Mr. Pauls served as our Chief Financial Officer from September 2009 to February 2013. From March 2013 to December 2013, Mr. Pauls served as a senior advisor to the Company. In December 2013, Mr. Pauls joined the Board of Directors of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT), and serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee and the Technology, Innovation and Operations Committee. In September 2020, Mr. Pauls joined the Board of Directors of North Mountain Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: NMMC), and serves as a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. In February 2021, Mr. Pauls joined the Board of Directors of The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC. From June 2019 to January 2021, Mr. Pauls served on the Board of South Mountain Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: SMMCU) and as a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Between March 2009 and August 2009, Mr. Pauls was self-employed as a consultant.
From April 2008 until February 2009, Mr. Pauls served as Executive Vice President of Finance for TD Bank, NA following TD Bank's acquisition of Commerce Bancorp, Inc. in March 2008. Mr. Pauls served as Chief Financial Officer of Commerce Bancorp from March 2002 until the acquisition by TD Bank in March 2008. Mr. Pauls was a member of the three person Office of the Chairman, responsible for overall management, policy making and strategic direction of Commerce Bancorp.
From October 1995 to March 2002, Mr. Pauls served as the Chief Accounting Officer of Commerce Bancorp, its Senior Vice President from January 1999 to April 2006 and its Executive Vice President from April 2006 to April 2008. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pauls was a Senior Manager in the Audit Department of Ernst & Young in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Pauls received a B.A. in Economics magna cum laude from Dickinson College. Mr. Pauls currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Dickinson College.