In a news release regarding NEFA’s 2013 National Equipment Finance Summit that was held recently in Albuquerque, executive director Gerry Egan, noted, “I’m very pleased with the conference. Our turnout hit exactly what we budgeted and planned.”

NEFA said the conference brought together equipment finance business originators, funding sources and other service providers for a fast paced combination of educational breakout sessions, table-top exhibits and lots of networking and socializing.

Chairperson for the event was Jesse Johnson, of LeaseTeam. “This was a great event to plan and put on,” said Johnson. “I enjoyed getting to work with some good friends and make some new friends as we put together the content for our conference attendees.”

NEFA president, John Rosenlund, of Portfolio Financial Servicing, said, “Long time members of the former UAEL have good memories of prior conferences in Albuquerque and it was good to see some of them who have not been as active at conferences in recent years attending this one. We’re also very pleased that we continue to attract first time attendees to our events.”

While thanking the largest number of sponsors NEFA’s had for a conference, Rosenlund also announced that the chairperson for NEFA’s 2013 Funding Symposium, to be held October 10-12, in Nashville, Tennessee, will be Stephanie Hall, of Bryn Mawr Funding.

NEFA said that during the opening reception on Thursday evening, and again during lunch on Friday, Summit attendees were treated to both the close up magic and the mind reading skills of Shawn Preston. He showed some attendees how easily rabbits can multiply right in their own hands during the reception and the next day, during lunch, emphasized the importance of some critical business practices while correctly predicting an ideal equipment finance transaction randomly put together by three different participants.

Egan added: “About a hundred of our attendees signed up for one of our add-on events on Friday night. I wondered, while we were putting them on the busses, if I was out of my mind sending a bunch of equipment finance people to an event that included a tequila tasting and a casino visit, but everyone made it back —and with most of their money still in their pockets!”

Egan also said, “Some of our attendees took advantage of discounts we arranged for hot air balloon rides. Among the adventurers were, Barry Marks, of Marks & Weinberg; Bob Cohen, of Moritt Hock & Hamroff; Kami Stehman, of Quiktrak; and Matt Padden, of Padco Financial Services, and his wife, Stacy.

NEFA said the conference wrapped up Saturday afternoon with two of the highest rated sessions of the conference. Following the final sessions were some prize drawings. Among the winners was Gabe Jarnot, of Northland Capital Financial Services, who was presented with an Apple iPad Mini and accessory package by prize sponsor Michael Smith, of RTR Services.