NEFA Regional Crab Feast "Positive"

Allan Levine, COO, Madison Capital
 
About 70 lease and finance executives met Thursday, June 10, 2010, for the annual National Equipment Financial Association (NEFA) Crab Feast, which was held at Obrycki's Crab House in Baltimore, Maryland. The event was hosted by Bruce Winter (FSG Leasing), Scott Wheeler (Wheeler Business Consulting) and Nancy Pistorio (Madison Capital). This annual regional event, originally held by the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors, was quite optimistic.
 
It is important to note that many long-time industry leaders/survivors were there. The group included NEFA representatives, leasing executives and some service providers. What was important, however, was the tone of the evening.
 
The last two years of this event, and other industry events, have featured many conversations about the economy and the future of our industry. However, that was not the case here. The conversations were extremely positive in that business leads were way up, spreads were good and most talked about being not just busy, but “very busy.”  Direct lenders seem to be pleased about declining defaults, increased applications and the amount of new business inquiries.
 
The meeting had no formal agenda. Attendees mingled and spread the good gospel about the up tick in the economy and their recent positive experiences. Let’s hope this fervor is a trend and not an aberration.