Keynote Speakers

Morning Keynote
Surfing the Zeitgeist: American Principles and Challenges in a Chaotic Age
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) Chairman, Republican House Policy Committee
8:30am – 9:15am

A life-long resident of southeast Michigan, U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter was first elected to Congress in 2002 to represent the citizens of Western Oakland and Western Wayne Counties.

Congressman McCotter has focused his efforts on preserving and promoting manufacturing and small businesses, because he knows they form the back bone of our community's economy. He has steadfastly supported winning the War for Freedom and increasing our homeland security; tirelessly fought to reduce taxes and the size and scope of government; and, most importantly, Congressman McCotter has dedicated every effort to listen to and serve his constituents.

Congressman McCotter was elected by his colleagues in Nov. 2006 to serve as Chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee, a leadership position once held by former President Gerald Ford and Vice President Dick Cheney. Congressman McCotter is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, where he serves on the Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises and the Housing and Community Opportunity subcommittees.

Congressman McCotter is a graduate of Catholic Central High School; the University of Detroit; and the University of Detroit Law School. He is a bar admitted attorney by profession. Thaddeus and Rita McCotter, a registered nurse, have three young children, George, Timothy, and Emilia. The McCotter family lives in his home town of Livonia. Congressman McCotter travels to and from our nation's capital every week to serve our community.

Luncheon Keynote
Overview of the Commercial Equipment Finance Industry
12:30 – 1:15 pm
Ralph Petta
Interim President
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA)

Mr. Petta will provide an overview of the equipment finance marketplace, focusing on various industry drivers, including major market players and the role of equipment leasing and finance in the broader economy.

Ralph Petta is Interim President of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). He has been with the association since April 1987. In addition to Mr. Petta’s role in serving as CEO and chief spokesperson for the ELFA, he has responsibility for managing the development of the association’s industry information resources and data-collection, including the annual Survey of Equipment Finance Activity, Monthly Leasing & Finance Index, and Industry Compensation Survey. In addition, he oversees the development of various benchmarking and market research initiatives, and related industry reference publications sponsored by the ELFA.

Mr. Petta has liaison responsibilities with several ELFA constituent committees, including its Research Committee, Legal Committee, and Equipment Management Committee, as well as the ELFA Captive and Vendor Finance Business Council. As staff liaison to the ELFA Financial Accounting Committee, he is responsible for managing the association’s program to monitor and help develop strategy on key accounting and financial reporting issues of concern to ELFA member organizations.

Mr. Petta is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). He completed the ASAE/University of Maryland Executive Development Program in Association Management and was selected to participate in the ASAE Future Leaders Conference.

Before joining ELFA, Mr. Petta worked for nine years in the office of United States Senator Sam Nunn, serving in a variety of professional capacities. He was Senator Nunn’s legislative assistant when he left to join the association in 1987.

Mr. Petta graduated from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, earning a B.A. degree in political science.