At its World Remarketing Convention on Thursday in Seattle, the National Auto Auction Association elected Lisa Franz as its vice president for the 2026-2027 term.

This begins a four-year leadership progression for Franz, who is general manager and co-founder of Big Valley Auto Auction in Donna, Texas, which she and her family opened in 2008.

Franz will be NAAA VP over the next year, then serve as NAAA president-elect for the 2027-2028 term, NAAA president for 2028-2029 and chair the NAAA board for the 2029-2030 term.

She is a graduate of Auction Academy Class and has served on the NAAA board of directors, Western Chapter board of directors and the Independent Auction Group’s executive board.

Elsewhere at the convention, Cox Automotive associate vice president of industry operations Mike Browning has been inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame, which recognizes leaders for long-term service to the wholesale auction industry and NAAA.

Browning has been with Cox Automotive for more than 20 years, serving as GM of Manheim New Orleans, Manheim Mississippi and Manheim San Antonio during his tenure.

He is a member of the association’s executive committee and was NAAA president in 2016. Browning has served on the NAAA Southern Chapter board and is the co-chair of the NAAA membership committee.

Most notably, Browning leads the NAAA Warren Young, Sr. Scholastic Foundation, which has awarded more than $1.1 million to 265 students.

The Mike Browning Auction Employee Relief Fund has distributed nearly $50,000 in emergency relief funds to more than 100 auction employees recovering from devastating events.

The association also named Tom Adams as the 2026 Industry Pioneer Awards recipient. The chairman of AutoTec was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 1992 and his “influence spans generations of industry professionals and organizations,” NAAA said.

“His unwavering commitment to supporting auctions, fostering industry relationships, and championing the values of NAAA has left a lasting impact on the remarketing community and helped shape the industry as it exists today.”

Adams has been with AutoTec since 1970, developing innovative products and services to support the auction industry.

“He has played a pivotal role in advancing risk management, financial protection, and technology solutions that have helped auctions and remarketers operate more efficiently and securely,” NAAA said.

Next up, AutoIMS made a $5,000 donation to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in honor of outgoing NAAA president Eddie Lafferty.

The contribution was made to the Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair and will further the missions of the cancer center and the endowment to advance research and treatment of cancer patients and their families.

“Eddie’s leadership, dedication, and commitment to our industry have earned the respect of so many throughout the remarketing community,” said Venkat Krishnamoorthy, CEO and president of AutoIMS. “When Eddie shared the story behind the Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair, it was clear that this was a cause that held deep personal meaning for him and his family.

“We are honored to recognize his service to NAAA with a contribution that supports such important and impactful work. We sincerely thank Eddie for his years of leadership and are proud to support a cause that is helping advance cancer research and create hope for future generations.”

Lafferty added: “On behalf of NAAA, I would like to thank AutoIMS and Venkat for this incredibly thoughtful gesture. My wife and I are passionate supporters of the Kyle Thomas Spane Endowed Chair and the important work being done at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. This donation honors Kyle’s legacy while supporting continued research that provides hope to patients and families affected by cancer.”