The American Factoring Association (AFA) elected Hailey Benton-Thomas as its new board president. Benton-Thomas succeeds Cole Harmonson and has previously served as AFA vice president as well as chair of the AFA’s government affairs committee.
Since 2014, Hailey Benton-Thomas has held multiple leadership roles within the factoring industry, gaining comprehensive expertise across the full factoring lifecycle and earning a reputation as a knowledgeable and forward-thinking leader. In 2023, she co-founded Bison Payments in partnership with Bison Technologies, delivering innovative working capital solutions and tools tailored to the oil and gas sector.
“Hailey has been a strong and respected voice within the factoring industry and a dedicated advocate for the issues that matter to our members,” Tania Daniel, executive director of AFA and the International Factoring Association, said. “Her leadership as chair of the AFA’s government affairs committee was instrumental in advancing the CASH Act and raising awareness of the important role factoring plays in supporting businesses across the country. Her industry knowledge, leadership experience and commitment to advocacy will be tremendous assets as she takes on this new role.”
The AFA also appointed Lori Gustaf, senior vice president / national operations manager at FirstLine Funding Group, to serve as secretary, and Heather Villa, managing director at the International Factoring Association, to serve as treasurer.
“Hailey, Lori and Heather each bring extensive industry experience and a strong commitment to the AFA and its members,” Daniel said. “Their leadership will help ensure that the AFA continues to be a strong voice for the factoring industry, particularly as we navigate an increasingly complex legislative and regulatory environment. We look forward to working with them as we continue to advocate for our members, educate policymakers and protect the interests of the factoring community.”
