American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL) announced its launch of The Influencers as the first national private lender mastermind as a new category of AAPL membership.

In a twist from traditional masterminds that focus primarily on internal business issues, members of the Influencers will meet with policymakers to tackle broader regulatory change, create strategies to impact market trends, and conceptualize advocacy efforts that will determine the future of the private lending business.

“While other mastermind-type groups exist, there are none for the private lending industry,” said Linda Hyde, AAPL’s managing director. “AAPL is the first to enter this arena, and we’re doing it in a way that’s never been done before. Masterminds traditionally won’t touch legislative and market issues, but that’s exactly what our members need most.”

The Influencers are scheduled to meet four times throughout 2019 in National Harbor near Washington, D.C.; Kansas City, Missouri; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Influencers’ launch coincides with AAPL’s new government relations initiative, which seeks to advocate private-lender-friendly policies in state and federal legislatures. AAPL announced both new programs at its annual conference.

The new legislative focus through these two programs arrives as private lenders face increasing regulation in both state and federal legislatures. Policymakers often craft regulation intending to affect the consumer loan market using broad language that also encompasses business-purpose loans.