2023 IFA Annual Factoring Conference Preview

A new year has just begun, so it’s time to start preparing for the International Factoring Association’s annual conference. Here’s a breakdown of all the events, educational sessions and networking opportunities the IFA is offering this year in New Orleans.

BY PHIL NEUFFER

It has been nearly 30 years since the International Factoring Association conducted its first ever annual conference, and the event will be back once again this year, this time in New Orleans from May 10 to May 12. Following last year’s successful event in Boston, this year’s event, the 29th in the IFA’s history, will be held at the Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Nestled near the famous French Quarter of the Big Easy, the Roosevelt has been operating for 130 years, making it intrinsically tied to the history of the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. In fact, Huey P. Long, who served as governor and then senator for the state from 1928 until he was assassinated in 1935, was a former tenant. In addition to top-line accommodations, the Roosevelt features a full-service spa and dining options, although you’ll want to venture out for a culinary exploration of New Orleans, which U.S News & World Report ranked the second-best foodie city in the United States. The IFA is providing such an experience, as on day one of the conference, there will be a food and history tour of New Orleans available to conference attendees for an additional fee.

Speaking of the first day, there will be plenty of chances to network when you first arrive for the event, with a golf tournament at Bayou Oaks, a Factoring Essentials Training Course, an Idea Exchange, IFA chapter reception and a NextGen reception all culminating before the official TriumphPay Welcome Reception for the event from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. CT on May 10.

Keynote Highlights

Keynote addresses are often major highlights of industry events, and this year’s annual conference will not disappoint in this regard.

The first keynote speaker of the three-day event will be Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes, who will take the stage at 9:30 a.m. CT for an hour-long talk on May 11 following opening remarks and an IFA and AFA update from Tania Daniel, executive director of the IFA; Heather Villa, managing director of the IFA; Terri Baker, marketing director of the IFA; and the board of directors of the AFA.

Karlgaard’s address will put global developments in a local context. Whether in terms of economics, geopolitics, technology or anything else, Karlgaard will explain how international trends can have an impact on any business, particularly those in the factoring space, and share strategies to navigate what’s happening now and what will be happening later.

During the afternoon of day two of the event, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Archie Manning will deliver the conference’s second keynote address, providing leadership lessons from his time as a player, a businessman and a father. His experiences in all three phases of his life have taught Manning the principles of success, which he’ll share with attendees during his hour-long session.

While Manning is the father of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, he built his own 14-year NFL career during which he threw for 23,911 yards and 125 touchdowns over 151 games, including 134 with the New Orleans Saints. In the years since his football playing days, Manning has gone on to become a businessman and public relations consultant for companies such as Gatorade, Direct TV and Zurich while remaining active with numerous altruistic causes, including his charity golf tournaments supporting cystic fibrosis research.

Like Manning, Peter Ricchiuti, the third and final keynote speaker for the IFA’s annual conference, has a direct connection to New Orleans. A business professor at the city’s Tulane University, Ricchiuti is well versed in the areas of financial modeling and analysis, among many other topics, from his time in the investment world. For example, he served as assistant state treasurer and chief investment officer for the state of Louisiana, managing more than $3 billion.

A prolific public speaker who has appeared on media outlets like Bloomberg, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Ricchiuti will focus his talk for this event, like he does with many of his addresses, on the outlook for the U.S. economy while personalizing it for the IFA audience by discussing what future economic events will mean for Factors.

Breakout Session Highlights

Of course, in addition to sponsored excursions and receptions and the trio of accomplished keynote speakers, the real meat of each and every IFA conference comes during the educational sessions. Throughout the conference, attendees will be able to gain valuable insights into how to best succeed in the factoring industry now and in the years to come.

The first collection of breakout sessions will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT on May 11, the second day of the conference, and will include a session on Current Topics in Transportation Factoring with David Jencks, Esq., an attorney at Jencks Law, P.C. Michael Ullman, Esq. and Jared Ullman, Esq. will take the second breakout stage during this time to share their wisdom and insights of the factoring industry. For those that need a breakdown and/or refresher (depending on your experience) of the basics of factoring, Brian Center, CEO of Quasar Capital Partners, will also have a breakout that will explore topics such as need-to-know factoring terms, the Uniform Commercial Code and the five C’s of credit.

There will be even more valuable lessons to be learned later in the day, as breakout sessions focused on business development, senior leadership, the next generation and inventory finance will be on the docket. These sessions will include a “speed networking” session moderated by Greg Salomon, president of Oxygen Funding and IFA advisory board member, with the goal of facilitating introductions that become the bedrock of long-term connections. In addition, during the session on inventory finance, Bob Grbic of White Oak Commercial Finance, Kristen Palmer of Iron Horse Credit and Paul Schuldiner of Rosenthal & Rosenthal will join moderator Harvey Gross, president of HSG Services, to discuss how inventory lending will be critical for factors who hope to keep up with trends like e-commerce and the push for more availability. And don’t forget the Roundtable for Senior Executives. Led by Cole Harmonson of Dare Capital and Ryan Jaskiewicz of 12Five Capital, the session will provide a platform for senior executives to discuss the unique challenges of leading a company while allowing for plenty of networking opportunities. 

Day three of the conference will feature three separate breakout session sections, starting with the first at 11 a.m. CT following a short break after Ricchiuti’s keynote address. For those looking for an update on how the courts are treating f=Factors in early 2023, this section will feature a report from Ben Heuer, Esq. and Bob Zadek, Esq, of Buchalter. In addition, Oscar Rombolà, managing director of eCapital Freight Factoring and an IFA advisory board member, will moderate a session covering new opportunities in the Canadian factoring market, while Jencks will join with Constance Fraley, senior operations manager of TBS Capital Funding, and Daniel Lozier, director of sales and marketing at Primary Funding, for an in-depth discussion aimed at Factors that fund clients with low sales volume.

Following lunch, the action will start back up again with eight more breakout sessions sandwiching a short break in the midafternoon.

Husman Jandal, a digital strategist and marketing consultant who has worked with companies like PepsiCo, Sanofi and HSBC, will provide a through-line for the final two sections, as his breakout session will be broken into two parts, allowing time for plenty of in-depth advice on achieving business success through new client acquisition and client retention.

Meanwhile, the second set of breakout sessions on day three will also feature panels on construction factoring, fraud and risk management and legal trends, with the latter moderated by Ken Yager, president of Newpoint Advisors, and featuring Laurie Montplaisir, Esq., a partner at Krieg Devault; Jason Medley, Esq., a partner at Spencer Fane; and Steve Kurtz, Esq., a partner at Levinson, Arshonsky & Kurtz, LLP. Yager, Montplaisir, Medley and Kurtz will cover a broad range of topics in a rapid-fire format and also interact with the audience through live polling.

In the final collection of breakout sessions, Leslye Campos, vice president of operations at ENGS Commercial Capital, and Melissa Free, vice president of operations at Triumph, will provide their expert guidance when it comes to the operations side of the world. There will be plenty of legal topics discussed during the last batch of breakout sessions as well, including a look at commercial finance disclosures with Alex McFall, Esq., and Christopher Friedman, Esq., of Bradley and an international update on topics such as UNIDROIT Model Law and market trends with Alberto Wyderka, regional director of the Americas for FCI.

Networking, Exhibitors and Registration

Last year, there were more than 800 attendees at the IFA annual conference, and there should be another great turnout this year. That turnout will include representatives from across the industry who will be available to discuss potential partnerships and provide valuable information as part of the event’s expansive exhibit hall. Featuring more than 50 exhibitors, the hall will be open throughout the conference, starting at 7:30 a.m. CT each day, and include funding sources, software providers, executive search firms, payment processing companies and more service providers who can help factoring firms excel.

In addition to the networking opportunities during the litany of breakout sessions and exhibit hall hours, there will be plenty of other times to connect with colleagues and potential business partners throughout each day and into each evening. There will be breaks between panels for attendees to explore the exhibit hall and connect with others. Each day will also feature an hour and a half lunch event, including breakout lunches for Transportation Factors and Small Factoring Companies. Later that evening, there will be more chances to connect during a Rooftop Happy Hour from 5-6:30 p.m. CT and a Dessert Reception sponsored by Tax Guard from 9-11 p.m. CT.

With so many vital sessions and a wealth of networking opportunities, the IFA’s annual convention is a can’t-miss event for anyone, whether you’re embedded in the factoring industry or just tangentially connected. If you haven’t registered yet, you can do so here. Registration costs $1,295 for IFA members and $1,395 for non-members, with discounts available for larger groups. You can also register for add-on activities, such as the golf tournament and the Factoring Essentials Hybrid Training Class. Make sure to register soon because prices will go up after March 1. Go to factoringconference.com for more information and to register.