With industry participation exceeding expectations, Auction Academy begins its second year with the announcement that Richard Curtis will serve as its President. The announcement was made by Pierre Pons, President/CEO of TPC Management Company, which developed Auction Academy, a professional education program for the auto auction industry.

“The independent auction community demonstrated immediate enthusiasm for the level of training that Auction Academy provides,” said Pons.  “With two full class groups already in progress (the Sons & Daughters & the Managers groups) each with a full two year curriculum of quarterly Sessions and other training programs in development; we felt it was important to have a dedicated management team in place. Richard brings years of operational experience in the auto auction sector as well as being a great ambassador to all of our industry partners”.  Curtis will work closely on the program curriculum and administration with Auction Academy’s COO Randall McCathren.

Said Curtis, “over that past year I have been able to see Auction Academy grow from an idea to a reality and can confirm that the groundwork is in place for an even more robust program moving forward. This is a very unique and specialized program that gives participants detailed exposure to auction operations from all over the country as well as provides learning experiences from within the class groups themselves.”

In assuming duties as Auction Academy’s president, Curtis will be based at TPC Management’s headquarters in Franklin (a suburb of Nashville), Tennessee, notes Pons.  Curtis has served as a partner in TPC Management, a role he will also continue, and previously worked out of the Seattle area.  An industry specialist in vehicle remarketing and distribution, Curtis has spent more than 30 years in the automotive industry, working with auto auctions, auto finance companies, insurance companies, investment firms, vehicle manufacturers, corporate fleets, commercial lessors, third party servicers, and e-commerce concerns.

“It is s a privilege for me to work with someone of Richard Curtis’ caliber, as well as a tremendous benefit for Auction Academy itself,” says COO Randall McCathren.  “The strong relationships he has nurtured over the years coupled with his understanding of the various facets of automotive remarketing will help us build Auction Academy as well as to broaden the training it provides.”

The Auction Academy is a continuing education program for professionals in the auction industry.  Structured like an Executive MBA program, Auction Academy has tracks for the next generation of auction leaders as well as for current auction leadership, designed to enhance essential skill sets, promote best practices, and yield better auction performance.

For additional information about Auction Academy, contact Randall McCathren by email:  rmccathren@auctionacademy.net, or by telephone: (615) 383-1930; or visit the web site www.auctionacademy.net.