Randy Haug, senior vice president and co-founder of LeaseTeam, received the Chris Walker Memorial Member of the Year Award from the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) at its annual business meeting held in Washington, DC during its 2012 Funding Symposium.

The Member of the Year Award is bestowed by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of NEFA to individuals whose service to the association exemplifies the volunteer driven spirit of the group. Past recipients of the award include Tara Aasand, of Great American Insurance, in 2010; and Chris Walker, of GreatAmerica Leasing, in 2011.

“Randy Haug, like the recipients before him, has been a tireless driver and advocate for NEFA, both formally, through elected service on our Board of Directors, and through generous donations of his time and expertise to other members,” said Gerry Egan, executive director of NEFA. “The award was renamed this year to honor Chris Walker, who passed away in 2011,” said Egan.

“NEFA has always felt like a family to all members” said NEFA president, Hugh Swandel, of the Alta Group, “and it was a great pleasure to have Chris Walker’s wife and daughter join us as we presented the Chris Walker Memorial Member of the Year Award for the first time. Madeline and Jean will always be part of the NEFA family and we were all so glad they could attend.”

Randy Haug said, “It was humbling and great honor to be named by my peers as the 2012 Member of the Year for the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA). It was especially significant to me personally to be presented this award by my friend Chris Enbom, of Allegiant Partners, while sharing the stage with my good friend and mentor, Chris Walker’s lovely wife Jean and daughter Maddie, who traveled to be with us in DC, and whom this award is named after. The legacy that Chris Walker left for all of us, that I try to follow, is to give back for the greater good of all NEFA members and our industry through volunteering your time and efforts toward education, governance and most of all through participation that benefits all member and their companies in the NEFA. I sincerely appreciate being nominated and receiving this year’s award as there are so many deserving NEFA members for an award such as this.”