Industry leader Mike DiCecco, executive managing director at Huntington Asset Finance, will lead a Master Talk on Driving the Industry Forward — Association Involvement and Leadership for STRIPES Leadership Program, the professional and personal leadership development program designed to challenge and inspire best-in-class leaders within the equipment finance industry in partnership with the Monitor.

This Master Talk will provide tangible insights on how careers and businesses have been created, broadened and accelerated through engagement with the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. Getting involved in the ELFA provides tools, resources and advocacy opportunities necessary to create real change for member businesses and individual careers.

“It is important to discuss and explore industry engagement, advocacy and the power of building strong networks and peer relationships to grow and transform your business,” DiCecco said.

STRIPES Leadership Program is a 10-month, rich and unique leadership development experience. STRIPES includes a mixture of several components, including Master Talks, Master Workshops, a Mentor/Mentee program, a three-day Breakthrough Intensive program with educational partner Gap International and a Living Leadership Development Plan. The first cohort will launch in September 2021, kicking off a transformative journey to leadership advancement. The curriculum is designed to present opportunities for participants to expand both personally and professionally to enhance their leadership potential.

“As an industry, we are constantly exploring new ways to innovate and disrupt traditional models,” Lisa Rafter, CEO and founder of STRIPES Leadership Program, said. “In Mike’s Master Talk, participants will learn how to add more value, increase successes and drive the equipment leasing and finance industry forward through industry engagement, advocacy and networking.”

DiCecco is the executive managing director of Huntington Bank’s asset finance business, which includes asset-based lending, equipment and technology finance, public capital, renewable energy, premium finance and lender finance. DiCecco, along with a group of colleagues, established Huntington’s equipment finance capabilities in 2001 after starting his career at Star Bank (now known as US Bank) in 1988. Over the last 30 years, DiCecco has earned increasing responsibilities in equipment finance and commercial banking, including leading Huntington’s commercial bank for northeast Ohio from 2005 to 2008.

Active in the industry and community, DiCecco has served on the ELFA’s membership committee and Financial Institutions Business Council. From 2014 to 2017, he served on the ELFA board of directors and executive committee. DiCecco rejoined the ELFA board of directors in 2018 and is currently chair-elect. He is also on the board of the Boys and Girls Club in Cleveland and is an active fundraiser for cancer research through Pelotonia.