INDIANAPOLIS -

With eyes on even more expansion, Auction Broadcasting Co., announced Monday it is bringing a seventh location into the company mix. The newest ABC site is located in Columbus, Ga.

“I am not only very proud, but also excited and very eager to see our newest addition to the ABC family in Columbus, Ga.,” stated Jason Brinkley, ABC’s vice president of business development. “The auction staff that we have assembled has the energy and passion to service the dealers in and around the Columbus, Ga., area in only the way an ABC auction can.

“Columbus, Ga., has a large population of independent and franchise dealers that have to drive over 100 miles to the nearest full-service auto auction,” he went on to say.

Brinkley highlighted the new ABC Columbus facility will be a full-service auction that offers dealers a state-of-the-art experience, in addition to 24-hour Internet service.

ABC emphasized the response from dealers, local banks and credit unions has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“It is such a great experience to be a part of developing a new auction in an ‘auction-challenged’ area,” Brinkley pointed out. 

ABC chief executive officer Mike Hockett praised Brinkley for doing a “tremendous job” on the company’s last greenfield in St. Louis.

“Our St. Louis auction has been open for about 15 months,” Hockett mentioned. “We have a very good team of employees that have servants’ hearts."

The top ABC executive mentioned dealer attendance in St. Louis is averaging between 500 and 650 bid badges per week, in addition to about 100 dealers online.

“Jason’s been instrumental in hiring, training and developing the right chemistry in St. Louis and now in Columbus,” Hockett shared.

“I really think that Columbus will be a niche market for ABC,” Hockett added. “As the industry is in a bit of down-sizing, we really feel like this is a great opportunity.”

After bringing on facilities in St. Louis and now Columbus, ABC revealed it might not be finished.

“Lord willing, next month we will be announcing the opening of another location in the first quarter of 2012,” Hockett divulged.

ABC now has seven locations. Along with St. Louis and Columbus, the company also has sites in Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Bowling Green, Ky.; Detroit/Toledo; and Orlando, Fla.