WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the national economy regains its footing, the American Financial Services Association is gearing its annual conference to give dealers and financial companies specific growth strategies for the rebound.

National dealership leaders and top financial company executives are expected to attend the 14th Annual Vehicle Finance Conference and Exposition at Walt Disney's Yacht Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 10-12.

The conference will feature a panel with chief executive officers from vehicle finance companies. That panel is to include:

— Steven Lambert of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.

— John Noone of Ford Motor Credit.

— Thomas Wolfe of Wachovia Dealer Financial Services.

Another panel discussion is being called a "Straight Talk with Dealers." It's scheduled to include several representatives from the National Automobile Dealers Association:

— Forrest McConnell, III, chairman of NADA's regulatory affairs committee and president of McConnell Honda.

— Edward Tonkin, NADA chairman-elect and president of Ron Tonkin Dealerships.

— Stephen Wade, NADA vice chairman-elect and President of Stephen Wade Auto Centers.

— Kevin Westfall, AutoNation senior vice president, sales F&I.

The conference also will include presentations from the association's vehicle finance division chair, Stephen Smith, who also is senior vice president, financial services, with American Honda Finance Corp. Chris Stinebert, president and CEO of AFSA also will share an update on the organization's initiatives.

The keynote address will be presented by Chris Wallace, a longtime journalist and host of Fox News Sunday. Another anticipated conference speaker is David Wyss, the chief economist at Standard & Poor's based in New York who is responsible for its forecasts and publications.

Other segments of the conference are intended to address the economy and credit markets, financial reform, improving operations, risk management, planning for the future and marketing to attract what AFSA called the "new hip consumer."

Organizers also mentioned another workshop dubbed "Financial Literacy: The New Imperative." They said it's geared to provide an overview of the current financial literacy atmosphere and highlight successful auto finance company initiatives to help educate consumers.

The conference will precede NADA's Annual Convention & Expo in nearby Orlando, Fla. To register for the event, AFSA directed individuals to its Web site, www.vehiclefinanceconference.com.

For exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, companies can contact Matt Gannon at mgannon@afsamail.org.