For immediate release: May 4, 2022
Contact: Tracey Cheek
tlc@nafa.aero
405-285-7005
NAFA 50th Annual Conference a Huge Success
NAPA VALLEY, CA., May 4, 2022—The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) broke previous attendance records at its 50th Annual Conference April 19–22, 2022. The four-day event held at the Meritage Resort included powerhouse speakers addressing key concerns, industry trends and an agenda overflowing with valuable content.
“With record attendance for all of our meetings and events, NAFA50 exceeded expectations,” commented NAFA President Jim Blessing. “We were also able to announce the launch of our NAFA Foundation, along with initiatives that include a new working group on Aircraft Transactional Integrity. After a two-year absence from live conferences, NAFA members were overjoyed to be meeting in person again, and we are especially thankful to our lineup of dynamic speakers who presented real-time, relevant and impactful material.”
Keynote speaker this year was Dawn Hudson, who spoke about The Power of Brand. Hudson is the former CMO at the NFL, former President and CEO of Pepsi Cola North America and has twice been named as one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business.”
Economic Analyst Dr. LaVaughn M. Henry spoke to the audience about the state of the U.S. Economy and Monetary Policy, emphasizing the implications of the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate hikes. Dr. Henry is a policy analyst for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Former Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and provided insight on the elements influencing our economy today and their potential impact over the next few years.
General session discussions included Bloomberg Business Jet Market Report, Detecting Fraud in Aircraft Transactions, The Current State of Aviation Insurance, Legal Roundtable discussing Import, Export and Customs Best Practices, FAA Registry Updates, New Aircraft Showcase, Pre-Owned Market Update, Aircraft Values Market Update and an Industry Issues Town Hall.
The Aircraft Appraisal Education Program, sponsored by NAFA and the American Society of Appraisers, was held on April 19 at the conference site just before the day’s events began.
On the lighter side, the first annual NAFA Annual Golf Classic was extremely successful in raising funds for the NAFA scholarship program. A wine tasting event, networking reception and breakfasts, cocktail reception and dinners all helped our members reconnect and establish new ties.
NAFA would like to thank the conference sponsors: Merlot Sponsors– AirFleet Capital, Inc, Embraer, Jet Aviation, Rolls-Royce. Chardonnay Sponsors– AIC Title Service, LLC, Aviation Management Systems (AMS), Aviation Financial Consulting, Clay Lacy, Greenberg Traurig, Insured Aircraft Title Service, JETNET, Soar Aviation Law, TVPX. Zinfandel Sponsors– Aircraft Bluebook, Essex Aviation, JetLoan Capital, JSSI, Priester Aviation, PNC Aviation Finance. Pinot Gris Sponsors—Aero-Space Reports, Inc., AircraftPost, Aviation Legal Group, P.A., Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Echo Aviation Leasing, LLJohns Aviation Insurance, Scope Aircraft Finance, Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, LLC. Association Sponsors—AvBuyer, Corporate Jet Investor, Business Air.
NAFA’s 51st Annual Conference will be held at the Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, FL, April 17-21, 2023.
About NAFA:
The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft; to improving the industry’s service to the public; and to providing our members with a forum for education and the sharing of information and knowledge to encourage the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft. For more information about NAFA, visit the website at www.NAFA.aero.