Why did you join NAELB and why do you continue to support this organization?

[Fred St Laurent]

I think this is a good forum to discuss this.
Many lenders who have not been exposed to the NAELB need to hear what the benefits are to belonging to our association.
I have my reasons but as a recruiter others may not relate to them.

So I challange the Broker and Funding members to share what the benefits are from a point of view that will speak to other Brokers and Funders who may come to join our association from all over the world!

[Rosanne Wilson]

I joined the NAELB because of all the positive feedback I received from so many Leasing brokers who insisted that the NAELB offered the best access to broker education, and great funders, and the best networking among fellow brokers. Once I joined, I found out this was so true. Suddenly I had all kinds of help out there for many different types of situations we brokers encounter daily.
The NAELB members reach out and help everyone. The funders are super and really take the time to work with the brokers on providing excellent service. This opened so many doors for me that I cannot imagine navigating in these times without the support of the NAELB and its members.
I highly recommend this organzation. They have the most experienced professionals who will guide you to success.

Rosanne Wilson, CLP
President, 1st Independent Leasing, Inc.
Beaverton, OR

[Lisette Johnson]

It never ocurred to me not to join. The value was evident immmediately. I've always been a member of professional organizations, and when I first started this business, it was clear that access to a world of knowledge and experience was a membership fee away, and with that world came a very important benefit : CREDIBILITY. Experience, knowledge, volunteerism, ethics, credibility. The foundations for a very solid business model; yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Lisette Johnson
Integra Leasing & Commercial Finance
Keeping Your Cash Available

[Rosanne Wilson]

Welcome fellow NAELBEAN !!!! You are the very reason NAELB exists. I am so happy you have joined our group online. We all learn from each other. I hope business is good for you Lisette. Thanks for your volunteer work with the Association. It's folks like you that make this organization great.

Rosanne Wilson, CLP
1st Independent Leasing, Inc.
Beaverton, OR

[Fred St Laurent]

This is great! Thanks and my challenge still stands.
Benefits. That is what keeps the people who join for other reasons.

Someone should talk about the CBA, Office Depot, The Forum and all the other incredible benefits that Brokers and Funders alike have access to once becoming a member of NAELB.

[David Normandin]

My experience with the NAELB has been a very positive one. Even though I have been actively involved in the leasing industry for over a decade I did not know a lot about the NAELB until I started ENvision Capital Group in early 2007. When I did it was important to me to represent ourselves as professionals who do business with character and strong ethics.

The NAELB is progressive in finding opportunities for a company like mine to differentiate itself. For example I was a part of the first group to take and pass the ethics exam and earn the designation as a NAELB Best Practices Broker. Additionally, the NAELB has provided opportunities to diversify our lender portfolio with smaller nich lenders who may not be members of the ELFA, EAEL, or UAEL or exhibit at their conferences. In uncertain times such as our current liquidity crisis this is a very valuable resource.

I have also invested in attending the annual and regional conferences and have found that in our first year the return on this investment was so great that I am now a firm believer in the value of the networking opportunities that these events provide.

I would really encourage anyone in this industry to explore the vast benefits of the NAELB and in doing so I am confident that you will find the investment is worth your time, effort, and money.

David Normandin
Managing Member
ENvision Capital Group LLC
Newport Beach, CA

[Bob Runyon]

I joined the NAELB so I could pick the brains of the many talented individuals who were members. I never imagined the group would become a mainstay in my business. The contacts I have made over the years, starting with Kit Menkin many years ago and his introduction to a very favored funding source of mine to the more recent contacts with new members finding their way around make this a well rounded group. The NAELB is a very professional group of talented people. Dollar for dollar the best association in the business for the small broker like myself. The savings on the programs alone pay for the dues.

[Chris Raley]

I joined shortly after I left the trucking industry and established my old lease brokerage in 2000. I have found the members to be the "cream of the crop" of the leasing business and have made many, many people whom I will consider close friends for the rest of my life.

There are too many reasons to list hear on why I joined and continue to be a member of the NAELB (even as a funding source). I would advise anyone joining to attend a regional (or annual) meeting and see for yourself.

Chris Raley
Vice President
Transportation Capital LLC

[dave sendlak]

As a funding source, I find the Leasing Forum to be an invaluable source for leads. I am on the Forum site several times a day and respond frequently to requests for funding. This is my first year as a member of NAELB, and it has helped me immeasurably in growing my business. Found the conference in New Orleans as a great way to meet new folks and gain not only new business contacts but new friends. I think I am still recovering from some of those late nights on Bourbon Street.

[Gerry Oestreich]

>I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the NAELB's "Let's start an associaton for brokers" meeting in Atlanta many years ago. I happily threw in my $75 to help start something that I had been searching for, which was "trusted" brains to pick, about all aspects of our exciting business!
.>That missing link for me had been the up to date list of names and phone numbers of other people like me, who were out there trying to build a business by selling leases to funding sources. The other piece of course was to meet the many funding sources in person and get to know them.
>Meeting others in the industry, in both categories, became much easier as I became more involved in the NAELB and served on the Board for a few years and it's President for two years.

[Steve Geller, CLP]

I attended my first NAELB meeting in the mid 1990's exorted by my colleague, Colin Rosenmeyer. Having been in the leasing industry, at that time, about twenty years, I thought I knew most people in the industry. I was wrong! That meeting opened my eyes to the broker community.

Fast forward to 2001. Now on my own in the consulting business I received a phone call from my friend Joe Bonnano to talk business. At the end of the call Joe made his pitch which I will always remember, and be grateful for. Joe said that if I closed one deal as a result of NAELB membership it paid for itself. That was a no-brainer. I joined the next day. That call has paid dividends for me and I continue meeting old friends and great new people at NAELB functions. I try to attend as many NAELB meetings as I possibly can. I really pays off for me.

Having served on the EAEL Board of Directors and Executive Board for many years I know the value of association membership and what is involved with running an association. I have served on many committees for the UAEL and ELFA throughout the years. I have also served the CLP Foundation, initially as a founding Trustee and Director of the foundation and now as a big supporter and believer. I see many opportunities for the CLP Foundation and NAELB membership and I would challenge anyone who believes that they are a tops in our industry to come forward and become a CLP. It can be done, but only by the best. Contact me, Cindy Spurdle at the Foundation or any one involved with CLP and challenge yourself to make the grade.

The CLP Foundation operates as the governing body for the awarding of the certified lease professional designation. It operates in the U.S. and, in conjunction with affiliated organizations, in several countries throughout the world. The CLP Foundation can provide information about countries who operate in the equipment leasing marketplace and what opportunities and benefits there are in an international affiliation. Check out our website at www.clpfoundation.org.

[Fred St Laurent]

Thanks for your insight Steve.
I hope to see you in Atlanta this Fall.

[Mike Sheehan]

Great resources at the tip of your finger, cost effective resources, staying in touch with people and issues, professional meetings and information . If your going to operate this business model and you want to do it without any support system or access to resources in this environment , best of luck

Mike Sheehan
President
Kingwood Capital