Dealers Auto Auction of Oklahoma City (DAA/OKC) recently announced that its past general manager has returned to the auction to resume his former role.

For Bruce Beam, son-in-law of the auction's owner, Gary Smith, it’s a return to the family business as well.

Before leaving DAA/OKC in 2012 to work for Express Credit Auto, Beam served as general manager for five years.

He joined the auction as an office manager in 1992 shortly after graduating from Kansas State University.

In 1994, Smith promoted him to assistant general manager, and by 1998 Beam took on the general manager role for the first time.

"The pull of family is strong, and I decided it was time to return to DAA/OKC," Beam said in a news release announcing his return. "I am delighted to be back. I love the auction industry, and consider it an honor to serve as the general manager at a facility that is both a member of the NAAA and the ServNet auction group."

At Express Credit Auto, Beam did consulting work for its five buy here-pay here dealership locations in Oklahoma.

Beam’s time spent buying at auction in his most recent role has given him new insights into auction business, he says.

"When I worked for Express Credit Auto, I had the opportunity to experience the auction business from the other side of the auction block, as I attended several live auctions every week," Beam explained.

"During my first year with the company, we purchased 7,000 vehicles, so it was inevitable that a purchase would need arbitration. The number of arbitrations were low, perhaps just 20 that year, but it opened my eyes to what a dealer has to experience during the arbitration process," he said.

According to Beam, he learned how customer service can set a business apart from its competitors.

"Unless fees are off the charts, dealers will go where they are treated well, where customer service is readily apparent, and where someone is always available to take care of problems," Beam added. "If you want to have a successful auction, you have to be the auction where the customers want to be."

Beam said that this is likely his last career move and that he plans to finish his career at DAA/OKC. His wife, Nicki Beam, also works at the auction as a controller.