1944
In New York City a group of six factoring and finance professionals joined together to form The National Conference of Accounts Receivables Companies
Our History
Commercial Finance Association
Celebrating Our Future While Honoring Our Past
For decades, our organization proudly served the global secured finance community as the Commercial Finance Association (CFA). Under that name, we fostered deep connections among lenders, factors, and finance professionals (many of whom still know us by that name); championed industry education; and helped shape the standards and growth of secured lending worldwide. The Commercial Finance Association years were a defining era—building the foundation of excellence, collaboration, and innovation that continues today.
Past Presidents of SFNet 1944-2024
1945 Alfred H. Sachs, Manufacturers Trading Corporation
1946 Alfred H. Sachs, Manufacturers Trading Corporation
1947 Raymond W. Burman, American Business Credit Corporation
1948 Raymond W. Burman, American Business Credit Corporation
1949 Herbert R. Silverman, James Talcott, Inc.
1950 Herbert R. Silverman, James Talcott, Inc.
1951 Herbert R. Silverman, James Talcott, Inc.
1952 Herbert R. Silverman, James Talcott, Inc.
1953 Clayton P. Packard, First Acceptance Corporation
1954 Clayton P. Packard, First Acceptance Corporation
1955 Clayton P. Packard, First Acceptance Corporation
1956 Walter S. Seidman, Jones & Company
1957 Walter S. Seidman, Jones & Company
1958 Walter S. Seidman, Jones & Company
1959 Thomas Lefforge, Commercial Discount Corporation
1960 Thomas Lefforge, Commercial Discount Corporation
1961 Jacob Martin Seiler, A.J. Armstrong Co. Inc.
1962 Jacob Martin Seiler, A.J. Armstrong Co. Inc.
1963 Eugene B. Hanson, Northern Finance Corporation
1964 Eugene B. Hanson, Northern Finance Corporation
1965 William L. Acker, General Acceptance Corporation
1966 William L. Acker, General Acceptance Corporation
1967 Russell R. Campbell, James Talcott, Inc.
1968 Russell R. Campbell, James Talcott, Inc.
1969 Burton R. Abrahams, Walter E. Heller & Co.
1970 Burton R. Abrahams, Walter E. Heller & Co.
1971 Herbert A. Busch, Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc.
1972 Herbert A. Busch, Rusch Factors, Inc.
1973 LeRoy L. Kohn, Mercantile Financial Corporation
1974 LeRoy L. Kohn, Mercantile Financial Corporation
1975 Monroe R. Lazere, Lazere Financial Corporation
1976 Monroe R. Lazere, Lazere Financial Corporation
1977 Russell B. Donahue, James Talcott, Inc.
1978 Russell B. Donahue, Associates Commercial Corporation
1979 Norris S. Griffin, BVA Credit Corporation
1980 Norris S. Griffin, BVA Credit Corporation
1981 Melvin E. Rubenstein, Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc.
1982 Melvin E. Rubenstein, Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc.
1983 Stephen C. Diamond, First Chicago Credit Corporation
1984 Richard J. Dorgan, Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, N.A.
1985 Frederick S. Gilbert, Jr., Citicorp Industrial Credit, Inc.
1986 Joseph E. Mariani, Associates Commercial Corporation
1987 William F. Plein, Commonwealth Financial Corporation
1988 Richard L. Solar, Bankers Trust Company
1989 Francis X. Basile, The CIT Group/Factoring, Inc.
1990 Frank Donahue, Bank of New York Commercial Corporation
1991 Ronald C. Smith, Congress Financial Corporation
1992 David H. Pendley, First Capital Corporation
1993 Frank K. Medeiros, Sanwa Business Credit Corporation
1994 Walter M. Einhorn, Meridian Commercial Finance Corp.
1995 David J. Kantes, Heller Business Credit
1996 Robert I. Weisberg, Fremont Medical Financial Services
1997 Irwin Teich, Fleet Capital Corporation
1998 Richard W. Madresh, BankAmerica Business Credit, Inc.
1999 Robert S. Sandler, Republic Business Credit Corporation
2000 Charles G. Johnson, UPS Capital Corporation
2001 Stephen L. Bakke, Manchester Commercial Finance LLC
2002 Peter E. Schwab, Foothill Capital Corporation
2003 Richard P. Palmieri, Schneider National, Inc.
2004 Michael D. Sharkey, LaSalle Business Credit, LLC
2005 Jack R. Hoekstra, North Fork Business Capital Corporation
2006 Joseph F. Nemia, CIT Group, Inc.
2007 Theodore J. Kompa, Business Alliance Capital Co.
2008 Deborah J. Monosson, Boston Financial & Equity Corporation
2009 Mark A. Hafner, Celtic Capital Corporation
2010 Keith Karako, Citibank, N.A.
2011 John Fox, Forest Capital, LLC
2012 Bruce A. Sprenger, Cole Taylor Business Capital
2013 Michael D. Haddad, Newstar Business Capital
2014 Michael Maiorino, People's United Business Capital
2015 Michael Coiley, CIT Healthcare
2016 Patrick Trammell, Southeastern Commercial Finance, LLC
2017 Andrea Petro, Wells Fargo Capital Finance
2018 Michael Monk, Amerisource Funding
2019 David Grende, Siena Lending Group
2020 John DePledge, Bank Leumi USA
2021 Jeffrey K. Goldrich, SLR Business Credit
2022 Peter York, J.P Morgan Securities LLC
2023 Jennifer Palmer, JPalmer Collective
2024 Barry Bobrow, Regions Business Capital
2025 Beatriz "Betty" Hernandez, SLR Business Credit
1946
The Conference grew to 14 members, and the group changed its name to the National Conference of Commercial Receivables Companies, in order to emphasize their financing of business receivables.
1953
As its membership grew the Conference again changed its name to the National Commercial Finance Conference, Inc.
1983
National Commercial Finance Conference, Inc. becomes National Commercial Finance Association to better illustrate the organization’s work in the areas of education, networking and advocacy.
1990
After the launch of the European Chapter in London and its focus on UNCITRAL (United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade) increased, the word "National" was removed from the name and the association became the Commercial Finance Association. This change reflected the association’s global reach.
2019
In July 2019, in conjunction with our organization’s 75th anniversary, the association rebranded and changed its name from Commercial Finance Association to Secured Finance Network. This rebranding reflects the board’s objective to make the Commercial Finance Association brand more relevant to our members and to reinforce our strategic direction.
MORE ABOUT SFNET
ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS
Trends in Secured Finance
SFNet's Annual Asset-Based Lending & Factoring Survey has measured year-to-year asset-based lending and factoring activity since 1976. And trends in asset-based lending are demonstrated in SFNet's Quarterly ABL Index, which provides new business and portfolio performance indicators for members on quarter-by-quarter basis. See how our members invest in America, serving clients large and small. These reports contains insights into the secured finance market performance.
CELEBRATING OUR FUTURE, HONORING OUR PAST
SFNet Hall of Fame
We are pleased to announce the inaugural SFNet Hall of Fame, coinciding with our 75th Annual Convention in November 2019. Inductees will consist of our Lifetime Achievement Award winners, individuals who have made unique, significant, or lasting contributions to the secured finance industry throughout his or her career.
ANNUAL MEETING
SFNet Annual Convention
With over 1,000 professionals involved in asset-based lending, factoring, appraisals/auctions/liquidations, software development, law, accounting, insurance, turnaround management, field examinations, search, filing and document retrieval coming together, our SFNet Annual Convention is a prime opportunity to network with your peers, learn about the newest industry trends, and develop new connections across the industry.
