Crit DeMent         Rick Remiker

The US Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) has taken the opportunity of its 50th annual convention to announce its new board of directors and officers, who will serve during the next 12 months.

Crit DeMent, chairman and chief executive of LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc., is the new chairman of the board and Rick Remiker, president of Huntington Equipment Finance, is appointed chairman-elect.

 ELFA president and chief executive William G. Sutton, CAE said: “We are fortunate to have Crit DeMent as the 2012 chairman of our board of directors during these challenging times. Crit’s proven leadership skills, his extensive experience in our industry, and his dedication to our association’s goals will help position ELFA to move forward in fulfilling our mission of supporting our members while they are equipping business for success.” 

Future challenges

DeMent added: “I am honored and looking forward to having this opportunity to serve as ELFA chairman. Our industry will continue to play a vital role in the recovery of the US economy and our association as its primary advocate will be at the forefront of this effort. One of the key benefits of this position is working directly with our membership, which is represented by some of the brightest and most creative individuals in the country. Over the next year my goal is to continue to engage our membership to meet future challenges together and continue to deliver relevant value to our organization.”

DeMent has been chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer since he joined LEAF in November 2001. Before that, he was president of Fidelity Leasing, Inc., and its successor, the Technology Finance Group of Citi-Capital Vendor Finance, from 1998 to 2001.

Prior to that he served as vice president of marketing for Tokai Financial Services from 1987 through 1996.

DeMent has previously served on the ELFA’s board of directors as a member of the Executive Committee. He has also served multiple terms on the Captive and Vendor Finance Business Council Steering Committee and was on the committee that drafted the Code of Fair Business Practices. Most recently he has served on ELFA’s Personnel Committee, as well as on the planning committee for the association’s Annual Investors Conference. 

New board members

The new members of the ELFA Board of Directors include:

• Robert Boyer, president, Susquehanna Commercial Finance, Inc.

• Susan Carol, APR, chief executive, Susan Carol Associates Public Relations, Inc.

• Daniel McCabe, senior vice president, sales and marketing, US and Canada, John Deere Financial

Adam D. Warner, president, Key Equipment Finance; Robert J. Rinaldi, senior vice president, CSI Leasing; and James McGrane, president and chief executive, EverBank Commercial Finance, Inc.; were elected by the board of directors to serve as ELFA vice chairs.

Thomas M. Jaschik, president, BB&T Equipment Finance, continues to serve as Treasurer, and Paul Stilp, ELFA’s vice president of Finance and Administration, will continue to serve as Secretary. William G. Sutton, CAE, serves as president and chief executive officer.

David Merrill, president, Fifth Third Equipment Finance Company, is immediate past chairman. In addition to Boyer, Carol and McCabe, the following are also members of the ELFA Board of Directors:

• Kent Adams, president, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

• Thomas Askounis, president/shareholder, Askounis & Darcy, P.C.

• Anthony Cracchiolo, president and CEO, Vendor Services, U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance

• Steve A. Grosso, president and CEO, CoActiv Capital Partners

• Stanley Herkelman, president, GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation

• Lauren Hill, senior vice president, Mesirow Financial Consulting

• Harry J. Kaplun, president, Frost Equipment Leasing and Finance

• Anthony Pacchiano, vice president and general manager, ADP Commercial Leasing

• Richard L. Ross, president, Summit Funding Group

• Fred Sasser, president, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co.

• David T. Schaefer, CLP, president, Orion First Financial

• Larry A. Smilie, managing director, Banc of America Leasing

• Jud Snyder, president, BMO Harris Equipment Finance Company

• William F. Stephenson, chairman, Global Vendor Finance, De Lage Landen Financial Services

• Louis J. Vigliotti, senior managing director, GE Capital Markets Group

• Derek C. Wilkins, vice president, Financial and Workplace Services, Steelcase, Inc.

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