Leadership, data and what’s next: NEFA 2025 Fall Conference takeaways

After attending the National Equipment Finance Association’s (NEFA) Fall Conference in Minneapolis, I can honestly say this year’s event stood out as one of the best. The conference brought together a great mix of lenders, brokers, service providers and technology partners to discuss where our industry is headed and how we can all continue to improve.

A Strong Start with Jim Craig

The conference opened with a powerful keynote from Jim Craig, the Olympic gold-medalist goaltender from the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. men’s hockey team. He shared lessons about leadership, accountability and belief — the kind of mindset that helps ordinary people do extraordinary things.

Craig’s stories about perseverance and team alignment resonated with just about everyone in the room. His message wasn’t about winning games — it was about staying focused when the odds are stacked against you, trusting your team and pushing yourself (and others) toward a shared goal. It was the perfect way to kick off a few days that were all about growth, grit and the power of connection.

Building Stronger Leaders

The “From Seed to Summit” session took that theme of personal growth and grounded it in the real world of equipment finance. One of the best takeaways for me was the reminder that the best leaders understand every part of the business — originations, credit, servicing, documentation, collections — all of it. When you know how every role contributes and where the pain points are, you’re in a much better position to lead and make meaningful improvements.

There was also great advice for anyone thinking about career growth: Do the work of the job you want, not just the one you have. When you make your boss’s life easier and show curiosity about how the business really works, opportunities tend to find you.

Data: The Root of Growth and Credibility

Another big theme this year was data — how critical it is, and how few companies are really using it to its full potential. The “Data Creates Fertile Ground for Originators” session hit this point hard.

The message was simple but important: you can’t improve what you don’t measure. Collecting and organizing data early gives you the insight (and credibility) you need to grow. That’s especially true for brokers or small lenders who want to secure funding lines — banks and capital partners want to see how your deals perform. If you can show data by vintage, loss pool, or performance trend, it tells a story of discipline and reliability.

That message really struck a chord for the Tamarack team, because that’s exactly where we help our partners shine — turning raw operational and transactional data into actionable insights. The tools are there to tell your story with confidence; it just takes the right foundation and a little data discipline.

Where People and Automation Meet

The “Rooted in Process” session zoomed in on how lenders are using automation to streamline workflows — from document ingestion and credit decisions to post-funding processes. The focus wasn’t just on speed; it was about consistency, scalability and freeing up people to focus on the work that truly needs a human touch.

There was also a healthy reminder that automation should never replace expertise. The best approach combines tech and talent — using automation for repetitive stuff, and letting underwriters and portfolio managers focus on the complex, relationship-driven parts of the job.

That balance between human insight and intelligent automation is what we’re most excited about at Tamarack. AI isn’t about replacing people — it’s about empowering them to make better decisions, faster.

Big Picture Takeaways

Here are a few common threads that came up repeatedly throughout the event:

• Leadership and Mentorship Matter. Find people who will challenge you, guide you and help you grow — and be that person for someone else.
• Economic Caution is Real. Many companies are holding back on big investments until there’s more clarity around interest rates and tariffs, but the optimism in the room was strong.
• AI Readiness is Rising. Even if your company isn’t implementing AI yet, it’s smart to learn the tools and understand how they can make your work easier and more efficient.
• Think Long Term with Tech. Evaluate technology not just for where your business is today, but for where it’ll be five or ten years from now. Futureproofing is key.

Looking Ahead

The biggest takeaway? Stay curious. Keep learning. Whether it’s leadership, data or technology, growth in this industry comes from being willing to adapt and connect. And that’s exactly the kind of mindset that drives our work at Tamarack — helping lenders and lessors use data and AI to work smarter, serve customers better and build businesses that are ready for whatever comes next.