News

Featured Publication

Industry Future Council Report 2010

Foundation Chair, Ed Dahlka, Optimistic About Foundation, Industry

Posted 01/20/10

Edward A. Dahlka, Jr, Chairman, Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation

The Foundation has been fortunate in its leadership. The New Year will be no exception. Ed Dahlka, CEO of Assurance Asset Finance, LLC was re-elected Foundation chair for 2010 -- the second year in a row. He spoke to Foundation Forecasts recently to tell us the organization’s plans for the coming months.

The Foundation research committee has many new projects they are planning in 2010, says Dahlka. But, “one of the Foundation’s primary focuses will be to continue to get more people involved in the organization,” he says. “Once they are exposed to the Foundation through our fundraising efforts and outreach, they have a much greater appreciation for the studies and reports that the Foundation produces, overall.”

So, while the Foundation will debut several new studies, the fundraising aspect of the non-profit Foundation will continue to be a focal point.

The Foundation had a good year in 2009, he reports. “We had excellent success in a very difficult year, fundraising-wise. While, we don’t expect 2010 to be, economically, that much more improved, we are confident that we’re on the right path,” Ed says. “The Foundation is too important – and industry leaders know this.”

For an industry member to conduct the Foundation’s work on its own, it would be hundreds of thousands of dollars. “It’s just too expensive for them to conduct this kind of research on their own,” adds Dahlka. “So, for the contributions made, industry members get a lot of value for their donation dollars. Most industry leaders understand this, so contributions are seen as an investment.”

In addition to the existing Foundation library of research and new products expected in 2010, the introduction of the Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI®) last year has clearly increased the Foundation’s importance to industry members.

Also helpful to the Foundation’s cause, Ed says, is the fact 2010 is going to be a year of opportunity. “Industry leaders should ready themselves for opportunities coming their way. In the last two years, so many players have had to re-adjust the way they do business and work their way through this economic crisis. But, that means it’s also an opportunity for others to fill in the gaps.” Foundation research can help there, he adds.

“I use the Foundation research myself,” Ed says. “Anyone I talk to with regarding the business, I refer to the information found in Foundation studies and research.”