Medallion Bank

In this new role, Moore will lead initiatives to engage rising professionals, foster cross-industry collaboration and support workforce development programs that strengthen the RV industry’s long-term growth.

“We’re happy to see Jordan Moore recognized for his leadership and vision,” said Justin Haley, Medallion Bank’s president. “This appointment reflects not only Jordan’s personal dedication but also Medallion Bank’s commitment to supporting and developing future recreation industry leaders.”

The Emerging Leaders Coalition brings together and helps to develop early and mid-career professionals across the RV sector to drive innovation, share insights and elevate talent within manufacturing, supplier and service segments.

A joint update for NMMA and MRAA members from NMMA Chief Brand Officer, Ellen Bradley and MRAA President, Matt Gruhn

On behalf of the Market Expansion Advisory Group, we would like to share an important update on the work underway to strengthen and grow the boating market—work led by marketing leaders from NMMA and MRAA member companies. Together, they have unveiled a data-driven strategy designed to accelerate long-term growth for our industry amid shifting consumer behavior and softening demand.

What We Heard

Based on member feedback we received during our strategic planning research, two things were clear: we need to clarify the role of Discover Boating and establish a measurable framework to make a bigger market impact. To meet that need, NMMA Board Chair Bill Yeargin convened the Market Expansion Advisory Group made up of marketing leaders from both manufacturers and dealers.

Their work focused on Discover Boating’s mandate and defining the most effective marketing roles for Discover Boating, manufacturers, and dealers—ensuring each part of the ecosystem plays to its strengths. The group also commissioned in-depth consumer research from Ipsos to ground future marketing work in a current, data-driven understanding of who today’s (and tomorrow’s) boaters are and what motivates them. You’ll be hearing more about this research through upcoming webinars and reports.

One Key Takeaway

Discover Boating is an industry-wide movement to attract new people to boating—it is not a lead generator or sales engine. Discover Boating’s role is to build broad awareness, shape perceptions, and inspire new and next-generation audiences by filling the top of the marketing funnel.

Its purpose is to reach, inspire and start engaging people. Once consumers engage through Discover Boating platforms, it is up to manufacturers and dealers to take over via their own marketing strategies to capture interested consumers. This begins the process for manufacturers and dealers to generate leads and nurture consumers through the path to purchase.

This coordinated approach fills a gap in awareness-driving efforts that manufacturers and dealers often do not have the scale or focus to address on their own, helping avoid higher, fragmented marketing costs and supporting more effective market growth.

As Abbey Heimensen from MarineMax said, “Market growth is a team sport. Manufacturers, dealers, and associations each have a role, and we’re prepared to take bold, coordinated steps forward.” This spirit of collaboration is at the core of the Advisory Group’s strategy, grounded in measurable outcomes and shared success.

How We’ll Measure Impact

This is a multi-year strategy and to measure success, the group developed the Discover Boating Health Score, a new shared metric that measures awareness, engagement, and participation across the industry, providing early signals of market momentum and helping us stay accountable.

What Happens Next

Looking ahead, we’ll begin a “crawl, walk, run” approach. The “crawl” phase starts this spring to test and validate our marketing tactics, audience targeting, and funding needs. This phased plan will be presented to the NMMA and MRAA Boards, with further growth efforts scaling up as we confirm what works best.

I encourage you to stay engaged as we roll out additional insights and resources in the coming weeks.

Please view the recent webinar with Advisory Group members to hear directly from the leaders who helped shape the strategy.

You can also get more detail in this press release on the Advisory Group-led direction.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to growing our industry. Together, we’re charting a clear path forward to inspire more people to experience the joys of boating and ensure recreational boating continues to thrive for years to come.

Ellen Bradley | Chief Brand Officer, NMMA
Matt Gruhn | President, MRAA

Middletown, RI – 1/29/26 - On January 14, 2026, OceanPoint Funding, Inc., an affiliate of OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC, entered into an agreement to acquire Lending Associates, Inc. OceanPoint Financial Partners is the parent company of the OceanPoint Marine Lending brand.

Lending Associates is a well-established organization with a strong reputation in marine, RV, and aircraft lending. Led by Grant Smalling and Jack Crittenden, the company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, with a team serving the West Coast, Great Lakes, New England, Texas, and Florida. The team brings decades of industry experience and shares OceanPoint’s commitment to exceptional customer service and operational excellence.

The consummation of the transaction is subject to receipt of requisite regulatory and other necessary approvals and customary closing conditions and deliverables. OceanPoint currently anticipates the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2026, at which time the two teams will operate under the unified brand OceanPoint Funding, and will be led by Grant Smalling.

This strategic move is intended to strengthen OceanPoint Funding’s position in the market and supports long-term growth strategy by enhancing its ability to serve customers and broaden their geographic reach.

“The acquisition of Lending Associates represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy,” said Jack Murphy, President, OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC. “This acquisition will be an exciting step; it will expand our capabilities and help more customers realize their dreams of boat or RV ownership.”

“We are thrilled to join the OceanPoint brand,” said Grant Smalling, CEO of Lending Associates. “This partnership will enable us to leverage our combined strengths to better serve customers, enhance the support we provide to our dealers, and deliver greater value across the recreational lending market.”

__________________________________________________________________________

About OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC

OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC was established in 2005, the holding company oversees OceanPoint’s family of businesses, supporting a mission rooted in prudent growth, customer-first service, and community impact. As a mutual organization, OceanPoint reinvests earnings to serve customers and the communities where it operates, advancing financial wellness and long-term value through its subsidiaries.

During its December meeting of the Board of Directors, the National Marine Lenders Association (NMLA) elected Michael Stotolak to serve as its President. Mike, Executive Vice President of Retail Banking at Independent Bank, succeeds Noelle Norvell who will now serve as Immediate Past President and Director.  

“Our focus for the coming year will be on continuing education and member growth,” said NMLA President Mike Stodolak. “We are committed to providing meaningful programs and resources that support our members and strengthen the marine finance 
community.” 

The remaining 2026 slate of officers ratified by the board in December includes Vice President Caroline Mantel (Boat History Report), Secretary Mike Harbaugh (Vantage Recreational Finance), Treasurer Bill Otto (NMLA Director Emeritus), and Assistant Treasurer Don Parkhurst (M&T Bank). 

The 2026 NMLA Board of Directors  
President: Mike Stodolak, Independent Bank 
Immediate Past President: Noelle Norvell, Luxury Finance 
Vice President: Caroline Mantel, Boat History Report 
Secretary: Mike Harbaugh, Vantage Recreational Finance 
Treasurer: Bill Otto, Director Emeritus 
Assistant Treasurer: Don Parkhurst, M&T Bank 

Directors:  
Jim Coburn, The Coburn Consulting Company 
Jackie Forese, Director Emeritus 
Lars Lundberg, Merrick Bank 
Anne McCabe, Medallion Bank 
Jared Zimlin, Elite Financial 

NMLA Legal Counsel James Y. Stewart and Executive Director Robin Cottmeyer support the association as needed.   

The NMLA would like to acknowledge and thank Lauren Key (Shore Premier Finance) and Jeff Backus (Epic Finance) for their time, leadership and creative contributions during their board tenures.  

About NMLA 
Founded in 1979, the National Marine Lenders Association (NMLA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization committed to promoting and enhancing recreational Marine Lending in the United States. Members enjoy access to industry insights, regulatory updates and exclusive events that foster collaboration and growth in the boating and yachting sectors.   
www.marinelenders.org 

Board/Committee members Jim Coburn (Coburn & Associates), Lauren Key (Shore Premier Finance), and Crystal Garcia (USA Specialty Lending) were on hand December 7–10, 2025 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, to represent the NMLA at Dealer Week 2025, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ (MRAA) premier national conference for marine retailers.

“Dealer Week continues to be an outstanding opportunity to connect with our partners, engage with market leaders, and discuss the future of marine lending” said Noelle Norvell, NMLA President. The event brings together hundreds of marine dealers, manufacturers, lenders, and industry partners committed to strengthening the recreational boating marketplace. As part of NMLA’s ongoing mission to promote and improve recreational marine lending in the United States, the NMLA team will be meeting with dealers and industry stakeholders to discuss lending trends and share insights on the changing financing landscape for marine retailers nationwide.

Event Details:
Dealer Week 2025
Tampa Convention Center • Tampa, Florida
December 7–10, 2025
NMLA Booth #724

For more information about the National Marine Lenders Association, visit www.marinelenders.org. 

October 20, 2025

NMLA SELECTS NEW BOARD DIRECTOR

Jared Zimlin Joins as Director

At its October meeting, the National Marine Lenders Association Board of Directors named Jared Zimlin from Elite Reactional Finance as Director. With over 20 years’ experience in marine, RV, and floor plan financing, Zimlin brings a wealth of business development expertise. He believes that a strong marine finance sector supports the entire recreational marine industry.

“I’m excited to join the Board,” Zimlin said. “I am committed to building a dynamic community focused on sharing knowledge and effective communication that benefits lenders, service providers, members, partners, and sponsors."

Zimlin steps in for John Haymond, a current board member and past president, who has resigned. “We deeply appreciate John’s thirteen years of dedicated service,” said Noelle Norvell, NMLA President. “His leadership united people and his guidance will have a lasting influence on our association. We wish him well in his next chapter with Field and Stream Financial.”

Zimlin will serve as interim director through December 2026, after which he may run for a full three-year term.

Gruhn Receives 2025 William B. Otto Award

The National Marine Lenders Association (NMLA) today announced that Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), has been honored with the 2025 William B. Otto Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to the marine industry. Established in 2002, the William B. Otto Award celebrates individuals whose leadership has driven meaningful innovation and positive changes across the recreational marine industry. The award was presented to Gruhn during NMLA’s Annual Marine Lending Conference on September 22, 2025, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“Matt’s vision and dedication have elevated the role of the marine retailer and strengthened the entire boating ecosystem,” said Noelle Norvell, NMLA president. “His leadership has built bridges across the industry, creating lasting value for dealers, manufacturers, and boating consumers alike.”

Gruhn is widely respected for his collaborative approach, innovation, marine dealership advocacy, and unwavering commitment to a stronger, more sustainable future for recreational boating.

100 Severn Avenue, Suite 101

Annapolis, MD 21403

Checks can be mailed to our lockbox at:

NMLA

P.O. Box 534

South Haven, MI 49049

If you have any questions, please contact us at nmla@marinelenders.org or 410-980-1401