FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

It started with a letter in the mid-1990s.

Now working with 50-plus auctions and various companies in the car business, TPC Management Co. celebrated its 20th anniversary this summer.  

“When we opened our doors in 1996 we could not, in our wildest imagination, have conceived of all the companies and projects we would become involved in over this 20-year span,” Pierre Pons, who co-founded the company with his wife, Pauline, said in a news release.   

 “What began with a letter to the Independent Auto Auctions has blossomed into a dynamic enterprise with relationships to companies in various capacities in the industry. We began handling specific projects for a few auctions around the country, and eventually grew to assuming a role much like the corporate staff handles for auction chains,” he said. “Today we work with over 40 independent auctions on projects ranging from full corporate administration to business development, management recruiting and training.”

TPC’s first client was the Nichols family, which heads the BSC America group that includes the Bel Air and Tallahassee Auto Auctions, among others. 

TPC has since expanded, having worked with auctions, law firms, investment firms and companies in the technology, transportation, vehicle inspection and auto finance spaces over the past two decades.

Among the industry tech providers the company has worked with are eBay Motors, Autodaq, Xcira, Auction Edge, OVE and SmartAuction.

Organizational flow

TPC’s business operations fall into three buckets: TPC Management, ServNet Auctions and Auction Academy.

“We handle general consulting and recruiting through TPC Management, and provide administrative management to ServNet Auctions,” said Pauline Pons, co-founder and vice president.  “In addition, we are now about to launch our fifth class group of Auction Academy.  We founded Auction Academy initially to work with the sons & daughters who represent the next generation of leadership at Independent Auctions, and we later expanded the program to provide training for the entire industry.  Auction Academy has been, without question, our most fulfilling endeavor to date.”

R. Charles Nichols, the president of BSC America, said: “As Pierre and Pauline’s very first client 20 years ago, the Nichols family has a long history with TPC.  They have worked with our management team utilizing all aspects of their services: TPC Consulting, ServNet and Auction Academy. We value our relationship with them and the efforts TPC has put forth on our behalf.”

Going back to Auction Academy,  some of the Missouri Auto Auction's management staff have participated in the Auction Academy program. The auction’s managing partner, Kevin Brown, is the president of ServNet Auctions.

“As I’ve held various board positions with ServNet and now serve as the group’s president, I can attest first hand that Pierre and Pauline Pons, and Penny and Jiles Wanna have demonstrated tremendous leadership in fortifying the structure of ServNet as an organization and in strengthening the ServNet brand within the industry,” Brown said. “As TPC embarks on another term providing administrative management for ServNet Auctions, our group will benefit from the continuity and their expertise.

“As an auction owner I also use TPC for individual auction consulting services to keep me and my staff connected to industry decision-makers.”