A panel of CEOs shared career insights with emerging leaders. Emerging Talent Advisory Council Hard at Work N BY ALEXA CARNIBELLA of leasing and fi nance professionals. Generation Next is open to both ELFA members and nonmembers looking to connect with industry peers. Participants are encouraged to post and discuss local events and relevant industry information and share advice and best practices. To join the group, go to www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8371318. OW ENTERING ITS SECOND YEAR OF EXISTENCE, the members of the Emerging Talent Advisory Council (ETAC) have been hard at work fulfi lling their mission—to encourage industry employ-ees to get involved in the association earlier in their careers and to attract the best and brightest to the industry. Regional Networking Event In support of that mission, the 16-member Council embarked on the plan-ning and execution of the fi rst Emerging Talent Regional Networking Event. Held at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing on Sept. 16, the event was a smashing success. Over 60 emerging leaders from 26 member companies attended a CEO panel made up of 2015 ELFA Chairman Bob Rinaldi, Chief Executive Offi cer of Commercial Industrial Finance; former ELFA Chairman Valerie Jester, President of Brandywine Capital; former ELFA Director Scott Th acker, Chief Executive Offi cer of Ivory Consulting; and Amy Nelson, President, Global Healthcare and Clean Technology at DLL. ETAC member Jennifer Fanz of DLL moderated the panel. Th e panelists discussed how they were introduced to the equipment fi nance industry and what made them stay, the biggest risks they have taken in their careers and how to stand out in your organization. Th ey also off ered advice for women in the industry. Th e panelists then dis-cussed their experiences with ELFA and how they have benefi ted from involvement in the association. Th e panel was followed by an hour of networking, during which attendees were able to make new professional connections and talk with the CEO panelists up close and personally. Guest Lecture Program An equally important part of the ETAC mission is the eff ort to attract new people to the industry. Members of the Council have committed to delivering the Guest Lecture presentation (GLP) at their local colleges and universities to increase awareness of equipment fi nance and draw new talent to the industry. Th e ETAC also has developed a campaign to encourage ELFA Business Council Steering Committee members to commit to delivering the GLP. ETAC members have enhanced the GLP website at www.elfaonline.org/GLP to include FAQs and sample introduction letters, and created a web-based feedback survey to gather input post lecture, all in an eff ort to improve the volunteer experience. Save the Date: 2016 Networking Event Th e ETAC plans to continue these eff orts in 2016. Based on popular de-mand, the Council will hold another networking event in April in Chicago, coinciding with the Annual National Funding Conference (April 19–21). Additional networking events will be scheduled for later in the year. If you would like to participate in the GLP, help plan the next re-gional networking event, join the Generation Next LinkedIn group or have questions, please contact Alexa Carnibella at acarnibella@elfaon line.org. ■ Alexa Carnibella is ELFA Director of Professional Development. “Generation Next” LinkedIn Group In addition to the regional event, the ETAC launched Generation Next, a LinkedIn group designed to engage and develop the next generation The Emerging Talent Regional Networking Event attracted 60 rising stars. Emerging leaders made new professional connections. 32 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 EQUIPMENT LEASING & FINANCE MAGAZINE