Members of the auction industry met in Orlando, Florida for the 2015 NAAA Conference, the last of its kind as a stand-alone event before it merges with the National Remarketing Conference in 2016. Attending in full force were ServNet’s auction owners and executive staff who participated in a number of customer activities and served as a major convention sponsor.

"ServNet was pleased to support this year’s NAAA’s Conference, and to acknowledge the NAAA as one of the most respected trade associations in the world,” said ServNet’s President Patty Stanley.

“As the NAAA charts its course for the year ahead, we also extend our best wishes to Jerry Hinton, general manager at Brasher’s Portland Auto Auction, who is NAAA’s President-elect.  He follows a strong tradition of ServNet leadership in the NAAA and will take over the gavel as President of the association next fall when the NAAA combines its annual convention with Cherokee Automotive Group’s National Remarketing Conference,” said Stanley.

The National Auto Auction Association recently reached an agreement with Cherokee Automotive Group to combine its annual convention with CAG's National Remarketing Conference, beginning in the fall of 2016. The combined meeting will be held each year during CAG's Used Car Week and will be billed as the National Remarketing Conference/NAAA Convention. Used Car Week. Next year's event will be held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.

Stanley notes that ServNet’s Executive Committee met early during convention week to review a number of key industry initiatives in preparation for ServNet’s Fall Owner’s Meeting in Detroit in October. The group also met a number of industry partners, including Brian Geitner, CEO of Nextgear and his staff; John Hammer, President of AFC and his staff; Scott Finkle, President of Auction Edge; and executives from industry media groups.

At the opening luncheon on Wednesday of convention week, ServNet's CEO Pierre Pons took the podium to introduce the keynote speakers:  political strategists Mary Matalin and James Carville.  Later that evening ServNet hosted an open hospitality event in the lobby bar of the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Hotel.  ServNet revived the tradition of an open event at the 2015 NAAA conference after many years of individual groups holding private functions, and this year’s reception was even more successful and well received, notes Ben Brasher, a member of ServNet's executive committee.

“The NAAA Conference is a wonderful opportunity for us to meet with industry stakeholders, in both formal and informal settings, and we particularly enjoyed catching up with colleagues, customers and friends at ServNet’s Hospitality Event,” said Brasher.  “It was a great opportunity for all of us to acknowledge that ours is a vital and dynamic industry, united in purpose and focused on continued success.”

 Also during the conference, several national consignors presented annual remarketing awards, and three ServNet auctions were included among their top auction performers.  BSC America’s Tallahassee Auto Auction was named Remarketer of the year by Nextgear. DAA of the Rockies received Enterprise Car Rental’s Auction Achievement Award (Damaged Vehicle Category). Brasher’s Salt Lake was awarded the Chase Cup for Auction Excellence as the Best National Subaru Sale.  

Douglas Rodriguez (center), accepts Nextgear's Award to BSC America's Tallahassee Auto Auction as Remarketer of the Year. The award presentation was made at the NAAA Conference in Orlando.

 “Over the course of my tenure as ServNet’s president over the past two years, I have been proud to acknowledge the many ways that ServNet owners and their auctions continue to build and strengthen our industry,” said Stanley.  “Our member auctions consistently garner a lion’s share of the industry awards, proving that ServNet auctions continue to set the bar for performance and superior service. On behalf of the ServNet auctions, I congratulate Tallahassee Auto Auction, DAA of the Rockies and Brasher’s Salt Lake Auto Auction.”

The ServNet Auction Group is a network of America's best strategically located independently-owned wholesale auto auctions. Since 1988, ServNet member auctions have been working together to provide a full range of remarketing services to its customers, including the best auctioneers, inspections, reconditioning, transportation assistance and inventory financing. The ServNet Auction Group is managed by TPC Management with headquarters in Franklin, TN.