Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies, a leader in customer service and community service, has been named Auto Auction of the Year by the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association.

The award was presented to Denver-based auction’s owners, Brad Sturgeon and Bill Baker, and general manager Michele Noblitt, representing the DAA of the Rockies staff, during the National Auto Auction Association’s annual convention, Sept. 3-5 in Indianapolis.

In presenting the award, NIADA executive vice president Steve Jordan said DAA of the Rockies "has proven its business excellence over the years and is noted for outstanding customer service, consistently going above and beyond as the staff strives to put their clients first. The auction is also very involved in the industry and supportive of its state association, including charity efforts such as the Wounded Warrior project."

DAA of the Rockies made numerous contributions to its community through various fundraisers and campaigns, including an annual live charity auction that has raised more than $23,000 over the past three years. That contribution has fully funded a week-long camp for abused and neglected children in the foster system, contributed to the local Big Brother/Big Sister organization and its mentoring program – a program in which its fleet manager has actively participated in for five years as a Big Sister – and raised funds for “Help Out Not Hand Outs,” an organization that assists veterans as they prepare for a successful future.

In addition, the auction held a pet drive to support local animal shelters and launched a “Quit Smoking” campaign to help promote a healthy lifestyle among its employees. And it has held multiple toy and food drives during the holidays, and helped send one of its employees to participate in the 2013 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

NIADA has presented the award annually to an outstanding NAAA auction since 2008. The winning auction provides the highest level of customer service and resources for NIADA’s independent dealers, displays support for its state association and its dealer members and participates in dealer events and promotes the industry by showing exceptional service to its local community.