NEW YORK -

While the National Auto Auction Association named its Exhibitor of the Year and another executive to its Hall of Fame, the president-elect and newly elected vice president discussed their goals for the coming year.

As Charlotte Pyle holds the role as president-elect, waiting in the wings as the new vice president is Paul Lips, the executive vice president of operations and finance at ADESA.

Pyle understands her responsibilities as the association's president-elect will include a hefty meeting schedule and complex travel itineraries as she works with president Jay Cadigan. Pyle said she's anticipating the challenge, one she has been preparing for since attending her first NAAA convention in 1989.

The owner of Capital City Auto Auction located in St. Albans, W.Va., credits her involvement with the association to the influence and encouragement of people such as Barbara Wheatley, Patty Stanley and Ruth Hart-Stevens who served as role models for her.

"So many people made me feel welcome, offering me support, advice and encouragement when I was new to the business, but Barbara, Patty and Ruth in particular stand out as my personal mentors," Pyle emphasized.

"Time and time again they would encourage me to step up to the plate to take on new assignments, and they were always there to support me through the process," Pyle continued. "They also set fine examples for me as talented, devoted auction owners and industry leaders, in whose footsteps I was eager to follow."

This past year, Pyle served NAAA as vice president, closely observing then-president Dave Angelicchio.

"Dave Angelicchio is an accomplished businessman. He has worked tirelessly to convert the NAAA zones into chapters," Pyle stated.

"It was a tremendous undertaking that has made us a stronger, more fortified Association. He has been a key leader in establishing investment policies and procedures to streamline and strengthen the NAAA," she went on to say.

"Hopefully, I will be able to bring continual added value to the level of Dave's accomplishments," Pyle added.

The association's president-elect is geared up to travel with Cadigan to visit auctions throughout the country and discuss ideas with customers.

"Keeping the member auctions involved in the NAAA is important to Jay, and I expect that we'll be spending a great deal of time visiting them as we travel the country," Pyle stressed.

"In addition, Jay's focus on mentoring the next generation in the industry is certainly near and dear to my heart," she pointed out. "Were it not for the people who encouraged me as a younger member, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Paul Lips Joins Executive Committee

As Pyle braces for her role, Lips prepares to handle the post NAAA members chose for him — vice president.

"I appreciate the confidence that the members of the NAAA have shown in me and am looking forward to serving the association as the vice president this year," Lips declared.

"I have enjoyed working with the NAAA at the committee level and value the relationships that I have developed with other members of the auction community who are committed to the growth and success of our industry," he added.

Currently, Lips is executive vice president for operations and finance at ADESA. Lips and his team represent auction operations at a corporate level, closely interacting with the various administrative functions of ADESA.

Lips also oversees the financial operations of the auctions, including dealer registration and the front office, as well as ADESA's PDR subsidiary, Dent Demon.

NAAA noted Lips has served on its former education and quad zone committees. He is currently a part of the NAAA standards committee.

"Through the standards committee, I've come to understand that ADESA, the independents and the Manheim auctions face the same challenges," Lips emphasized.

"It has been gratifying to bring the various groups together, to set our differences aside and to work on common ground to improve things for our customers and our internal operations," he added.

Lips' election as vice president begins an extended tenure on the executive committee. Next year, he will assume duties as the association's president-elect, and will be installed as NAAA president in 2012.

Steve Demedicis Named to NAAA Hall of Fame

Tim West, of Black Book, offered a glowing assessment of the newest member of the NAAA Hall of Fame — Steve Demedicis, senior vice president of Auction Insurance Agency. Demedicis joins 83 other executives already enshrined.

"The NAAA represents an industry full of colorful characters but perhaps none are more interesting than our newest Hall of Fame member," West began during his introduction of Demedicis

"There is no one in the industry who loves this Association and people more than he," West continued.

"Because of his work in the development of a vehicle history service — which we now know as AutoCheck — dealers have greater confidence in the vehicles offered through the lanes of the nation's wholesale auctions," said West, who also noted AutoCheck now examines more than 18 million vehicles annually.

West's description of Demedicis didn't stop there, calling him the "Michelangelo of repo men." West went on to mention some of the highlights of Demedicis' career with Auction Insurance Agency that began in 1980.

For example, West shared how Demedicis spent all of December 1994 in South America recovering $670,000 worth of vehicles that had been bought with bad checks by a drug dealer. Then three years later, West mentioned how Demedicis led a major recovery effort of more than 1,000 vehicles that had been purchased with bad drafts.

"During the last 30 years there have been few bad guys in the auto business who have eluded a meeting with him," West declared. "His greatest asset is persistence — he will not take no for an answer."

West wrapped up his comments about Demedicis by sharing some of free-time activities, including the collecting of antique bottles and how he is working toward opening a blues bar in Birmingham, Ala., to house the collection.

"He happens to own what is recognized as the world's finest and largest collection of Jack Daniels jugs as well as an extensive collection of local folk art," West insisted.

Finally, West highlighted Demedicis' personal philosophy that made him a NAAA Hall of Famer.

"When training the collection people at Auction Insurance Agency, our man tells them he will teach them the secrets of the collection universe but only if they swear to use those skills for the betterment of mankind," West explained. "And you should ask him to explain how the U.S. and world economies are ultimately dependent on a successful and reliable repo industry."

NAAA Recognizes Exhibitor of the Year

NAAA announced the winner of the Marie Hingst Exhibitor of the Year Award went to Tom Williams of BASF Corp. The association highlighted that Williams has been an exhibitor for 10 consecutive years.

"It is important to express our appreciation to those people and businesses like BASF whose loyal support as exhibitors has made an impact on the success of our annual meetings," explained NAAA executive director Frank Hackett.

Presenting the honor to Williams during the recent NAAA conference was last year's recipient, Don Meadows, who is president and chief executive officer of Auto Auction Service Corp.

Hackett recapped that the award was founded in 2006 as an acknowledgment of those individuals who contribute to the industry. Marie Hingst received the inaugural award in 2006.