In January, AP Equipment Financing introduced a Certified Lease & Finance Professional prep program to both AP Equipment Financing and Tokyo Century USA employees with the purpose of preparing and teaching CLFP exam content to those interested in getting their CLFP designation. As part of the initiative, AP Equipment Financing formed a CLFP committee consisting of veteran leaders at the company who previously passed the CLFP exam. This committee led a six-month course, with each department leading workshops to help students prepare for the exam, basing the workshop content off the CLFP handbook.

Through AP Equipment Financing’s prep program and the CLFP Foundation’s Academy for Lease & Finance Professionals, AP has added 10 new CLFPs this year. With this new class of CLFPs, AP Equipment Financing now has 25 employees with CLFP designations, representing 25% of the company.

“Thanks to our cohorts at AP, TCUSA’s inaugural class graduated five new CLFPs after attending the prep program and the ALFP,” Adam Ramirez, CLFP, executive vice president and chief risk officer of Tokyo Century USA, said. “TCUSA’s management believes AP and TCUSA benefit tremendously from having employees apply their CLFP knowledge every day. The CLFP provides a common bond for our two companies as we work towards mutual goals. Interested employees looking to grow in their job as well as into other jobs are being encouraged to pursue this path to excellence.”

“AP has always had a great relationship with the CLFP Foundation,” Nick Fong, who attained his CLFP designation in 2015 and serves as head of the CLFP committee within AP alongside his roles as chief marketing officer and chief technology officer, said. “Many of our executives and managers have attained their CLFP and AP believes that the CLFP designation truly distinguishes the best and brightest within the equipment finance industry. We are extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish in our inaugural prep course and have learned a lot in the process. We look forward to preparing many more future CLFPs with this new program.”

AP Equipment Financing has encouraged employees to obtain their CLFP designation since 2008, demonstrating more than 14 years of commitment to upholding a higher standard of professionalism in the equipment leasing industry. In addition to offering the CLFP prep program, the company also covers 100% of the costs of the ALFP, materials and exam fees for employees interested in obtaining the designation.