TORRANCE, CA - Steve Houston, past president for the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) from 2003-2006, nationally recognized remarketing professional specializing in large portfolios from a national perspective, recently left Wells Fargo Dealer Services and has started working independently.

As a member of the automotive remarketing industry for more than 10 years, Houston was an integral part of the IARA during his presidency, and helped the Alliance reach new levels, grow active membership, and develop closer relationships with the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) and auctions.

"Steve was the catalyst for bringing industry credibility to the IARA. He was instrumental in establishing the IARA as the Voice of the Remarketing Industry,” said Matt Marks, executive director for the IARA.

The IARA’s Summer Roundtable will be held August 16-18. Bob Lutz has been announced as the keynote speaker, who will discuss his new book Car Guys vs. Bean Counters. More information can be found online at www.iaraonline.org.

Houston is a member of the NAAA Hall of Fame, inducted in 2008 during the Association’s 60th annual convention. Jim DesRochers, NAAA past president, described Houston as “a low key and well-respected leader,” as he made the award presentation. A graduate of the University of Washington, Houston spent more than 20 years in the Seattle area as a partner in a family-owned new car dealership. In 1993, he left the Pacific Northwest to relocate in Southern California where be managed several large dealership groups, including Paulson Automotive Group in Beverly Hills.

Houston “left the retail side of the business in 1999 to pursue the best part of the industry — used cars, the auctions, and remarketing — and worked for WFS/Wachovia starting January of 2001,” said DesRochers, noting that Houston has also served the industry well, working on a number of NAAA committees, helping found IARA and serving as its president.

He was also named the 2007 Consignor of the Year by the Conference of Automotive Remarketing.

This year, Houston will be serving as a judge for the World Automobile Auctioneers Championship for the third consecutive year. The event hosts the world’s best automobile auctioneers, ring people, and teams who compete to win the title of “World Champion” and an assortment of prize money, trophies, and championship ring. More information can be found at www.waacnet.net.

“I am honored to participate in the World Auto Auctioneers Championship. This will be the third time I have been a judge in this exciting annual event. It’s important that we recognize the best of the best in auto auctioneering and ring men. This competition encourages excellence on the block and spotlights those who are the very best,” said Houston.

Houston is currently looking to reenter the wholesale auction industry and can be reached at (909) 908-9055 or sjhouston@earthlink.net. His LinkedIn page can be found at www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-houston/32/818/6a5.

Articles and news items on Houston can be found below:

• Two Industry Leaders Inducted Into NAAA Hall of Fame