Group-4

Brent West is the Director Of Operations at Braswell & Son.  My number one goal is to find  ways to serve the members of my team.  Since joining Braswell & Son we have been voted a “Best Place To Work” for the past 8 years.   This achievement is only possible by having great folks on my team.  My personal motto is to become great, we must first serve others and through service we can achieve great things.   On a personal note, I’m a novice chef and will travel if fishing is involved.

Michael Cohen owns Top Dollar Pawn & Jewelry with two locations in Maryland. Michael is a second-generation pawnshop owner. Top Dollar Pawn’s first location was founded by his father in 1985. Michael has also been serving as a board member for the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce for over ten years. In 2014 Top Dollar Pawn & Jewelry was honored with the Excellence in Business Community Service Award by the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce. 

Lauren Kaminsky Goldman, aka GOLDGIRL, has been immersed in the world of jewelry since birth. Lauren’s love for treasure hunting began at her grandfather’s pawnshops where she would sift through trays of jewelry to find unique pieces and pretend to negotiate the best deals with the staff. She was taught how to properly value gold and diamonds, along with developing an appreciation for the craftsmanship of fine jewelry. Now, as Chief Operating Officer and President of EZ Pawn Corp, she oversees 15 locations, working alongside her father, brother, & sister.

In 2011 she founded ByGOLDGIRL, and as her new company’s first venture, collaborated with Tao Group Hospitality and celebrity chef Chris Santos on the opening of Beauty & Essex in New York City. Her pawnshop-inspired retail store greets guests who can peruse her curated offerings of vintage finds and curiosities before entering the glamorous restaurant that awaits behind the back door. The successful venture led to additional Beauty & Essex locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

In 2022, as part of her mission to share of love of gold further, she created a ByGOLDGIRL collection for QVC, which features new fine jewelry crafted with 14k gold and real diamonds, inspired by her favorite finds sourcing pre-loved pieces for her retail shops at Beauty & Essex. She also works directly with clients on bespoke custom pieces under her MyGOLDGIRL brand.

John Bocker is an NSSF Security and Compliance Team member and the co-founder at FFL Consultants Team Member. FFL Consultants is a small-business consulting agency specializing in commercial security and ATF – FFL compliance. The goal at FFL Consultants is to educate the firearms industry and protect FFLs against unexpected losses resulting from burglary, robbery and internal control failures. Have a question regarding this article or the National Shooting Sports Foundation membership? Contact John at (720) 336-0028 and visit www.FFLConsultants.com.

Cliff Andrews has 20 years of experience serving as a chief advocate and advisor to association clients on public policy, public relations, and mission-focused association management in an ever-changing political and economic landscape. Cliff currently is the Principal of CapCity Advocates, LLC, a federal government relations and consulting firm that he opened in 2004. Cliff works in a bipartisan manner before Congress, regulators, and private sector stakeholder groups on a variety of policy issues, including small-dollar lending regulation. He is a true “Washingtonian,” born and raised in the nation’s capital. Cliff lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, daughter, son, and Alaskan Malamute. 

Johnny and his wife, Tara, own and operate Kendale Pawn Shop in Sanford, NC. The store was opened by Tara’s father, Jimmy Johnson, in 1980, and Johnny has been running the store full time since 1986. A member of the North Carolina Pawnbroker Association for many years, he has served on the board in many capacities, including President multiple times. Johnny and Tara have been married for 33 years and have twin daughters, Rebecca and Katie, and five grandchildren. 

Lisa Little has been a passionate member of the pawn industry since 1987 and was the first woman in the nation to become a Certified Pawn Professional®. After attending the University of Georgia, she and her father co-founded a chain of four pawn shops, along with numerous other businesses. In 2013, Lisa became CEO and Managing Member of all of the family businesses. In her spare time Lisa loves spending time with her daughters, Victoria and Alexandria, homeschooling, traveling, and serving as a Bible class teacher and youth education coordinator. She also loves genealogy, Agatha Christie and all things Jane Austen. 

Robert is the owner of Elk River Trading Company in Tennessee and specializes in firearms, jewelry, and pre-owned luxury handbags. He is a second-generation pawnbroker who has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. Robert is a past president of the Alabama Pawnbrokers Association and currently serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Pawnbrokers Association. Robert is a General Class Amateur Radio Operator and lives with three senior rescue dachshunds in Huntsville, Alabama. 

President, Bali Credit Corp, San Antonio, TX 

Boyd is President and co-owner of Bali Credit Corporation which operates five stores in the San Antonio area. Prior to founding the company in 2000, he practiced law in El Paso, TX, for 15 years. Boyd is a member of the State Bar of Texas and serves on the Texas Association of Pawnbrokers Board of Directors. He serves as chair of the NPA Government Relations Committee. He is married to Alison, whose family has been in the pawn business for over 50 years. They have been married for 32 years and have three sons – Brooks, Jared, and Reagan.