During the 57th Annual Convention of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, the association announced its new board of directors and officers who will serve during the next 12 months.

Jud Snyder, president of BMO Harris Equipment Finance, is the new chairman of the board and Martha Ahlers, president of United Leasing & Finance, is now chairman-elect. The chairman-elect and new board members were recommended by ELFA’s nominating committee and approved by a vote of the general membership.

In his current position at BMO, Snyder is responsible for leading the growth and development of one of the largest equipment finance companies in the industry. He also serves as BMO’s Senior Executive for Southeast Wisconsin. Snyder joined BMO in 1994 and has held roles in credit, sales, specialized industries and sales management within both the commercial bank and the equipment finance company.

An active participant in ELFA, Snyder has served on the ELFA board of directors since 2011. In addition to his current position on the ELFA board, Snyder serves on ELFA’s Executive, Audit, Nominating and Personnel Committees. He previously served as board treasurer, board liaison to the association’s Emerging Talent Advisory Council and Chair of the Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Jud Snyder’s industry knowledge, experience and insight as chairman of the Board of Directors for 2019,” said ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta. “Jud’s vision and leadership skills combined with his commitment to our association will be tremendous assets to the ELFA membership and the industry at large in the coming year.”

“We all recognize the critically important work that ELFA does as the voice of our industry, and with that in mind, taking on the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors is truly a tremendous honor,” said Snyder. “Our economy is strong, and that’s in no small part due to the confidence of business owners, large and small, and the investments they are making in their businesses. I know I speak on behalf of all ELFA members when I share the pride we have in doing our part to help them finance their growth plans, and in doing so, continuing to fuel the engine of our economy.”

The newly elected members of the ELFA board of directors include:

• Conrad Eimers, president, Vision Financial Group
• Willis Kleinjan, founder and CEO, Northland Capital Equipment Finance
• Dan Krajewski, president and CEO, Sertant Capital
• David Normandin, president & CEO, Wintrust Specialty Finance
• Deb Reuben, president, Reuben Creative
• Dave Walton, president and CEO, Caterpillar Financial Services

The following individuals were elected by the membership to serve as ELFA vice chairs:

• Larry Smilie, managing director, Banc of America Leasing
• Kris Snow, president, Cisco Capital, Cisco Systems Capital
• Mike DiCecco, president, Huntington Equipment Finance

Robert Boyer, president, BB&T Commercial Equipment Capital, will serve as treasurer and Paul Stilp, ELFA’s chief financial and operating officer, as secretary. Ralph Petta, ELFA president and CEO, is an ex-officio officer, and Dave Schaefer, CEO, Mintaka Financial is immediate past chairman.

Other members of the board include:

• Jennifer Coyle, division director, Corporate Asset Finance Resources, Macquarie Corporate and Asset Finance
• James Cress, vice president and general manager, Stryker Flex Financial
• Brett Davis, president, CNH Industrial Capital
• Dave Fate, president and CEO, Stonebriar Commercial Finance
• Marjorie Krumholz, partner, Thompson Coburn
• Matthew LeSage, chief commercial officer, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
• Brian Madison, president, Trinity Industries Leasing
• Robert Neagle, president, Merchant Finance, Ascentium Capital
• Amy Nelson, president, Global Healthcare & Clean Technology
• Daniel Nelson, president, Tamarack
• Alan Sikora, CEO, First American Equipment Finance, and RBC/City National Company