Lisa A. Levine, CAE
Executive Director

Last year, the IFC Report debuted a new format, changing its strategy from analyzing the information brought by members and distilling it into a report to using the information gathered to create a set of important questions that industry participants could address within their own companies to help them prepare for the next one to three years. It worked.

"The study is very comprehensive," said Robert Rinaldi, National City Commercial Capital, LLC, who was part of the study's management group. "The report basically provides a roadmap for the industry for what it would take to go entirely paperless."

With last year's fundraising effort the most successful year to date, the bar has been raised. However, many more business leaders are expected to contribute this year to the Foundation recognizing the significant value the Foundation provides. Donations are made by both individuals and organizations. In fact, the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors was the first to donate in 2007.

"The Officers and Trustees of the Foundation were very encouraged by the strong support received from the industry in 2006," said Mike Leichtling, a partner and member of the Executive Committee of Troutman Sanders LLP, and Chairman of the Equipment and Lease Foundation Board of Trustees. "In the past several months, the Foundation has released several important studies including Business Differentiation, Captive vs Non-Captive: How Their Default Remedies Differ, the State of the Industry Report and the IFC report." 

Tentatively titled, "Alternative Energy Equipment Financing," this research project will investigate the renewable energy market in the United States, including addressing the current state, the business impact, and future projections for the alternative energy sector of the equipment financing industry.

Electricity production from alternative energy sources has grown dramatically since the early 1980s, such as electricity generation from biomass, geothermal, wind, and solar. But, the U.S. lags most major developed countries in its installed capacity of renewable electric power generation. Renewable electricity production accounts for less than two percent of electricity generation in the U.S. Although various alternative energy technologies and resources have been available for more than two decades, new and existing alternative energy sources are expected to play an increasing role in the overall supply of energy in the future. And, with that emphasis will come a need for financing.