Member of the Year

CFLA | ACFL David Powell Member of Year Award 2023-2024

Recipient: Mark Aylward

 

 

 

Toronto, ON, Sept. 12, 2024 Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA), today, announced Mark Aylward, Regional Sales Manager, with Siemens Financial Services Canada as this year’s David Powell CFLA Member of the Year. During the CFLA’s 51st annual conference, Howard Cobham, CFLA Board Chair and Executive Vice President of member company GM Financial, presented the Member of the Year award. 

The CFLA are thrilled to announce Mark Aylward as Member of the Year, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to their organization. As the visionary founder of the Technology Committee, Aylward has been instrumental in shaping innovative and robust technological education to members channeled through the CFLA. The inaugural Innovation & Technology Summit, which took place in April, exercised education around the evolving role of technology in asset finance. His relentless dedication and strategic foresight have propelled the committee's success, and his involvement has aided to the success of the CFLA’s annual conference. 

The David Powell CFLA Member of the Year Award recognizes members who work to advance the industry’s priorities and the CFLA’s goals. “Mark’s commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire those around him have set a new standard for leadership within our community”, said CFLA Chair Howard Cobham. He continued, “His passion and expertise have been invaluable, making him a truly deserving recipient of this honor.”

The David Powell CFLA Member of the Year Award is named after the CFLA’s former President and CEO. When he first announced the award, Powell said “The CFLA’s success in servicing its members and advocating for the industry is only possible through the valuable voluntary contributions made by our many members.” 


Past Honorees

2022-23: Richard McAullife

2021-22: Julien Bigras, Core Capital Group Inc.

2020-21: CFLA Covid Response Committee

  • Angela Armstrong, Prime Capital Group;
  • Moe Danis, Juno Financial Group Corp;
  • Jeff Hartley, LeasePlan Canada Ltd;
  • Blake Macaskill, Ritchie Bros Financial Services;
  • Richard McAuliffe, Key Equipment Finance Canada Ltd; and
  • Tom Pundyk.

2019-20: Women in Asset Finance Committee

  • Diane P.L. Brooks (Blaney McMurtry LLP)
  • Angela Armstrong (Prime Capital Group Inc. & immediate past-chair)
  • Suhuyini Abudulai (Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP)
  • Gary Batchelor (CLE Capital Inc)
  • Janice Boulet (CWB National Leasing Inc)
  • Jeff Brubacher (Equifax Canada)
  • Elaine Curwin (PNC Equipment Finance)
  • Kirstin Elmer (Ritchie Bros. Financial Services Ltd.)
  • Lucy Forte-Morelli (RBC Equipment Finance Group)
  • Jeff Haig (TAO Asset Management Inc.)
  • Carolyn Hansen (General Motors Financial of Canada Ltd.)
  • Alane MacDonald (TD Equipment Finance Canada)
  • Doug McKenzie (BAL Global Finance Canada Corporation)
  • Lori Murtagh (SCI Lease Corp.)
  • Marcelle Newstadt (Equilease Corporation)
  • Elizabeth Sale (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP)
  • Nicole Taylor-Smith (Miller Thomson LLP)
  • Badria Wolcott (Great American Insurance Company).


2018-19: Hugh Swandel (the Alta Group)**


2016-17: Industry Compensation Survey Steering Committee

Lucy Elcome (RCAP Leasing)
Clara McLaughlin (De Lage Landen Financial Services Canada Inc.)
Rick Yacknovets (Royal Bank Financial Group).
 

2015-16: Jennifer Babe (Miller Thomson LLP)
 

2014-15: PayNet, Inc. & William Phelan (PayNet, Inc.)
 

2013-14: Moe Danis (Pacific & Western Bank)
 

2012–13: Paul Zalesky (AllWest Insurance Services)
 

2011–12: Angela Armstrong (Prime Capital Consulting and Forest Leasing)***
 

2010–11: David Dalziel (Deloitte & Touche)

  • Rishi Malkani (Deloitte & Touche)
  • Loraine McIntosh (Deloitte & Touche)


2009–10: The Canadian Lease Education On-Demand (CLEO) Volunteer Instructors

  • Angela Armstrong (Prime Capital Consulting and Forest Leasing)***
  • Kevin Bowman (Equirex Leasing Corporation)
  • Michael Burke (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP)
  • Jason Cooper (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP)
  • Murray Derraugh (The Alta Group)
  • Michel Lévesque (Group Credit Lease)
  • Stuart Sherman (Morrison Acceptance Corporation)
  • Judy Smiley (Maxium Financial Services)
  • Hugh Swandel (The Alta Group)**
  • Michael Stewart (KPMG LLP)
  • Steve Weisz (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP)
  • Robin Wilks (HUB International HKMB)


2008–09: Michael Collins (DealerTrack Technologies, Inc.)
 

2007–08: The CFLA Education & Program Committee

  • Chairman: Richard McAuliffe (Key Equipment Finance Canada Ltd.)
  • John Barraclough (Maxium Financial Services Inc.)
  • Gary Batchelor (Travelers Financial Corporation)
  • John Estey (Stonebridge Financial Corporation)
  • Douglas McKenzie (BAL Global Finance Canada Corporation)
  • Alan Morgan (RBC Equipment Finance Group)
     

2006–07: Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. and Ford Credit Canada Ltd.
 

2005–06: Hugh Swandel (Swandel & Associates)**
 

2004–05: Peter Freill (Securcor Group of Companies)
 

2003–04: Mark Robinson (DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Canada Inc.)
 

2002–03: Diane Sekula (CIT Financial) & Bob Westlake (GE Capital Canada)
 

2001–02: David Chaiton (Chaitons LLP)

  • Tom Hopkirk (HKMB Capital Solutions)*
  • Raja Singh (Pitney Bowes Global Credit Services)
     

2000–01: Brian Stevens (MFP Financial Services)
 

1996–97: Serge Mâsse (Crédit-Bail Findeq)
 

1995–96: Tom Simmons (Commcorp Financial Services)
 

1994–95: Greg Korsos (Sako Leasing Inc.)
 

1993–94: Tom Hopkirk (Barclays Bank of Canada, Leasing Division)*

 

*Tom Hopkirk was been named Member of the Year twice: in 1993-94 and 2001-02.

** Hugh Swandel has been named Member of the Year three times: in 2005-2006, 2009-2010 and 2018.

*** Angela Armstrong has been named Member of the Year twice: in 2009-2010 and 2011-2012.