IARA Lines Up New Board, Committee Members

The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) on Feb. 2 announced eight recent additions to its leadership roles for the new year.

IARA President Jeff Bescher and Executive Director Tony Long are welcoming a new board Secretary, newly elected board directors, and committee chair appointees. This talented roster will bring a variety of new perspectives that will contribute to the improvement of IARA and to the remarketing industry, Bescher and Long said.

Holly Vollant, IARA Board Secretary/Executive Committee

Holly Vollant serves as senior vice president, Retail Remarketing, at CarLotz. In her role at CarLotz, Holly leads the charge in growing the business and working with clients to maximize the value of their remarketing portfolios. Holly has over a decade of experience leading teams and working to drive clients’ success in retail remarketing and wholesale remarketing for national, regional, and local fleet management companies, leasing companies, banks, credit unions, specialty finance companies, dealers, wholesalers and corporate fleet managers of all sizes. Holly has been widely recognized for her accomplishments in the auto industry including being recognized as one of Auto Remarketing’s Top 40 Under 40 as well as it’s Women in Retail award. She has been an active member of the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance for nearly 10 years and has held the position of co-chair of the Membership Committee for the last two years. She is committed to the growth and success of IARA.Holly is a Certified Automotive Remarketer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. 

Laura Taylor, IARA Board Member

Laura Taylor is the general manager of Charleston Auto Auction, an XLerate Group Auction Partner. Having been with the Charleston, South Carolina auction for 19 years, serving as GM since 2009, Laura’s commitment to the auto auction industry has led to an impressive array of service. Laura served as 2020 NAAA President, serves on the board of IAASC, HOME, and is a member of the Independent Auction Group. She has served on numerous committees with IARA and NAAA. Taylor is Warren Young recipient, 2013 Women in Remarketing honoree, and 2012 CAR graduate.

John Combs, IARA Board Member

John Combs serves as vice president of commercial customer solutions for KAR Global. In his role, he leads the team overseeing national commercial clients related to all KAR products and services to ensure customer success. John has held several positions throughout his robust 30-year career within the remarketing industry, including executive sales director, auction general manager, and manager of remarketing for a major bank and a non-prime auto lender. John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1987.

Chad Anderson, IARA Board Member

GRAA welcomed Chad in 1997 as an employee of the detail department. While finishing high school, college, and graduate school, he worked around classes, on summer breaks and ultimately full time in various areas including the detail, fleet/lease, and sales departments. He earned his MBA from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. degree in management/marketing from Concordia University Wisconsin. Chad’s experience and determination led him to the general manager position at GRAA. His goals for GRAA include maintaining excellence in customer service, while continuing to move forward and be innovative in the auction industry. He believes in placing the customer first by working consistently to develop more opportunities, provide technological advancement, and keep the promise of an exciting and productive weekly sale with talented, loyal staff.

Penny Wanna, Co-Chair: Certification Committee

Penny Wanna holds dual roles as president of Auction Academy and vice president of Administration for TPC Management Company. She has been an active member of the auto auction industry since 2004 and is proudly IARA CAR-certified, and Safe T. Sam-certified. Honored in 2021 as a NAAA Warren Young Fellow and in 2018 as a member of Women in Remarketing, Wanna actively serves on the IARA CAR Certification committee, IAG Education committee, and the NAAA Education committee. During the same time with TPC and Auction Academy, she spent 12 years working with the ServNet group as their vice president of administration.  

Martin Romjue, Co-Chair: Press & PR Committee

Martin Romjue is fleet group content director at Bobit Business Media and editor of the Vehicle Remarketing and Charged Fleet digital brands. He also chairs the annual Conference of Automotive Remarketing. Martin previously worked as lead editor of Bobit-owned Luxury, Coach & Transportation (LCT) Magazine and LCTmag.com from 2008-2020 where he was involved in several annual trade shows and conferences. Before joining Bobit, Martin worked as a business editor and reporter at five daily newspapers in California, Florida, and Virginia. He is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. and grew up in Hampton, VA.

Xavier Kleinermann, Co-Chair: Canadian Committee

Xavier Kleinermann has been part of the remarketing industry since 2018 and works as national remarketing xoordinator for Honda Financial Services. He brings to the table 10-plua years of experience in non-profit communications and management as well as international exposure having lived in five countries and fluently speaking five languages. Xavier has been involved with the IARA since 2019 in the role of co-chair for the Canadian Press & PR Sub-Committee. In 2020, his industry peers recognized him for the “Remarketer on the Rise” Award. Xavier considers himself a lifelong learner and is one of the first CAR-certified IARA members from Canada. He holds a B.A. degree in philosophy from two European universities and is an MBA candidate with the University of Fredericton (New Brunswick, Canada).

Cynthia Meyer, Co-Chair: Marketing Committee

Cynthia Meyer is vice president of business development with Auction Management Solutions, Inc. Cynthia is a 20-plus year automotive industry veteran with diverse remarketing and leadership experience. She has enjoyed a successful career working with auctions and commercial consignors by increasing customer market share, managing operational performance, and achieving business directives.  Her prior roles included director of sales and marketing with Manheim and ADT, national sales director for Dealers Auto Auction Group, and vice president of Sales with Liquid Motors. Meyer is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in business and a board member of the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA), and has been very prominent on the Conference Planning Committee for over 10 years. Cynthia is a past recipient of Women in Remarketing and an Associate of National Auto Auction Association (NAAA).