On Friday, May 25, Bert Goldberg, founder and executive director of the International Factoring Association (IFA) and American Factoring Association (AFA), was involved in a kiteboarding accident in Pismo Beach, CA.

Although a conservative boarder with decades of experience, he was caught off guard in a combination of atypical events occurring simultaneously. As he was launching his kite, he was caught in a gust of wind that carried him and his kite into the dunes. He was taken to the local hospital and was treated for a spinal cord injury.

Surgery was performed on Tuesday, May 29, and his physicians are optimistic with his recovery. Goldberg has full mobility in his upper body and is working to regain lower body mobility. He will move to a rehabilitation center in northern California sometime in the coming week and will recover there for about three weeks before returning home.

Contact information for the center will be released when available for those who would like to send well wishes. Goldberg remains positive and sees no interruption in the services that the IFA or AFA provides to its members. Although he will be available via computer, please direct all IFA and AFA related matters to Heather Villa, communications director, at 805-773-0011 ext. 301, or [email protected].

Headquartered in Pismo Beach, CA and with over 400 corporate members, the International Factoring Association is one of the largest associations of commercial finance companies in the world.