Whether or not you identify as diverse, we invite you to join us at the 2022 ELFA Equity Forum – the first forum of its kind for the equipment finance industry! As you’ll see, the exciting agenda features a DEI-focused holistic leadership strategist as our keynote speaker, several hot-topic sessions, an “Ask A DEI Leader Panel” and many interactive networking opportunities, all organized around the theme, “Be Comfortable. Be Who You Are.”
This event is designed for people who identify as diverse, or as an ally. It will spark new ideas and provide inspiration and tools to help you move forward and thrive in your professional career. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to meet other people like yourself, learn tips on how to succeed as a diverse person, think about ways to recruit other diverse people to the equipment finance industry, be an outstanding ally or build your professional network, this event is for you.
Whether you see yourself as being diverse or as an ally, whether you are early in your career or have worked many years, we encourage you to participate.
Who Should Attend?
This event is open to all DEI categories and allies. Our goal is to provide a forum to discuss strategies that can influence corporate social responsibility and broaden cross-cultural understanding. There is no limit on the number of attendees.
Get Maximum Exposure for Your Company…Become a Sponsor!
Align your brand with the best in the industry! Expand your commitment, influence, and visibility to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Sponsoring this important event provides excellent exposure for your company. See the next page for details and contact Steve Wafalosky at stevew@larichadv.com or (440) 247-1060 for more information.
Registration Fees
| Price Description |
Amount |
| 1st Person Attendee - Member Company |
$249.00 |
| Additional Attendee - Member |
$249.00 |
| Member Price |
$249.00 |
| Non Mem Attendee |
$249.00 |
View cancellation and other policies
Available Functions
| Sunday - November 06 |
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Speakers
Ginny Clarke
Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google
Leading Authorities
Ginny Clarke was Director, Executive Recruiting at Google from August 2016 until November 2020. In this role, she led the Diversity, Internal Mobility and the Non-tech Recruiting teams. Her team of North American recruiters found and hired senior leaders (Directors +) for finance, sales, marketing and other G&A functions across Google.
She recently left to pursue her own business of consulting, speaking, podcasting and writing. Her podcast, Fifth Dimensional Leadership is for leaders, thinkers and future-makers dedicated to creating the conscious workplace of tomorrow.
Before Google, Ginny was a Partner at Spencer Stuart, the global executive search firm, based in Chicago. For 12 years, she worked in the firm’s Financial Services and Financial Officer Practices, and co-founded and led Spencer Stuart’s Global Diversity Practice. She left Spencer Stuart to write a book titled Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work, which was published in 2011. The book provides a framework that empowers individuals to plot and assess their professional competencies, and strategically navigate their careers.
After the book was published, Ginny ran her own executive search and talent management firm for 3 years before becoming a Senior Partner for Executive Search in the U.S. at Knightsbridge, a Canadian human capital solutions firm.
Ginny started her career in banking at First National Bank of Chicago (now Chase). After a short stint, she spent a number of years in the real estate investment management business with Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) and Prudential Real Estate Investors. Her responsibilities included asset management, portfolio management, capital raising and client servicing.
She earned her BA in French and Linguistics from the University of California at Davis, and her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. Ginny is the single mother of an adult son, Julian, who works in the entertainment industry.
Linda D'Amico
Executive Director
Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
Melissa Donaldson
Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer
Wintrust Capital
Melissa Donaldson is the first chief diversity officer at Wintrust, where she partners with leadership to establish diversity and inclusion strategies for business success, employee engagement, and positioning Wintrust as an employer of choice and responsible corporate citizen. She established the ubiquitous One Wintrust masthead as a unifying guidepost, established the annual executive diversity forum assembling internal top executives, and launched Paired to Win to accelerate the development of a multicultural senior leadership bench. Known among practitioners as iconic in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, Melissa served as director of diversity networks and communication for Walgreens, and CDW’s first director of inclusion practices. Her leadership resulted in CDW earning the Exemplary Voluntary Efforts Award from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2008, and spearheading the award-winning Walgreens Diversity & Inclusion Annual Report, establishing regional diversity councils nationwide, and creating the inaugural WBA Global Executive Women’s Conference.
Crain’s Chicago Business named Melissa one of the Top Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executives in 2021. She has published work in Profiles in Diversity Journal, Diversity Executive, and Workforce Management magazines and is a frequent speaker for numerous organizations and conferences, including the Northwestern Intersections podcast and Career Mix on SiriusXM satellite radio. Other accolades include Diversity Woman Magazine Elite 100 Black Women Leaders, Chicago United Business Leaders of Color, Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Diversity Executives, Crain’s Chicago Business Most Influential Women in Commercial Banking, Women Worth Watching by Profiles in Diversity Journal, and Diversity Officer Leadership Award recipient from Diversity Best Practices.
Melissa holds Master of Science in Communication from Northwestern University, Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and Bachelor of Science in Management Science from Wright State University. She is a guest lecturer at Northwestern University, and serves on a variety of boards and councils including Chicago Sinfonietta, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, Financial Services Pipeline Steering Committee Co-Chair, Chicago United Leadership Council, and UCAN Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council. Melissa is a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow, and holds membership in the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Links, Inc.
Julia Gavrilov
Partner
Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
Julia Gavrilov concentrates her practice in equipment leasing, secured finance, asset-based lending and all areas of complex commercial litigation. On the transactional side, Ms. Gavrilov specializes in the drafting of equipment lease and loan documents in various secured financing transactions on behalf of secured lenders, banks and lessors, and in representing both buyers and sellers in syndication and capital market transactions. Based on her steady rise throughout the leasing and finance industry, Ms. Gavrilov has been invited to speak on numerous industry panels, including the Legal Forum for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the ELFA Annual Convention, the ELFA Credit & Collections conference and the National Equipment Finance Association’s Finance Summit.
As a seasoned litigator, Ms. Gavrilov’s commercial litigation practice includes the enforcement and/or preservation of lender/lessor’s rights under defaulted equipment lease and secured loan transactions, and in regularly representing both institutional and individual clients in actions involving breach of contract, fraud, shareholder derivative disputes, trademark infringement, counterfeiting, trade diversion, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), attorney malpractice and bankruptcyrelated disputes before the Federal and State courts, as well as various arbitral bodies.
In addition to her daily practice, Ms. Gavrilov also Chairs the Firm’s Women’s Initiative program: “MHH WINS” – “Women’s Initiative for Navigating Success”, and serves as a member of the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Education:
- New York Law School, J.D. 2006
- Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A. 2002
Admissions:
Ms. Gavrilov is admitted to practice in New York, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Affiliations:
Ms. Gavrilov is a member of the American, New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations. She is also member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), where she serves on its Service Providers Business Council Steering Committee as well as on the Research Committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation. Additionally, Ms. Gavrilov is a member of the Secured Finance Network's (SFNet) Women in Secured Finance Committee, as well as a member of GGI-Worldwide Alliance of Independent Law Firms.
Recognitions:
- 2021 - Top Women in Equipment Finance (The Monitor)
- 2021 - NextGen Leader / 40 Under 40 (The Monitor)
- 2020 - SFNet Top Women In Commercial Finance
- 2020 - SFNet 40 Under 40 Award
Languages:
Russian
Lisa Haynes
CFO and DEI Officer
Mortgage Bankers Association
Lisa J. Haynes is Chief Financial Officer and Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the Mortgage Bankers Association
(MBA). As the Chief Financial Officer, Haynes is responsible for collecting, maintaining, and reporting accurate
financial information on behalf of the MBA as well as overseeing the Association's current financial structure. She
also works to ensure future financial stability for MBA through efficient budgeting and economic forecasting.
Haynes also serves as MBA's first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In this role, she serves as an executive-level
strategist partnering with the leaders of MBA's diversity and inclusion initiatives to promote a comprehensive
strategy that fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion within the real estate finance industry. In addition, she
collaborates Human Resources, to develop and implement plans, programs, and activities that educate and engage
employees on the value of diversity and the critical importance of inclusion.
Joseph Hernandez
Senior Director, HR, Inclusion & Diversity
Joseph Hernandez serves as Sr. Director of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity within the TIAA Human Resources division. As the Relationship Manager for TIAA’s Core Business supporting leaders and associates within Client Relationships, Product & Business Development, Office of the COO and TIAA Bank. His responsibilities include addressing issues and identifying ways in which programs and strategic initiatives are introduced and shared to add value to TIAA’s mission. In partnership with various units across the business, he builds opportunities to drive impact from data driven priorities that leverage Human Capital and associate talent. Prior to joining the ID&E team, Joseph served as Sr. Vice President and National CRA Officer for TIAA Bank where he leveraged more than 30 years of banking, business development, operations and regulatory compliance experience in the financial services industry. Joseph is a co-founding member of the Achieve BRG Male Ally Ambassador Program and serves on the TIAA Inclusion & Diversity Council Advisory Committee.
Joseph holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Dallas Baptist University. He is a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Program and has been named by the Dallas Business Journal as one of Dallas’ most influential leaders. He is a Certified Wealth Strategist and the recipient of the Fortune 500 Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever Award from the Hispanic Association on Corporate Social Responsibility in Washington, DC. He has served in leadership roles of various community-based and not for profit organizations across the country and currently serves on a number of local and national boards on behalf of TIAA in Texas, Florida and New York.
Christopher Johnson
SVP & President
Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services
As the leader of Financial Services (FS), Christopher has accountability for all aspects of the business including strategy, growth and operations. This includes strategic analysis in global markets, assessing current capabilities against future opportunities, determining priorities for investment, organizational development and business culture. In this role he is also responsible for payments and shipping finance for the enterprise.
Christopher has held multiple business leadership and C-level roles at leading companies and has a proven track record of developing effective business strategies to accelerate growth. Prior to joining Pitney Bowes in April of 2016, he was President, Terex Financial Services, a global captive financial services company with multi-billion dollar assets under management in over 30 countries. Before that, Christopher spent 15 years with GE in both the industrial and financial segments of their business. For 11 years of his tenure, he was with GE Capital holding a number of executive leadership positions in their international commercial and consumer banking organizations. Most notably he was Managing Director, GE Capital and Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance. Prior to GE, he also held M&A, corporate and business development roles of increasing responsibility at Lincoln Financial Group and Markowitz & McNaughton.
Christopher has a BA from Georgetown University. He also completed the executive professional development series at GE’s Jack Welch Executive Leadership Institute.
Stuart Papavassiliou
Copywriter
LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
Ralph Petta
Ralph Petta is the President and CEO of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the premier trade association representing 550+ member organizations in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. Mr. Petta leads the organization in executing its mission to foster business development, deliver industry information and analysis, provide educational opportunities and advocate for the industry. He is also President of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring thoughtful innovation and contributing to the betterment of the equipment leasing and finance industry.
Mr. Petta, an authority in the business of equipment finance, has been with the association since 1987. Before assuming the role of President and CEO in January 2016, he served as Chief Operating Officer for six years, providing coordination, direction and oversight of ELFA programs and services designed to add value to the association's member organizations. Prior to that, he served as Interim President. From 1987 to 2010 he was Vice President-Research & Industry Services, managing ELFA's information, benchmarking and market research initiatives. Throughout his career at ELFA, Mr. Petta has assumed leadership roles in virtually all functional areas within the organization, including governance, membership marketing, communications, business and professional development, state advocacy and the association's affiliated Foundation.
He is often quoted in industry trade publications and is a frequent speaker about the role of equipment finance in the U.S. economy and trends and developments in the equipment finance sector.
Mr. Petta is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), as well as ASAE's Key Industry Association Committee (KIAC). He completed the ASAE/University of Maryland College of Business and Management executive development certificate program in association management. He also was selected for and participated in the ASAE Future Leaders Conference. Mr. Petta is a member of the Exchequer Club of Washington, DC.
Before joining ELFA, Mr. Petta worked for nine years in the office of United States Senator Sam Nunn, serving in a variety of professional capacities. He was Senator Nunn's legislative assistant when he left to join the association. Mr. Petta graduated from Syracuse University, earning a B.A. degree in political science.
Nancy Robles
President
Eastern Funding LLC
Nancy Robles is Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Funding LLC where she is responsible for all of the company’s day-to-day operational and administrative functions.
Nancy joined Eastern Funding in 2005 from Fleet Healthcare Capital Leasing/Bank of America. During her tenure at Eastern Funding, she has managed the company’s operations functions including credit, compliance, documentation, funding, loan servicing, legal and work-out, and human resources.
Outside of Eastern Funding, she serves on the board of the Berkeley College Scholarship Foundation, The Coin Laundry Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Berkeley College MBA and Legal Studies Committees.
Nancy has been recognized by Monitor Magazine as a Top Woman in Equipment Finance for 2020. She has also been featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine.
Darlene Slaughter
VP,Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Officer
March of Dimes
Experienced Vice President with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Career Development, Analytical Skills, Coaching, and Diversity Education. Strong business development professional with a M.S focused in Human Resource Management/Organizational Development from American University.
Darlene is currently with the March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit fighting for the health of moms and babies as their VP, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Officer.
DelRoy Stauffer CLFP
VP, Sales
Odessa
Wayne Super
Vice President, Capital Markets
Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
Wayne is currently a member of Cisco Capital's senior executive team serving as Managing Director of The Global Partner Organization & Capital Markets. He oversees a department responsible for business development and capitalization programs for Cisco's distributors and resellers. Wayne's previous roles at Cisco Capital were Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Director of Venture Financing.
Prior to joining Cisco, Wayne worked at Akzo Noble, Pitney Bowes, and the United States Navy. Outside of work, Wayne previously served on the advisory board of Ozone International, LLC, Deutsche Bank Client Advisory Board, and CEMC steering committee.
He also maintains involvement in organizations such as Atlanta Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and Autism Speaks. Wayne holds a bachelor's degree from University of Missouri, and a master's degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Scott Thacker CPA, CLFP
Chief Executive Officer
Ivory Consulting Corporation
Mr. Thacker is the Chief Executive Officer of Ivory Consulting Corporation, the software and consulting company that has helped define the modern equipment finance industry with the proven software solutions for modeling, analyzing, and pricing equipment leases and loans, managing equipment, and optimizing portfolios.
Scott is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, where he is founding chair of The 1989 Society, the legacy giving initiative. He is also the founding chair of ELFA Equity, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative.
His previous volunteer roles with the ELFA include being a member of the Board of Directors, a member of the Finance Accounting Committee, chair of the Operations and Technology Committee, and co-director of the Foundation’s Research Committee.
Thacker is a member and DEI lead (leave of absence 2023) of Sand Hill Angels, one of the largest angel investment groups based in Silicon Valley. Previously, he served on the Board of Advisors of StartOut for over ten years and was a judge for the business plan competition for the Wharton Executive MBA program and the Visa Everywhere Initiative. He is a second-generation board member of The Ridgewood School.
Prior to joining Ivory Consulting, he was a partner at Accenture and earlier, a Senior Director at Oracle. Thacker began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co.
Thacker holds an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Accounting from Wake Forest University. He holds the C.P.A. (active) and C.L.F.P. certificates.
HOTEL INFORMATION
A block of rooms is being held for attendees of the 2022 The Westin Washington City Center at 1400 M St NW, Washington, DC 20005 at a discounted rate of $250 +tax. Check in time is 3:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am. Please use the web link below before October 13th, 2022. Reservations made after October 13th, 2022 are based on availability and maybe at a higher rate.
MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS ONLINE!
We strongly encourage you to make your hotel reservations online. Please go to this link to register online:
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1661183263058&key=GRP&app=resvlink
GETTING THERE
The Westin Washington City Center is about 6 miles from the Ronald Regan National Airport (DCA). Approximate cost from the airport to the Westin City Center is approximately $25 one-way with a Taxi.
For further information about this property, including driving directions, visit their website at https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/wascw-the-westin-washington-dc-city-center/overview/.
The Westin Washington City Center
1400 M St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Get directions
