STRIPES Leadership Program celebrated 18 STRIPES leaders on Feb. 6 during its commencement ceremony. The graduates are:

• Parker Anderson, senior account manager, Channel
• Eric Bush, design manager, LEAF Commercial Capital
• Andrew DiBari, managing director – syndication, Element Fleet Management
• Janet Duffy, operations/credit and administration manager, Eastern Funding
• Jessica Edelist, director, human resources, Dakota Financial
• Catherine Lee, senior marketing manager, commercial division, EverBank
• Diana Lim, director, operations and client experience, Meridian OneCap
• Jaclyn Miller, collection manager, LEAF Commercial Capital
• Christina Miller, director, front end IT applications, LEAF Commercial Capital
• Brennen Peever, director, national accounts and business development, Meridian OneCap
• Jose Peña, documentation team leader, Eastern Funding
• Samantha Powell, assistant vice president, funding, Eastern Funding
• Lee Ritter, sales leader
• Anthony Ruggiere, assistant vice president, credit, Wintrust Commercial Finance
• Pierina Silvestre, assistant vice president, IT, North Mill Equipment Finance
• Kale Tissue, director, events and operations, National Equipment Finance Association
• Ryuta Tsubura, assistant sales manager, LEAF Commercial Capital
• Mel Vinson, vice president, marketing and development, Certified Lease & Finance Professional Foundation

The ceremony commenced with an inspiring keynote address titled “Your Journey Toward Transformative Leadership,” delivered by Bill Stephenson, global CEO of PEAC Solutions. Stephenson emphasized four foundational elements of transformative leadership: identifying top talent, building and leading effective teams, prioritizing customer centricity and fostering transformative innovation.

“Our STRIPES team is extremely proud of our recent graduates as they experienced the power of transformation over these last 10 months,” Lisa Rafter, CEO and founder of STRIPES Leadership Program, said. “Participants uncovered blind spots, reframed limiting beliefs, delivered on breakthrough projects, coached and counseled each other, expanded their industry networks and developed themselves as leaders with the ability to create new possibilities for themselves, their teams and the future of the industry.”

“STRIPES has given me the ability to define and redefine my leadership strengths. The key insights I’ve gained from industry leaders have helped me develop a greater sense of daily purpose and intention in all aspects of my role,” Lee said. “Learning from and alongside the incredibly talented group of peers in my cohort has been the most positive highlight of the program and delivered the most impact.”

“Throughout STRIPES I have been able to learn from some of the best leaders in our industry,” Ruggiere said. “STRIPES has pushed me to grow as an employee and a person.”