The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association will hold the inaugural ELFA Equity Forum from Nov. 6-7, 2022 in Washington, D.C., to celebrate and advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the equipment finance industry. Industry professionals representing all DEI categories, allies and those interested in creating inclusivity in their organizations, are encouraged to attend.

“The Equity Forum will be a welcoming and safe space to discuss what we collectively can do to advance equity in our work, our industry and our world,” Scott Thacker, CPA, CLFP, founding chair of the equity committee at the ELFA, said. “I’m most looking forward to bringing together people from throughout our industry and witnessing the synergy and plans to increase a focus on DEI that result. We hope you’ll join us on Nov. 6-7!’”

The Equity Forum agenda will cover a range of DEI topics, all organized around the theme “Be Comfortable. Be Who You Are.” Sessions will be offered in a variety of formats to create a place for meaningful conversation, balancing both learning and dialogue. The goal is to provide a forum to discuss strategies that can influence corporate social responsibility and broaden cross-cultural understanding.

Highlights from the agenda include:

• Keynote: You Don’t Have a Diversity Problem, You Have a Leadership Problem with holistic leadership strategist Ginny Clarke, former director of executive Recruiting at Google
• Ask a Diversity Leader Panel
• Crucial Conversations: Creating a DEI Focus and Launching DEI Initiatives in Your Business.
• This is Me: The Transformational Power of Telling Your Own Story
• Roundtable Discussions
• Multiple networking opportunities, including a “Get to Know You” Session, People Power Reception, Dine-Around and Networking Luncheon

Planning Committee

ELFA recognized the members of the 2022 Equity Committee who are helping to plan the Equity Forum, including:

• Scott Thacker, CPA, CLFP, Chief Executive Officer, Ivory Consulting Corporation (Committee Chair)
• Michael Baez, VP, Professional Services and Customer Strategy, Leasepath
• Deborah Baker, Head of Worldwide Leasing and Financing, HP Inc. (Women’s Council Liaison)
• Bruce Brandon, Executive Vice President, Middle Market Leasing, BankFinancial, NA
• David Cramer, CLFP, IT Systems Administrator Amur Equipment Finance
• Linda D’Amico, Sr Director, Global Lead Cisco Refresh, Cisco Capital Compliance, Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
• Julia Gavrilov, Partner, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
• Benjamin Grove, Legislative Director, Thompson Coburn LLP
• Christopher Johnson, SVP & President, Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services
• Martin Klotzman, Senior Manager, Marketing and Product Management, Ivory Consulting Corporation (Emerging Talent Advisory Council Liaison)
• Eric McGriff, SVP – Chief Risk Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
• Stuart Papavassiliou, Copywriter, LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
• Ricardo A. Rios, President & CEO, Commercial Equipment Finance, Inc. (ELFA Board Liaison)
• Sean Scampton, Director of Sales & Marketing, Leasepath
• Delroy Stauffer, CLFP, Senior Manager, Business Development, Odessa
• Motofumi Tohda, Vice President / Information Systems, Tokyo Century (USA) Inc.
• Ernest Tsorvas, Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, Fifth Third Bank
• Amy Weum, Regional Vice President, Farm Credit Leasing