The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association announced its new board of directors and officers who will serve during the next 12 months at its 58th annual convention. Martha Ahlers, president of United Leasing & Finance, is the new ELFA board chair and Kris Snow, president, Cisco Systems Capital, is now chair-elect. The chair-elect and new board members were recommended by ELFA’s Nominating Committee and approved by a vote of the general membership.

Ahlers has more than two decades of commercial leasing and finance experience. She joined United Leasing & Finance in 1996. In her current role as president, her areas of direct involvement include sales, risk management, marketing, credit, operations and human resources. Prior to her promotion to president, she served as vice president & chief operating officer.

An active participant in ELFA, Ahlers has served on the ELFA board of directors since 2014. In addition to her current position on the ELFA board, Ahlers is a member of ELFA’s Executive, Nominating and Personnel Committees. She previously served on the Fair Business Practices Committee. From 2015 to 2016, Ahlers was chair of LeasePAC, ELFA’s nonpartisan federal political action committee.

Ahlers also has been active with the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. In 2018, she served as the ELFA board liaison to the foundation. She has contributed to multiple foundation studies, including “State of the Equipment Finance Industry” and “U.S. Equipment Finance Market Study.” She also has participated in the Industry Future Council and supports the foundation as a donor.

Outside of ELFA, Ahlers has been involved in numerous civic and community organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley board of directors, Evansville Executive Forum and the Tri-State MS Association board of directors.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Martha Ahlers as chair of the board of directors for 2020,” said ELFA president and CEO Ralph Petta. “Martha’s proven leadership skills, industry knowledge and dedication to our association will have a positive impact on both the ELFA membership and the equipment finance industry at large in the coming year.”

“I am honored to take on the role of ELFA board chair,” said Ahlers. “The $1 trillion equipment finance industry plays a critical role in the U.S. economy. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, the staff and all the members to advance our association’s important work in support of our great industry and the people who drive it.”

The 2020 ELFA Board of Directors are:

• Mike DiCecco, President, Huntington Equipment Finance (Vice-Chair)
• Bob Neagle, President, Merchant Finance, Ascentium Capital (Vice-Chair)
• Robert Boyer, President, Merchant Finance, BB&T Commercial Equipment Capital (Treasurer)
• Paul Stilp, ELFA’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer (Secretary)
• Ralph Petta, ELFA President and CEO (Ex-Officio Officer)
• Jud Snyder, President, BMO Harris Equipment Finance Company (Immediate Past Chair)
• Deb Baker, Head of Worldwide Leasing & Financing, HP
• Maureen Carr, Managing Director, Pacific Western Bank
• Nate Gibbons, COO, Innovation Finance USA
• Alan Mogol, Shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Tom Rutherford, President, Crestmark Equipment Finance
• Jennifer Coyle, Executive Director, Macquarie Corporate and Asset Finance
• Brett D. Davis, President, CNH Industrial Capital
• Conrad J. Eimers, President, Vision Financial Group
• Dave B. Fate, President & CEO, Stonebriar Commercial Finance
• Willis Kleinjan, Founder and CEO, Northland Capital Equipment Finance
• Daniel J. Krajewski, President & Chief Executive Officer, Sertant Capital
• Amy Nelson, US President Healthcare, Clean Technology and Technology Solutions, DLL
• Daniel D. Nelson, President, Tamarack
• David A. Normandin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
• Deborah J. Reuben, President, Reuben Creative
• Alan Sikora, CEO, First American Equipment Finance
• David T. Walton, President & CEO, Caterpillar Financial Services