Meet Our Nationwide Sales Team
Karen Trostle
Owner / President
Annapolis, MD
410.268.1545 / 800.525.0554
Karen has been a Maryland local her whole life, being raised on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. She has been fortunate enough to enjoy the boating lifestyle from a young age and continues to be an avid boater.
Karen began working at Maryland National in 1973 and eventually worked her way up the corporate ladder to become Vice President in charge of the Marine lending sales division. She has a degree from the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Retail bank Management. In 1987, Karen decided to branch out and start a marine loan origination company, Sterling Acceptance Corporation. Celebrating more than 31 years in business, Sterling Acceptance has four loan production offices around the country.
Karen Trostle is the current Past President of the National Marine Bankers Association; serving as President from 2010 to 2012, and has been on the Board of Directors since 2005. She boasts 40 plus years of marine direct, indirect, and floor plan banking experience. Aside from volunteering for many charities and non-profit organizations, Karen enjoys biking, health and fitness, and spending time on the boat with her husband and dogs.
Dave Trostle
Owner / Vice President
Annapolis, MD
410.268.1545 / 800.525.0554
Dave’s interest in boating started when he was 12 years old, when his parents bought their wooden 27’ Chris Craft. He learned to navigate the Chesapeake Bay with nothing more than a paper chart, a set of parallel rulers and a compass. In the mid 80’s career opportunities brought him to the Washington, DC area in the home entertainment industry. While working, he was approached with an opportunity to be the new sales manager at an Annapolis, MD yacht dealership. He took the opportunity to get in on the ground floor and build a business, which it certainly turned out to be. He obtained the Trojan Yacht franchise, which was on a strong growth path. Their International Series yachts set the standard for the euro style vessels which are so common today. Within a few years they had become the second largest dealer in the country and he was awarded salesperson of the year twice during that time.
The opportunity to come to Sterling Acceptance Corporation came along in the 90’s and was a perfect blend of utilizing his business skills, boating background and industry knowledge, to continue working in an industry he so much enjoyed. Along the way, he obtained his yacht insurance license, currently representing GlobalMarine Insurance, in addition to his responsibilities at Sterling Acceptance.
He and his wife Karen are actively involved in boating, spending as much time as possible on their Post 50 during the course of the boating season. They have made many friends on the water along the way, with it being rare that they do not run into someone that financed their boat with them. They have also visited many of the top RV destinations around the country- from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine to the Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Bryce & Zion Canyons in Utah to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, just to name a few.
“I must say that, I am one of those people that truly do enjoy coming to work and helping people realize a dream they have of owning that boat or RV they always wanted.”
Matt Brown
Corporate Sales Manager
matt@sterlingacceptance.com
Annapolis, MD
410.991.7686 / 800.525.0554
Matt comes to Sterling Acceptance with many years of experience in customer service, management, and sales; a welcome addition to the team! Growing up in Maryland with boaters as parents, Matt spent most of his weekends cruising the Chesapeake. His love for boating and the Chesapeake Bay has been with him since childhood. This continued passion, in combination with his knowledge of boating and industry experience, makes him an excellent fit for Sterling Acceptance Corp. In Matt’s spare time, you can find him biking, hiking, camping, boating and spending time with his wife and sons.
Mary Ann Savage
North East Regional Sales Manager
Newport, RI
617.633.8287
Mary Ann comes to Sterling Acceptance as our North East Sales Manager with a substantial background in recreational finance. Since the 1980's, she has worked extensively in the industry, building relationships with brokers, dealers, and lenders in the North East Region of the country. She has worked in all capacities of marine loan transactions, from boat shows to loan closings. She has a wealth of experience and professionalism that you will admire in just your first interaction with her! In her spare time, Mary Ann enjoys boating in the Narragansett Bay, spending quality time on the Newport beaches, and working in her growing garden.
Susan Cunningham
Florida Sales Manager
Bradenton, FL
410.268.1545
Susan was raised in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. With such a large family surrounding her, fishing in lakes, falling in streams and eating fresh home raised vegetables made for a great family environment.In school at East Carolina University, she was able to continue her education and be by the water. A special, to-be-husband, lured her to Maryland where her education continued in the Chesapeake Bay area. She began working in the marine industry with new and used boat dealers, brokers, and insurance agents. She began her journey with Sterling Acceptance Corporation in 1993, where she established our first Florida office. In addition to the thrill of the International Boat Shows that she has participated in for the last twenty years, she enjoys interacting with the salespeople, clients, and lenders that serve us. She feels that even through the “tough years” our business has been rewarding and one that we know we will always play a part in making dreams come true.
Our Corporate Headquarters Staff
Kate Brown
Credit / Closing Manager
kate@sterlingacceptance.com
Annapolis, MD
410.268.1545 / 800.525.0554
Kate was born in Annapolis, Maryland and raised on the Chesapeake Bay. As a young girl she spent her summers on the Severn River competitively sailing and placing in several 420 National Regattas. A honors graduate of the University of Maryland, Kate dual majored in Business and Communication. After college, she worked with the Veterans Affairs helping develop programs for Veterans returning back to the United States. She has experience in finance, sales and customer service, making her a great addition to the Sterling team! Kate enjoys traveling and has spent time in both Europe and Asia. Other hobbies include camping, hiking, boating, crafting and spending time with her husband Matt, and her two boys Luke & Owen and their friends.
Katherine Henard
Documentation & Title Specialist
katherine@sterlingacceptance.com
410.268.1545 / 800.525.0554
Katie has been a Maryland resident her entire life. She grew up on the Chesapeake Bay boating, fishing, crabbing, and kayaking with her family. Living on the bay has truly become part of who she is. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Sociology from UMBC. While working for DNR Katie found her niche in the boating world. With the combined love for boating, water sports and customer service, Katie is the perfect fit for our Sterling Acceptance team. You can often find Katie kayaking, traveling down to Florida to visit family and Disney World, or attending a concert. Her heart is most full being by the bay and she hopes to fill her client’s hearts with that same feeling.
Jen Richardson
Administrative Assistant
j
410.268.1545 / 800.525.0554
Jen is a recent empty nester who has lived in Annapolis for over 20 years. She and her husband are active in the local sailing community. She comes to SAC with over 20 years’ experience in the home mortgage industry. In 2019 she took a break from mortgages and worked at Atlantic Cruising yachts providing parts and warranty services for Jeanneau and Fountaine-Pajot Yachts. Jen knows boats, making her a great asset to the Sterling Acceptance Team.