MILLERSBURG, Ohio -

It was announced late last week that 31-year-old Joseph Mast has won the coveted title of International Auctioneer Champion.

The co-owner of Real Estate Showcase Real Estate & Auction Services and youngest ever to be awarded the title of IAC, began his career selling personal property but expanded his focus to auto auctions soon after.

Mast, a graduate of the Missouri Auction School and Certified Auctioneers Institute, won the title at the 62nd International Auctioneers Conference and Show in Orlando, Fla.

Mast competed against 83 of the world’s top male and female bid-calling auctioneers, and the contestants were judged on “their presentation, chant, voice timbre, body language, interview answers and other performance elements of effective auctioneering,” officials noted.

"It was truly an honor and a privilege to compete with such talented and professional auctioneers," said Mast. "Auctioneering is one of history’s oldest professions and full of tradition. I’ve had opportunities to travel the world calling bids and look forward to representing the auction industry over the coming year."

“Since the competition was created in 1988, IAC champions have been considered by industry professionals to be the best bid-calling auctioneers in the world,” according to officials.

After time selling personal property and working in auto auctions, Mast acquired his real estate license and joined Real Estate Showcase in 2004.

In 2008 he purchased Real Estate Showcase and has helped it expand to more than 50 agents in four Ohio offices, located in Ashland, Millersburg, Wooster and Loudonville.

That same year, he also delved into the auto-auction world by joining the Barrett-Jackson automobile auction team as its youngest member.

Just last year, he jumped into another industry, as well, and joined Fasig-Tipton, one of America’s oldest thoroughbred horse auction firms.

He also serves as the lead auctioneer for the Akron Auto Auction — a contract auctioneer for Yoder & Frey— selling industrial and heavy equipment, as well as an agent/auctioneer for Williams & Williams, a real estate auction company.

Mast is a member of the National Auctioneers Association, Ohio Auctioneers Association and the National Association of Realtors.

Along with the women’s division champion Camille Booker, Mast will serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for the quarter-trillion dollar auction industry, officials noted.