HANOVER, Md. — The Community Auto Finance Association is looking to expand its membership of established local businesses that sell, lease and finance used vehicles.

Established last October, CAFA is also hoping a new website can boost its member partnerships that leaders believe can represent approximately 7,500 companies and their 300,000 employees, who are responsible for more than $50 billion in sales each year.

CAFA reiterated that membership is open to all companies engaged in the buy-here and/or lease-here, pay-here market and who adopt and promise to adhere to CAFA's mission code of ethics.

Organizers mentioned CAFA can offer its members educational opportunities, legislative review, updates of changing requirements and information and resources that can help members continue to be a viable part of their local economies.

Creating a code of ethics that's now available on the website was one of the first acts of the new association.

"Advocacy with federal regulators on matters affecting the buy-here and/or lease-here, pay-here market is a major focus for CAFA," association leaders stressed.

"CAFA leadership has met with the Federal Trade Commission and has participated in a recent roundtable in Detroit where the FTC gathered information on consumers' experiences when buying or leasing motor vehicles," they added.

Jack Tracey serves as executive director of CAFA and board members include:

—Greg Zak, Dixon Motors, president.

—Bradley Sloan, Oasis Auto Sales/First Coast Acceptance, vice president.

—Mike Thomasson, Mike Carlson Motor Co., vice president.

—Bob Okeley, OAK Motors, treasurer.

—Robby Card, Easy Auto, secretary.

—Marc Maguire, The Car Store/CSC, public relations.

—Michael Benoit, Hudson Cook, counsel.

The association's directors are Chris Leedom, of AutoMaxx; Gene Koury, of Gene Koury Auto Sales; Derre Buike, of J.D. Byrider OH105; and Jack Bethany, of Town & County Auto Sales, Financial Services of Mississippi.

Dealers can go to www.cafassoc.org for more information and to obtain a membership application.