The auto auction industry’s training and development program, Auction Academy, achieved significant milestones in 2014, reports Auction Academy President Richard Curtis.The Academy graduated its inaugural class group in the first quarter of 2014.

The auto auction industry’s training and development program, Auction Academy, achieved significant milestones in 2014, reports Auction Academy President Richard Curtis. He noted that the Academy graduated its inaugural class group -- Next Generation Leaders, which had been dubbed the Sons & Daughters class -- in the first quarter of 2014. The Academy commemorated the event with a series of ceremonies and events at the 2014 CAR Conference. The following quarter, the Academy graduated its second class group, the Managers/Directors, during the IARA Summer Roundtable in Chicago. Both graduation sessions also included visits to area auctions, ADESA-Las Vegas and America’s Auto Auction-Chicago respectively, as well as the study of a number of academic topics.

Later in 2014 the Academy fielded its third class group which held three sessions, in Nashville, Tenn.; Spokane, Wash.; and Dallas, Texas. Participants in this group include Ryan Bateman (Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange), Julie Daniel (NextGear Capital), Brandon Derrick (Memphis Auto Auction), Matthew Groller (Bel Air Auto Auction); Heath Hale (Alliance Auto Auction); Wanda Jowers (Carolina Auto Auction); Ashley Magee (Alliance Auto Auction), Bill McCready (Southeastern Auto Auction of Savannah), Ryan Milletics (Harrisburg Auto Auction), Jodie Plaunt (Grand Rap ids Auto Auction), Angelica Rotsart (Lynnway Auto Auction), Shelly Walker (Pittsburgh Auto Auction), and Andrew Whisenhunt (ABC Birmingham).

Curtis reported that the third Class Group begins its second year in 2015 with a session focused on risk management. Hosted by Auction Insurance Agency and related companies in Birmingham, Ala., the session will include visits to two NAAA auctions in the area: ADESA Birmingham and ABC Birmingham.
Curtis has also announced that Auction Academy will begin the curriculum for the fourth Class Group in March, 2015. Now open for registration for individuals from Independent Auto Auctions and related vendor companies, the program for this Class Group is slated to kick off in Nashville, Tenn., on March 5-7.

“We are extremely thankful for the support Auction Academy continues to receive, and gratefully acknowledge the many sponsors throughout the industry, although the list is too long to include here,” said Academy CEO Pierre Pons. “In particular, I am very pleased to announce that Black Book, Designworks, Henry and Patty Stanley and OVE will continue as major sponsors, and that NextGear Capital has recommitted to a multi-year sponsors hip. Equally important to Auction Academy are the many auction locations – independents, ABC Auctions, ADESA and Manheim facilities--that open their doors to the Academy students, allowing them access to their operations and best practices.”