SCHOOLCRAFT, Mich. -

Greater Kalamazoo Auto Auction is gearing up for today’s 35th anniversary celebration. As part of the festivities, the auction is planning a special sale and events that include giving away $15,000 in cash and prizes. 

Don and Harriet DeVries opened up Greater Kalamazoo AA back in 1976. Still independently owned, nine family members are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the auction. Members of the National Auto Auction Association, Don DeVries was the association’s president in 1998 and was named to the NAAA Hall of Fame Award five years ago. 

The past eight years have been particularly successful as the auction has picked up more than 20 industry awards.

Greater Kalamazoo AA counts Remarketing by GE, Wheels, LeasePlan, ARI, PHH, Emkay, World Omni Financial, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Motorlease, Union Leasing, Leasing Associates and Nationwide among its clients. The auction mentioned bank-owned and repossessions are sold weekly from Fifth Third Bank, PNC and multiple credit unions in the Midwest.

Greater Kalamazoo AA is spread over 65 acres with a facility that has full-reconditioning and mechanical operations and eight lanes.

“GKAA is proud to be celebrating with its great customers including dealers, financial institutions and fleet/lease clients, not to mention their terrific employees after 35 years of business and being well-known in the industry as easy to do business with,” Don DeVries stated.