The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) presented its 2014 Circle of Excellence award to Henry Stanley, president & owner of ServNet Auctions, during a keynote address at the Spring IARA Meeting and 2014 Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR), held March 5-6 in Las Vegas. 

According to Dave Alfonso, remarketing manager for KIA, who presented this year’s award, “Henry Stanley is a pioneer in our industry, a giant among those who have elevated both the auction and remarketing industries to a stellar level, and is an inspiration to all auction and remarketing professionals whose roads he paved with excellence.”

Stanley attended auctioneer school and began his career as a Ringman for Capital Auto Auction in Columbus, Ohio, in 1960. He went from Ringman to Auctioneer, and from Auctioneer to auction owner, purchasing Capital Auto Auction and renaming it Ohio Auto Auction. He ran 64 vehicles during the first week he owned the auction, selling just 14. (He would quip in his acceptance speech that “after the first day, I thought I’d go broke.”) Stanley went on to sell the auction in 1987. According to Alfonso, during his final week of owning the auction, it sold 1,150 vehicles!

After moving to Florida with his wife Patty to retire, Stanley just couldn’t stay away, giving a speech at the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) in 2000 and staying involved in the industry ever since. 

Stanley and his wife Patty are key founders of the NAAA’s Warren Young Scholarship Foundation in that began in 2004. The foundation awards $40,000 annually to help students attain higher education and realize their dreams. It has raised more than $1.25 million to date, with the Stanley’s among its largest contributors.

Stanley has sold more than 1 million vehicles during his career, has served as a NAAA Zone President, NAAA National President, is a NAAA Hall of Fame member, awarded 2013 Remarketer of the Year, and now, the IARA Circle of Excellence award for 2014. 

During a brief acceptance speech, Stanley said that he was “humbled and honored” by the award. “I could not have had a better life,” he added.

At the conclusion of his speech, Stanley received a standing ovation from the award luncheon attendees. 

About the Circle of Excellence Award

Awarded to the individual who has clearly demonstrated outstanding contributions to the betterment of our society and to the remarketing industry. This individual is universally recognized for his or her significant contributions. In 2013, The IARA posthumously honored its late executive director, Matt Marks, with the 2013 Circle of Excellence Award, which, beginning in 2014, is referred to as the Matt Marks’ Circle of Excellence Award. Marks, the Alliance's first executive director, died unexpectedly in Oct. 2012.

About the IARA

It is the mission of the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) to assist, educate, and share knowledge with one another and our industry partners, so that each member may be empowered to achieve the fullest efficiency and most continued improvement attainable in the commerce of selling vehicles through the marketplace. Visit www.iaraonline.org for more information.