Three executives received the 2017 American Financial Services Association (AFSA) Distinguished Service Award (DSA) during AFSA’s 101st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Rex Ellison, president and CEO of Republic Finance, Andrew Stuart, president and CEO of TD Auto Finance (TDAF) and Scarlett Smith, Vice President of Sales of Banking and Payments at FIS each were awarded the DSA during the event.
The DSA is the association’s highest honor, recognizing individuals who have contributed significantly to industry and association’s growth on a national level, advanced its mission and objectives, and elevated its image, according to a press release.
Ellison has been an active member of AFSA for many years. A strong supporter of the AFSAPAC, he started an Employee AFSAPAC program at Republic Finance.
In 2008, he served as the AFSAPAC Chair during the 25th Anniversary Independents Conference in Arizona. Two years later, Ellison served as the 2010 Independent’s Section Chair. Ellison also serves on the AFSA Education Foundation Board, The EDGE Advisory Board, Operations Committee, State Government Affairs Committee and the State Traditional Installment Lending Subcommittee.
Ellison also is the president of the Mississippi Consumer Finance Association and president-elect of the Louisiana Finance Association. Republic Finance specializes in providing a variety of consumer loans, flexible lending options, and incomparable customer service.
Stuart joined AFSA in 2008 while he was with Volkswagen Group as executive vice president and CFO of VW Credit, and became involved in AFSA. He went on to serve as Vehicle Finance Division Chairman 2012-2014.
He co-chaired the annual AFSA/NADA Executive Forum that brings NADA’s elected leaders together with top executives from AFSA’s vehicle finance members involved in indirect auto lending with franchise dealers. In 2014, he chaired a successful AFSA Vehicle Finance Division Conference in New Orleans.
Smith has chaired the AFSA Business Partner Board for the last three years and is a member of the AFSA Board of Directors.
As the sponsor of the keynote speaker for the AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference, Smith also serves on the Vehicle Finance Conference Planning Committee.
Smith is a founding member of the association’s Women’s Leadership Council and serves on the Operations and Regulatory Compliance Committee’s Business Partner Resource Group.
Based in Washington, D.C., AFSA is the national trade association for the consumer credit industry, protecting access to credit and consumer choice. Its 450 members include consumer and commercial finance companies, auto finance/leasing companies, mortgage lenders, credit card issuers, industrial banks and industry suppliers.