NMLA Announces New Board

Jeff Backus, Lauren Key, and Caroline Mantel were all elected to serve on the National Marine Lenders Association Board of Directors through 2025. Jeff Backus is the owner of First Approval Source, a company he founded in 2012; Lauren Key is vice president and director of recreational finance for Shore Premier Finance; and Caroline Mantel works for the Boat History Report, the leading provider of watercraft history reports. 

Three board members stepped down from the board this year: Karen Trostle, who served 16 years as a lender board member, and two years as president; Bob Dunford who served six years on the board; and Matt Anderson who served six years on the board as associate director. 

Other directors serving on the NMLA board for 2023 include John Haymond, Medallion Bank (president), Michael Stodolak, Independent Bank (vice president), Noelle Norvell, Luxury Financial Group (secretary), Don Parkhurst, M&T Bank (assistant treasurer), Jim Coburn, The Coburn Consulting Company, Dan Hubbard, Independent Bank, and Directors Emeriti Jackie Forese and Bill Otto (treasurer). Robin Cottmeyer serves as the association’s executive director, and Jim Stewart as NMLA’s Legal Counsel.