Our Team
Mike Smith
HEAD CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN
When thinking back to a love of mechanic work, Smith details years of his childhood when he simply loved taking things apart. His grandma would give him her old clocks that didn’t work and Mike would spend hours taking each one apart. At 15, Smith began work as an auto-mechanic working on brands from Volkswagen to Porsche to Nissan, where he hit-the-ceiling of growth in 1991 as the Service Manager of Nissan. At that time, Mike decided to move into the boat industry where there was room for growth and opportunity.
From 1991-1999, Smith worked on “anything that floated,” including a two -year stop at H&W. At the end of ‘99, Mike came to Stateline Marine as the head technician.
Mike Smith’s impact at Stateline Marine is immeasurable and his knowledge and expertise of boat motors is unmatched across the southeast. Mike is honest and straightforward, which builds a trust among customers and within the industry. Smith’s work involves installs, services, repairs to Yamaha and Mercury Outboards along with maintenance to boats and outboards across various brands, with his favorite task being to fix the “unfixable” issues that might stump other mechanics. He credits his length of years at Stateline to the company’s commitment to honest work, ethical business practices, and relationships with customers.
When Mike isn’t at Stateline, you can find him deer hunting, fishing, or spending time with wife, Felicia.
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.
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.
Mable
SHOP DOG
Mable is Stateline Marine’s beloved shop dog. While her work responsibilities are limited, Mable enjoys: getting ear scratches and belly rubs, chasing possums and squirrels, barking at random noises and smells, and taking long naps.
In January of 2018, head technician, Mike Smith, found a box of 5 puppies on the side of the road. He rescued all 5 puppies and found home for 3, keeping 2 at the Smith household. Mable became Mike’s traveling and work companion and has become everyone’s favorite at Stateline Marine!