Auction Academy graduated its first class group this past March, but it’s been plenty busy during the second quarter of 2014, as well, organizers said.

The Auction Academy already launched its third class group this past April, followed in May with a session at Southern Auto Auction for the group.

 “In mid-April we launched our third class group, holding the opening session in Nashville, Tenn.,” said Auction Academy president Richard Curtis. 

“The first to address the group was industry veteran Tony Moorby, who highlighted his long career in the auction industry, which began in England and later included assignments as president/chief executive officer of ADT Automotive and as an executive with ADESA,” he continued.

The next day the class visited ADESA Nashville, where general manager Dan Dietsch led a tour of the facility. Next up was a presentation from Kevin Cullum of NMAC, which focused on Nissan Remarketing.

The two-day session also included presentations by chief executive officer and founder of Auction Academy Pierre Pons, who reviewed the history of the auction industry; David Nutter of Direct Auction Services who outlined cost benchmarking in auction accounting; and Joe Miller, who covered working aspects of AutoIMS.

Students in Auction Academy’s third class group include: Ryan Bateman (Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange), Julie Daniel (NextGear Capital), Brandon Derrick (Memphis AA), Matt Groller (Bel Air AA), Heath Hale (Alliance AA), Wanda Jowers (Carolina AA), Ashley Magee (Alliance AA), Bill McCready (Charleston  AA), Ryan Milletics (Harrisburg AA), Jodie Plaunt (Grand Rapids AA), Angelica Rotsart (Lynnway AA), Shelly Walker (Pittsburgh AA), Andrew Whisenhunt (ABC Birmingham), and Nadina Williams (Alliance AA).

Next on the schedule for these members is an event in mid-July in Spokane, Wash., which will be held in conjunction with the DAA Northwest Rock & Roll Sale.

Pons said, “We are certainly not resting on our laurels following the graduation of Auction Academy’s first class group. Dick and the entire Academy team completed a very strong series of sessions this past quarter, and the third quarter sessions will be equally as vibrant and informative.”

The third class group may already be on a roll, but the second class group training is still underway, as well.

This group met during the second quarter in East Windsor, Conn., where Larry Tribble and Garrison Hudkins of Southern AA presented a curriculum they developed that is “geared to understanding both buying and selling dealer habits and strategies, as well as vehicle pricing,” organizers shared.

“The students always have much to learn when visiting the largest Independent auction in the country, and the entire Southern team puts on a first class program,” said Curtis.

He also shared the second glass group is scheduled to graduate during its eighth and final session, when it meets during the IARA Summer Roundtable in Chicago in August.

Auction Academy will continue its training with the registration of a fourth glass group following the NAAA Convention this fall.