2008 Conference Issue

2008 19th Annual Conference Issue
Path to Success
Creativity, Optimism Pay Off
When it Matters Most

FEATURES

The Last Inning… Will It Ever Come?
By Darryl Seland, Freelance Writer
With the barrage of negative economic indicators over recent months, the Monitor took the opportunity to sit down with PNC Economist Robert Dye to gain a bit of economic perspective. (Ref # GEN038)

ELFA: It’s All About Sticking to the Plan
By Stuart P. Papavassiliou, Senior Editor
As the fall conferences approach, the Monitor once again spends some time with ELFA president Ken Bentsen to check in on the association’s accomplishments, setbacks and plans for the future. (Ref # ASC027)

Industry Leaders Discuss What Lies at the End of the Tunnel
By Stephen J. McCabe, Freelance Writer
In the darkness of today’s increasingly complex and intractable economic downturn, leasing and finance industry leaders share their insight on why it’s easy to be pessimistic — but so critically important to be optimistic. (Ref # BKL035, MID006)

Examining the New Direction of the Lease Accounting Project
By Bill Bosco, Leasing 101
With a target completion date of 2011, the Lease Accounting Project is an epic in the making. We asked Bill Bosco to give us the details of what’s happening and where it’s all headed. (Ref # ACC036)

European Leasing: A Look at the Other Side of the Pond
By Derek R. Soper, The Alta Group
Wrapping one’s brain around the European leasing market can be a daunting task, because of the sheer number of countries to work with and within, there are as many different rules and regulations. The Alta Group’s Derek Soper breaks it all down… (Ref # INC074)

Funding Strategies to Meet Today’s Liquidity Challenges
By S. Scott Gates and David D’Antonio, Diversity Capital
Every quarter we are seeing the effects of a shaken economy — whether from rapidly decreasing earnings reports or in millions of dollars in write-downs. But how is the economy affecting independent financing companies? How have they had to change their lending practices? (Ref # FNF118)

NEW ON THE SCENE

The Tiger's Roar... Inside Tygris Commercial Finance
By Christopher Moraff, Associate Editor
Tygris made headlines this May when the company launched with a $2.1 billion capital raise, the largest ever seen in the industry. The Monitor spoke with five executives from the newly formed giant. (Ref # CPR117)

PROFILE OF SUCCESS

Silva Finds ‘Right Fit’ at Balboa Capital
By Amanda L. Gutshall, Associate Editor
Phil Silva loves the equipment leasing and finance industry — so much so that after years of consulting to the industry, he’s ‘back in the saddle’ as the new president of Balboa Capital. (Ref # PRO105)

COLUMNS

GREASING THE WHEEL
BROKERS… Let’s Talk About Leads
By Gerry Egan, Learnleasing.com
You can’t complete a deal without a good, usable lead. But if you’re not generating your own, are you really closing the transaction you want to? (Ref # BLK033)

GREASING THE WHEEL
Online Networking — Expanding Your Social Footprint
By Linda Kester, The Institute for Personal Development
Who can deny in this time of social networking that it doesn’t pay to get yourself out there? Here Linda Kester explains why it’s more important than ever (Ref # BLK034)

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES
Survival of the Fittest: The Commercial Finance Species
By Michael A. Toglia, Molloy Associates
While today’s job market has become “an employers market,” it will become an employee’s market once again. If history repeats itself, we are on the cusp of great times… (Ref # PER022)

TECH TALK
Giving Your Customers a First-Class Experience
By Steven E. Byrnes, Michael Donnary and Kenneth Kelliher, Capgemini
Companies are often found trying to catch up operationally to achieve that elusive goal of a first-class customer experience combined with first quartile efficiency metrics. But, is the job ever done? (Ref # TEC0167)

LEGAL WATCH
Ninth Circuit Changes Course on Secured Creditor’s Right to Default Interest in Chapter 11
By Lesley Anne Hawes, McKenna Long & Aldridge
The Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit recently ruled a secured creditor whose claim is oversecured can recover default interest under certain circumstances in a Chapter 11 plan. What does this reversal mean?(Ref # LGL1110)

DISPATCHES FROM THE TRENCHES
Did a Florida Court Bury the Graves Amendment?
By Kenneth P. Weinberg, Marks & Weinberg
The Graves Amendment has given lessors concern regarding liability claims that don’t require evidence of their wrongdoing. Why did a court in the Sunshine State cast ominous clouds over this comfort? (Ref # LGL1111)