal at ECS Financial Services, with NEFA’s Significant Contribution Award. This recognition celebrates her long-standing commitment to advancing the equipment finance industry, her leadership with the Women In Leasing Committee and her meaningful impact within the NEFA community.
Day two continued with engagement through Membership Roundtables, where attendees participated in peer-driven discussions on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. The keynote address by Chad Williams, “SEVEN: Battle-Tested SEAL Team Leadership Protocols,” provided real-world leadership insights drawn from high-stakes military experience. His message resonated deeply, offering practical strategies for decision-making, accountability and performance under pressure.
Afternoon programming featured specialized education tracks, including a hands-on workshop on developing effective value propositions and the continuation of the Professional Broker/Lessor Education Series. The Legal Insights panel addressed timely topics such as artificial intelligence, bankruptcy navigation and litigation best practices.
The conference concluded with a Boat Cruise networking event, where attendees gathered for an evening of connection, music and celebration.
