The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association scheduled ELFA 2020 Business Live!, a virtual learning and networking conference for all equipment finance professionals, on Oct. 27 and 28. This online event will replace the in-person ELFA Annual Convention originally scheduled to take place in Austin, TX.

In a video message to members, Martha Ahlers, board chair of the ELFA, and Ralph Petta, president and CEO of the ELFA, explained that ELFA’s board of directors and professional staff have been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and, after talking to members and weighing a number of factors, decided that a virtual event is in the best interest of everyone involved.

“A lot has changed in the past few months,” Ahlers, president of United Leasing & Finance, said. “It’s more important than ever for us to come together as a community to connect, exchange insights and prepare for what’s coming next. I’m really looking forward to ELFA 2020 Business Live! and encourage as many members as possible to attend.”

“These are extraordinary times as the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grip our nation,” Petta said. “We are designing ELFA 2020 Business Live! as a one-of-a-kind gathering for the entire membership and we hope a wide range of members will take advantage of this truly unique opportunity. In addition to our regular ELFA Annual Convention attendees, we hope to see a lot of new faces, including those who planned to attend other events that were cancelled this year, and those who’ve never attended an ELFA convention.”

At ELFA 2020 Business Live! participants will learn and network on an interactive virtual platform. The two-day agenda will include expert keynote speakers, focused breakout sessions, networking opportunities, an online exhibit hall and more. Participants will have access a range of benefits, including:

• No plane tickets or hotel rooms required — attend from anywhere.
• Drastically discounted registration fees and expanded content, so that industry members representing a wide range of job responsibilities and experience levels can attend.
• Formal and informal virtual networking opportunities.
• Targeted sessions and interactive discussions with experts on industry hot topics.
• Access to recorded sessions for a full year following the event. Attendees can participate in real-time or watch sessions on-demand
• A multimedia exhibit hall featuring the latest business solutions.

More details about ELFA 2020 Business Live!, including registration information, will be announced in the coming weeks. Watch a video message and access a list of frequently asked questions here