WASHINGTON - The American Financial Services Association (AFSA)'s 13th Annual Vehicle Finance Conference and Exposition will feature a panel discussion with top executives from four major vehicle finance companies. The conference will be held at The Sheraton New Orleans Jan. 21-23, 2009, in the days leading up to NADA 2009. The auto finance panel, in which the lenders will discuss financing during turbulent times, will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 22.

The panel will be moderated by Dennis McCuistion, host/producer of PBS’ McCuistion Program, and will feature Klaus Entenmann, president/CEO of Daimler Financial Services Americas; Thomas F. Gilman, vice chairman/CEO, Chrysler Financial LLC; Sanjiv Yajnik, president, Capital One Auto Finance Inc.; and Frank Armstrong, president, World Omni Financial Corp.

"The CEO Panel is always a highlight of this conference, and this year will be no different," said Chris Stinebert, AFSA’s president/CEO. "It’s a rare opportunity to gain insights from some of the best minds in the business."

Following the CEO Panel, key leaders from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) will present a dealer’s perspective on the changing marketplace and its impact on financing. The "Straight Talk with Dealers" panel will include NADA’s director and both the incoming chair and vice chair.

Attendees can register for AFSA’s meeting at vehiclefinanceconference.com or contact Matt Gannon at mgannon@afsamail.org for exhibit and sponsorship opportunities.