About
The Equipment Finance Hall of Fame was established by the ELFA Board of Directors in 2014 to annually recognize individuals for their unique, significant, or lasting contributions to the equipment leasing and finance industry over an extended timeframe, generally an entire career.
- Inductees receive an invitation to the Annual Chair Leadership Dinner held in conjunction with the ELFA Annual Convention where the ELFA President and CEO and ELFA Chair present the Hall of Fame keepsake.
- Inductees received recognition at the ELFA Annual Convention.
- To be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame, a nominee must meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria. The nominee's contributions must demonstrate:
- A significant impact on the industry through personal acts
- The manifestation of an entrepreneurial spirit
- Support of the association and/or Foundation
- A substantial total body of work
- Positive contributions in industry advocacy
- Significant impact on the professional or career development of other industry colleagues
- Cumulative impact on the commercial equipment finance industry and/or ELFA.
- The nominee will be removed from the list after a five-year period of non-selection, after which he/she may not be renominated.
- The following are not eligible for this distinction: current members of ELFA's Officers, Board of Directors and Chairman's Advisory Council; current members of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's Board of Trustees.
- Complete an easy-to-use online Nomination Form on the ELFA website. Access Online Nomination Form
- Provide as much information as possible to help evaluate the nominee's contribution to the equipment leasing and finance industry, including a brief narrative explaining why the nominee should be considered for the Hall of Fame based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Significant impact on the industry through personal acts
- Manifestation of an entrepreneurial spirit
- Support of the Association and/or Foundation
- Substantial total body of work
- Positive contributions in industry advocacy or
- Significant impact on the development of other industry participants
- The ELFA staff will initially review all submissions to determine eligibility and to ensure that the nomination forms are complete.
- The Selection Committee comprised of current members of the ELFA Chair’s Advisory Council will convene to review the nominations and select the Hall of Fame inductee(s).
- The inductee(s) will be approved by the ELFA Board of Directors.
- 2025: Ralph Petta
- 2024: Tony Golobic, Bruce Kropschot
- 2023: William Bosco, Jr.
- 2022: Valerie Hayes Jester
- 2021: John C. Deane
- 2020: Not awarded due to pandemic
- 2019: Paul S. Gass, Frederick E. Wolfert
- 2018: Edward A. Dahlka, Jr.
- 2017: James R. Renner
- 2016: Sudhir P. Amembal
- 2015: Ian J. Berg, Joseph C. Lane, P.A. (Paul) Larkins, James D. McGrane, Bernard J. McKenna, William J. Montgomery, Henry B. Schoenfeld
- 2014: Abe Bernstein, Spencer Wiscomb Clawson, Michael Fleming, John Giddens, Adolf Sonny Monosson, Peter Nevitt, Kenneth Pontikes, James H. Posehl
2025 Inductee
Ralph Petta
Visionary, member-focused ELFA leader and industry authority
