Our Team
Paden Olberding
CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN
Paden is gifted when it comes to a natural ability with and knowledge for mechanics. His natural ability combined with the education through the Yamaha and Mercury mechanic certification process, makes him an impactful asset to the Stateline Marine staff. Paden spent his teenage years working on engines of outdoor recreational vehicles with a sole mission to make them go as fast as possible. He admittedly claimed to, not only like working on engines, but also breaking them and then fixing again in those early years.
Paden came to Stateline over two years ago and quickly impressed ownership with his work ethic and love for mechanic work. His responsibilities include general maintenance for all boats and outboards, installs, and repairs to Yamaha and Mercury Outboards.
In his spare time, Paden loves to be in the outdoors and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Him and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a baby girl in 2021.
Danny Cotney
CUSTOM INSTALLATIONS, SALES
Danny Cotney has always felt like he was meant help people. Although as a kid he didn’t consider the typical ‘Everyday Hero’ career, Danny became one in 1987 when his career as a firefighter for the Opelika Fire Department (OFD) began. He spent 26 years serving the Opelika community before his retirement in 2012 as Assistant Fire Chief.
During his years at OFD, Cotney spent his days off working part-time jobs, one of those at Stateline Marine. For 6 years he worked as an employee until him and fellow firefighter and friend, Lynn Callahan, decided to purchase Stateline Marine. Not only did Cotney, an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, get to work within the boat industry, he has also been able to continue his personal commitment of helping people.
Danny Cotney takes pride in Stateline Marine being a family business. Cotney explains, “This isn’t a “box” store. We want our customers to be hands-on in the process. No one at Stateline is going to push a sale on customer because we are providing an experience, not pushing sales numbers.” At the end of the day, Stateline Marine is a place where friendships are formed over a love of the outdoors, boating, and fishing. Danny says that over the years, 90% of Stateline customers have also become good friends.
Cotney’s personal impact to Stateline comes through his knowledge and experience of the industry, custom installations, sales, and overall operations.
On weekends you can find Danny on the water, in the woods, or him and wife Anne being grandparents to daughter Katie and son-in-law Chase’s two children, Beau and Murphy.
Josh Bragg
OPERATIONS MANAGER, PARTS DEPARTMENT, BOAT SALES
Anyone who knows Josh, or spends five minutes talking to him, knows that he is down-to-earth and easy going. Josh loves connecting with people; and there’s nothing that he enjoys to talk about more than boats, fishing, and the outdoors. So whether you are a customer at Stateline Marine or fellow angler, you will get a down-to-earth, family man who loves fishing, loves people and is loyal.
Josh currently fishes the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and finished the 2022 season 15th overall in points with a 6th place finish at the Title Championship. Bragg spent 15 years climbing the ranks of the fishing circuit and, in that time, learned about fishing, the outdoor industry, and life. Although Bragg has enjoyed competing at the highest level of professional fishing, he admits it has not been where he sees himself retiring. Most of all, Bragg is a family man and has long pursued a career or business he could one day leave to his children: Gracie (17), Emma (15), and River (7).
Bragg states, “Stateline Marine has been the fit for me. When I first began running a Phoenix Bass Boat in 2012, these guys were one of the only Phoenix dealers in Alabama. Danny and Lynn quickly became friends of mine and 9 years later I began working here at the dealership.” One of the main connections Josh felt to Stateline Marine was the family business. On most days, you can find his wife, Meredith, running the office, marketing and accounting for Stateline and on Saturdays, all 3 kids are typically at the dealership working with Mom and Dad.
While Bragg manages Stateline Marine operations as a whole, he also runs the parts department, boat orders, and new boat sales.
When Josh isn’t at Stateline or fishing the pro circuit, he is spending time with family and friends, throwing steaks on the grill, or riding four-wheelers with the kids.
Noah Armstrong
CUSTOM INSTALLATIONS, TROLLING-MOTOR REPAIR & SERVICES
When thinking back to his childhood days, Noah can’t remember a time that fishing and the outdoors weren’t apart of his life. Growing up Noah spent much of his time on the water with Josh, even fishing team trails together and making an impressive run through the Fisher of Men trail. Through those years, Noah also spent time helping Josh rig his Phoenix boat each year and prepping tackle for his upcoming tournaments.
During the summer of 2022, the same year Josh and Meredith purchased Stateline, Noah began coming a few days a week to support with smaller rigging jobs and clean up. Josh and Noah discovered that they weren’t just a good pair on the water but also at Stateline. Between Noah’s experience through the years around the industry, fishing tournaments, and helping rig boats, it was a natural transition to a full-time position at Stateline in the fall of 2022.
Noah’s main roles at Stateline include: point-person for all rigging jobs, trolling motor set up and repair, installs, and new-boat set up. Between his love of the industry and natural abilities, Noah has been an incredible addition to the team.
When he isn’t at Stateline, you can find Noah on the water, hanging out with friends and family, or hopping in a BFL, ABA or local tournament.
Miguel Romano
SERVICE TECHNICIAN & TRAILER REPAIR
As a young boy, Miguel spent hours with his older brother as he worked on car and motor repairs. Eventually he was old enough to begin learning the trade and discovered a love and understanding for how motors function. For 7 years, Miguel spent his career as a car mechanic at a service center.
After meeting his wife, Shawnee, and moving to the South, Miguel wanted to pursue expanding his mechanical knowledge to boat motors. He began spending his Saturdays training at Stateline Marine and experienced a natural transition from the concept of car motors to Mercury and Yamaha marine engines. It didn’t take long for Josh and Meredith to see the experience, maturity and energy he brought to the team, and after a few months of training, specifically with marine engines, Miguel made the transition to a full-time technician at Stateline.
His current role includes being the lead technician for motor maintenance and service and trailer repair. Miguel credits his love of working to the team of guys here at Stateline and truly enjoying the work he does daily.
When he isn’t at Stateline Marine, Miguel spends time with his wife, Shawnee, and their two daughters Eden (2.5) and Ember (1), hangs with family and friends, and continues car maintenance support for friends and neighbors.
Lynn Callahan
SALES, TROLLING-MOTOR REPAIR TECHNICIAN, SALES
The love of the outdoors and fishing runs deep in Lynn Callahan’s blood. He began crappie fishing and pond hopping around 7 years old and evolved through the years to bigger lakes, bigger tournaments, and bigger opportunities.
Callahan served the City of Opelika as a firefighter and EMT for 25 years before retiring at the rank of Captain in 2006. During the late 90s, as Lynn was traveling along County Road 212, he noticed Stateline Marine was getting ready to open its doors. It was then Callahan knew he wanted to spend his off-days from the fire department working part-time in the boat industry, and that part-time opportunity turned into an opportunity of a lifetime.
In 2005, Callahan, along with Cotney, purchased Stateline Marine. Within the first 3 years of ownership, Stateline became a Top 100 Ranger Dealer in the nation for 2005-2007. Callahan became a part of Ranger’s Pro-Team and had opportunities to sit at the table with industry icons, Forrest and Nina Wood. Lynn explains, “I never pictured someone like me and from my background would have the opportunities I have had. In the 1990s, Ranger was the boat to have and the company to represent. I was proud to know and connect with people I considered some of my heroes.”
Callahan is also proud of the reputation and name of Stateline Marine, which he says has been made possible by the men who put in the work behind the name and word-of-mouth of customers and friends who have experienced the integrity and honesty of this boat dealership.
Lynn and wife, Danielle, also have the honor of caring for nephew, Joseph, who is autistic. Callahan credits Joseph's life for teaching him how to love and advocate for those who aren’t always able to do that for themselves. When he isn’t repairing trolling motors or rigging boats at Stateline, Lynn loves to play golf, work outside in the yard or on the tractor, and fish.
Carson Maddux
PARTS DEPARTMENT & SALES
Carson has been in love with fishing and spending time in the outdoors since he was a little kid. Growing up, Carson would rush to the neighborhood pond after school to catch whatever would bite and spent most of his summers fishing from the bank on Lake Martin before ever stepping foot in a bass boat.
In 2014, Carson won a sweepstakes event to fish with a pro in his first tournament, a Pro Am event on Logan Martin lake. Shortly after, Carson began fishing in high school tournaments and eventually in the college ranks at Auburn University. While at Auburn, he qualified and competed in multiple National Championships for both Bassmaster and Major League Fishing.
Upon graduating in spring of 2024 from Auburn University, Carson wanted to stay involved in the fishing industry. After being a customer for several years, he saw an opportunity at Stateline Marine as a good fit to stay within the industry and also continue his pursuit of climbing the ranks of the professional fishing trails.
Carson’s current responsibilities include: running the parts department and phone lines, managing Stateline’s social media accounts, and supporting in sales.
When he isn’t at work, you can find Carson fishing a tournament, hanging with friends, or enjoying some family time.
