ELFA announces new board of directors

During the 62nd Annual Convention of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the association announced its new Board of Directors and Officers who will serve during the next 12 months.

Rob Boyer, CLFP, President, First Commonwealth Equipment Finance, was named the new ELFA Board Chair and James Cress, Vice President & General Manager, Stryker Flex Financial, is now Chair-Elect.

The Chair-Elect and new Board members were recommended by ELFA’s Nominating Committee and approved by a vote of the general membership.

“I am profoundly honoured to assume the role of ELFA Chair, and I consider it a privilege to represent our esteemed member companies, the dedicated Board of Directors and the exceptional ELFA staff,” said Boyer.

“ELFA has consistently demonstrated its commitment to delivering substantial value to its members. We remain steadfast in our mission of equipping business for success, particularly as we navigate a dynamic landscape marked by rapid change and uncertainty, both in the broader economy and within our own association. As we prepare for new leadership at the staff level, I am confident that our collective dedication and vision will guide us to continued success.”

“ELFA is fortunate to have a leader like Rob Boyer as Chair of the Board of Directors for 2024,” said ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta. “Rob’s industry expertise, his track record as a volunteer and his commitment to our association will benefit both our membership and the broader industry in the upcoming year.”

Boyer has worked in the equipment finance industry since 1995. He is currently President of First Commonwealth Equipment Finance, a division of First Commonwealth Bank. Most recently, he was Senior Director and Senior Vice President at TCF Capital Solutions, a division of TCF Bank. Prior to that, he was the President of BB&T Commercial Equipment Capital Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), now Truist.

An active member volunteer, Boyer has served on the ELFA Board of Directors since 2012. He held the position of Board Treasurer from 2016-2020, has chaired the Board’s Audit and Investment Committees and is a current member of the Executive Committee. In addition, Boyer has chaired the ELFA Membership Committee and Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee. In 2017 he was awarded the David H. Fenig Distinguished Service in Advocacy Award in recognition of his contributions to the association’s advocacy efforts to promote sound public policies for the equipment finance industry.

In addition, Boyer has supported the work of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation as a generous donor and contributor to industry research. Boyer also has served as a Director for the Certified Leasing and Finance Professional Foundation (CLFP).

The newly elected members of the 2024 ELFA Board of Directors include:

Jeffry Elliott, CLFP, President, Huntington Equipment Finance
Katie Emmel, COO, Solifi
Randy Haug, Executive Vice President, Vice Chairman & Co-Founder, LTi Technology Solutions
Mathew Iacobucci, SVP – Head of Bank Markets, U.S. Bank
Christopher Johnson, SVP & President, Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services
Michelle Speranza, CLFP, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer, LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
Stephen White, Executive Vice President, Stonebriar Commercial Finance

The following individuals were elected by the membership to serve as ELFA Vice Chairs: Deborah Baker, Head of Worldwide Leasing and Financing, HP Inc. and Nathan Gibbons, CLFP, Chief Experience Officer, QuickFi by Innovation Finance USA LLC.

RJ Grimshaw will serve as Treasurer, while Ed Rosen, ELFA’s Director of Governance, will serve as Secretary and Bob Neagle, President and CEO of Finova Capital, LLC, is Immediate Past Chair.

Other members of the Board are:

Jon Biorkman, Head, BMO Equipment Finance, BMO
Kathleen Canum, Senior Vice President, Administration, Canon Financial Services, Inc.
Debra Devassy Babu, Shareholder, Darcy & Devassy PC
David Drury, Head of Commercial Specialty Lending, Fifth Third Bank, National Association
Brian Eschmann, CLFP, President, Northland Capital Equipment Finance
Eric Gross, COO, Dext Capital
Michael Jones, President, Equipment Finance, First Citizens Bank Equipment Finance
Brad Peterson, CEO, Channel
Kirk Phillips, President & CEO, Wintrust Commercial Finance
Michael Romanowski, CoBank Enterprise Leader, Cash Management, Farm Credit Leasing
Jayma Sandquist, Chief Marketing Officer, SVP JDF US & CA, John Deere Financial
Nick Small, VP, Finance Shared Services, Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
Robert Wax, Co-President, Kingsbury Wax Bova
Bruce Winter, CLFP, President, FSG Capital, Inc.