Ben Winkler is the new general manager for BSC America’s Tallahassee Auto Auction in Tallahassee, Fla. In the position, Winkler replaces Tim Myreck, who the company said is pursuing new opportunities.
Winkler was previously with ADESA Dallas, and he first worked on the operations side for that company. He then went on to serve as fleet lease manager.
Before his time with ADESA Dallas, Winkler worked with a Texas-based automotive marketing and inventory technology company.
“Ben has the drive and experience to help us take Tallahassee to the next level,” BSC America chairman Ray Nichols said in a news release.
Nichols continued, “His auction experience developed from the ground up, and we are counting on that expertise to guide the growth or our auction. We want to thank Tim Myrick for his time with us, and we wish him the best in his future ventures.”
BSC America president R. Charles Nichols said, “We have a terrific auction team, strong dealer relationships, and a growing commercial business in Tallahassee. Ben Winkler is an exciting addition to our company, and we look forward to the coming years of success he will help us build.”
XLerate Group Auctions’ Charleston Auto Auction in South Carolina has hired a former ADESA national specialty and mobile manager as its new specialty sales/fleet lease remarketer.
The new hire is Andy Shaffer, and XLerate said he brings extensive knowledge of the specialty and auto remarketing industry.
Charleston Auto Auction general manager Laura Taylor said Charleston is adding two new auction divisions, and the first will be for specialty sales, hosting six annual major event sales.
The first of those is scheduled for March.
Shaffer will work at the second addition, which will be a mobility division. Shaffer will work alongside executive sales director Nichole Brannon to establish new mobile sales in South Carolina and Georgia.
At ADESA, Shaffer created specialty and mobile sales standards while handling client portfolios.
He also managed mobile auction van fleets and facilitated the sales operations of new mobile auction startups.
“We are very excited to have Andy Shaffer on our team,” Taylor said. “He is already lining up sellers and specialty units, and we can see the success and growth we’ve been planning take shape.”
Manheim has named four new general managers at locations and market centers across the country, stating it was making those moves at a time “when leadership is crucial.”
The moves take place in Florida, Minnesota and Cincinnati, and Manheim said in a news release that the leaders were starting in their new positions “as clients, and team members look to strong leaders to help navigate their businesses and the challenges that lie ahead.”
One of the new general managers is for the Minnesota Market Center, which includes Manheim Minneapolis and Manheim Northstar Minnesota. That manager is Butch Herdegen III., and Manheim describes him as “a change leader.”
Herdegen started his Manheim career in 2009 as a dealer services manager. He went on to become general manager for Go Auto Exchange in 2014. Herdegen returned to Manheim in 2016, serving as general manager of the Manheim Daytona-Jacksonville Market Center. Manheim said he has led the team to steadily increased revenue.
Manheim said Herdegen’s leadership has resulted in various client and internal Manheim awards.
Joey Satfield is now general manager for the Manheim Daytona-Jacksonville Market Center. Since starting his Manheim career in 2013 as a field services representative, the company said Satfield has become a strategic leader with relationship-building abilities.
Satfield took on leadership positions including dealer sales management and assistant general manager at Manheim Kansas City before 2017, when he began serving in his previous role as Manheim Ft. Myers general manager. Manheim says Satfield improves the client experience through his ability to drive performance and increase business.
Manheim also promoted Syndiee Volentine to general manager at Manheim Fort Myers. Starting her Manheim career in 1998 as a controller, Volentine was promoted to market controller in 2011. In that post, she was responsible for two markets with five Manheim locations.
Volentine was appointed assistant general manager at Manheim Nevada in 2015, and in that post she led the development and rollout of various reconditioning services. She also served as the site’s Lean Daily Management champion and served on the Actively Care Today collaboration team to boost safety at Manheim locations.
Melissa Roach, who was Manheim Cincinnati’s auction manager, has been promoted to general manager at that location. Roach in the new position will continue boosting efficiencies and team member engagement, work with clients to increase service levels and develop a retail reconditioning strategy.
Joining Manheim in 1994 in Manheim Pittsburgh’s marketing department, she was appointed dealer services manager in 2001. In that role, she managed various client-facing departments. She was promoted to assistant general manager at Manheim Detroit before starting in the Manheim Cincinnati auction manager role in 2019.
Manheim senior vice president, Marketplace, Patrick Brennan, said the new leaders were “making a change at a critical point in Manheim’s history.”
“We appreciate their willingness to step into these key roles and provide solid leadership and guidance to our team members and clients,” Brennan said.
Tim Sherk is the new general manager for XLerate Group’s Columbus Fair Auto Auction, and he brings more than 20 years of auto auction management experience with independent and large corporate-owned auctions.
Sherk joins CFAA following the retirement of former CFAA president and general manager, Greg Levi, who will spend more time on his compliance management and investment activities.
Sherk has managed sales teams and auctions in Florida and Tennessee.
XLerate’s chief executive officer Cam Hitchcock said Sherk’s management approach was a strong fit with the CFAA team.
“And his expertise aligns with our growth strategy at CFAA,” Hitchcock said in a news release.
Hitchcock continued, “We’re looking to Tim to help lead our next generation of auction operators with his unique combination of strengths in online sales/technology, commercial account development and dealer relations.”
“Joining Columbus Fair and the XLerate Group is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the largest independent auctions that is part of a rapidly-growing auction group,” Sherk said.
He continued, “Columbus Fair’s first-class reputation is known throughout our industry, and I look forward to working with a team that I believe shares my commitment to unparalleled customer service.”
Levi said his personal decision to retire was “bittersweet.”
“The close relationships I have developed with Alexis Jacobs, the CFAA team and our customer base have been very impactful for my family and me,” Levi said.
Levi continued, “The CFAA family and its many long-term customers will be well served with an industry professional like Tim Sherk, who shares Alexis’ and my unwavering commitment to world-class service.”
Michele Noblitt is retiring from her position as executive vice president of Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies, and the company says that since she started in 1999, the auction and its stakeholders “have enjoyed the velvet-gloved service Michele and her team delivered.”
The company said Noblitt’s influence was widely felt “as the little auction caught traction” in the early 2000s. Dealers Auto Auction wrote in a news release that Noblitt continued developing its stakeholders along the way with the same patient approach.
National accounts manager Shelly Frank said she would always admire Noblitt’s knowledge and dedication to the auction industry.
“I am very appreciative of her willingness to guide me into the various associations and committees that our industry has to offer, and I will always be grateful for her mentorship,” Frank said.
Frank continued, “I wish her much success, happiness and good health in her retirement and future endeavors.”
Marketing manager Alex Zyla said she was grateful for the opportunity to work with Noblitt and learn from her.
“Her dedication to her team, the auction and our industry was not only seen but felt,” Zyla said.
Zyla continued, “I appreciate the knowledge she shared and the guidance she gave me as I developed in my career. I look forward to continuing to build upon what she leaves behind and wish her the best as she enters this new chapter of retirement.”
The company wrote that Noblitt led its staff through the challenging economic environment in 2008 and 2009 “with strength and integrity.”
“So we thank Michele for her sacrifice and service and wish her peace, love and happiness going forward in her retirement,” the company wrote.
In other news, Kim Hunt is now systems and communications administrator for the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance.
IARA executive director Tony Long said Hunt is a familiar face to many IARA members. She is a former co-chair of the IARA Membership Committee.
“We are thrilled to have Kim back in the IARA family,” Long said.
Hunt replaces Sharon Sutton, who Long said was instrumental in the initial setup and modifications of IARA’s association and learning management system.
“Everyone at IARA is very grateful for Sharon’s many contributions over the past few years,” Long said.
IARA president Paul Seger said Hunt was “a welcome addition to the Alliance’s efforts.”
“She has a wealth of industry experience and brings a project management skillset to the table that will help us work with our committees to bring IARA to the next level,” Seger said.
After the retirement of two of its “most accomplished and admired leaders” in early March, Manheim has promoted several of its veteran team members to Market Center leadership positions.
The company promoted JD Daniels to vice president and general manager of the Manheim Orlando-Central Florida Market Center. Manheim also promoted Emily Decker to Arizona Market Center leader and general manager of Manheim Phoenix.
Manheim also named Mandy Savage as general manager of the North Carolina Market Center that includes Manheim Statesville and Manheim Charlotte. And the company promoted Noel Kitsch to general manager of Manheim Detroit and leader of the Manheim Detroit-Flint Market Center.
The promotions followed the news that Manheim Statesville general manager Ellie Johnson and Manheim Orlando vice president and general manager Butch Herdegen Sr. retired from the company.
Johnson and Herdegen’s retirements come after a combined 65 years of service.
As for the new Market Center leaders, they will work cooperatively across locations that share management and support functions.
The company created Market Centers last year, and they group multiple auction locations under a central leader. That, according to Manheim, enables more collaboration and efficiencies for clients.
Manheim promoted JD Daniels to vice president and general manager of the Manheim Orlando-Central Florida Market Center. He has served as general manager of Manheim Phoenix since 2014, and there he increased volume and profits. In 2018 and 2019, the auction earned back-to-back Auction of the Year awards. For the previous three years, Daniels led Manheim Detroit through business changes and growth.
Manheim also promoted Emily Decker to Arizona Market Center leader and general manager of Manheim Phoenix. She has been with the Manheim family for 23 years, and she will oversee the Phoenix operating location and Manheim Tucson. She will also support Cox Automotive Mobility’s Pivet brand as it grows in the Phoenix market. Most recently, Decker oversaw operations for Manheim Indianapolis and Manheim Cincinnati. She was previously an assistant general manager at Manheim Statesville, and she also has commercial and dealer experience in Florida.
Mandy Savage has been named general manager of the North Carolina Market Center, which includes Manheim Statesville and Manheim Charlotte. Savage started out learning the automotive business from the dealer’s perspective before she became a Manheim manager trainee in 2003. She has served in various corporate and operational roles since then. Some of those roles include sales manager for one of the first OVE sales teams, director of digital best practices and assistant general manager of Manheim Palm Beach. She was most recently general manager of Manheim Detroit for the past six years.
Noel Kitsch is now serving the Detroit market with his promotion to general manager of Manheim Detroit and leader of the Manheim Detroit-Flint Market Center. He has been with Manheim for more than 20 years, starting at Manheim Orlando in dealer sales before becoming assistant general manager in 2013. He was also senior assistant general manager at Manheim Central Florida before he became general manager of Manheim Georgia in 2017.
“While these moves were planned before the industry faced its toughest challenge yet, we know that having strong, seasoned leaders in our locations is critical to navigating the ups and downs of the industry,” said Patrick Brennan, senior vice president, Marketplace, Manheim, in a news release.
Brennan continued, “Working closely with clients, we developed Market Centers to give our teams more ways to streamline processes and find shared solutions to better serve our clients.”
The naming of new Market Center leaders comes as Manheim honors Johnson and Herdegen Sr.
Johnson is a second-generation Manheim leader who started in the front office of her father’s auction, Manheim North Carolina, in 1986. She worked her way up to general manager in 1997, and in 2016, she transitioned to general manager of Manheim Statesville. Johnson has served the industry in various leadership roles throughout her career, including the post of National Auto Auction Association president from 2014 to 2015. She was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 2019 and is a Barbara Cox Woman of the Year award recipient.
Herdegen Sr. was with Manheim Orlando for nearly three decades, starting in 1991 as lot operations manager. He moved through the ranks before becoming general manager in 2011. In that role, he grew Manheim Orlando into the second largest wholesale auto auction site for the company. In 2014, Herdegen Sr. was named the Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s “Auction Man of the Year.” He has also earned awards and recognition from Manheim and its clients.
“Ellie and Butch have had truly remarkable careers,” Brennan said.
Brennan continued, “Their impact on the industry, our organization and the thousands of team members they have worked with and mentored over the years cannot be overstated. These extraordinary individuals will be greatly missed at Manheim as they begin the new chapters of their lives.”
ADESA president John Hammer says that although the majority of the company’s sales occur online and through its apps, its customers still experience a strong need for the facilities and services at its auction sites.
“Promoting high-quality, internal candidates into leadership positions at our physical auction locations provides smooth transitions and sets the stage for positive momentum as we continue to provide critical resources for our sellers and buyers,” Hammer said in a news release.
With that in mind, ADESA has named new general managers at two of its 74 North American auctions.
Those new GMs are David Claxton at ADESA Minneapolis and Terry Costner at ADESA Nashville.
ADESA also said Cheryl Toler has returned to ADESA Los Angeles as auction manager. Amanda Brendle becomes auction manager at ADESA Fresno.
Claxton joined ADESA Minneapolis as general sales manager in 2018. With more than 40 years of automotive experience, he learned body and paint repair in high school.
Claxton’s expertise includes owning and operating a licensed detail shop, and he has served as general manager for several dealerships and in sales leadership positions at ADP Dealer Services, DealerTrack eCarlist, and Team Velocity Marketing.
Claxton replaces Jay Fahrendorff, who recently retired.
As for Costner, he started his more than 35 years of car business experience as a car salesman. Eventually he owned and managed his own dealership.
In his role as a dealership owner, Costner was a frequent ADESA customer and brought that customer perspective to ADESA Nashville in 2017, when he joined the auction as general sales manager. Costner will work closely with retiring current general manager Harold Chapman and will transition into the role full-time on May 1.
“Dave is known for his dedication to solid team and people processes, making him a valued ADESA leader since joining the Minneapolis team,” ADESA chief operating officer Srisu Subrahmanyam said in a news release.
Talking about Costner, Subrahmanyam said, “Terry brings a passion for education to the job, approaching each day as an opportunity to discover something new, which will inspire the Nashville team to reach new heights.”
Regarding Toler, she first joined ADESA Los Angeles in 2002 as factory manager for Toyota.
She has held various leadership positions at ADESA Los Angeles and ADESA Las Vegas since then. Those positions include commercial account manager and assistant general manager. She went on to be promoted to her most recent position as general manager of ADESA Fresno.
Toler reports to ADESA Los Angeles general manager Ted Coates in her new position, in which she will focus on accelerating the auction’s reconditioning services.
And regarding Brendle, she has been in the car business all her life, and as a teenager she worked at her father’s independent car dealership.
She helped him open an independent auction, Fresno Auto Dealers Exchange, in 2011. Brasher’s auction group acquired that auction in 2015, and ADESA acquired it in 2016.
Over the years, Brendle’s increasing responsibilities include serving in roles including assistant manager, office manager, general sales manager and, most recently, as dealer relations manager.
“Cheryl’s knack for fostering strong customer relationships, along with more than 30 years of experience in the auto auction industry, make her a great fit for this role at our Los Angeles location,” Subrahmanyam said.
Subrahmanyam continued, “Amanda has established long-lasting relationships with customers in the Fresno market, which positions her perfectly to grow the business at that site organically.”
Missouri Auto Auction has added a second generation of ownership with the announcement that Cody Boswell and Candice Boswell-Bray are now a part of the ownership team.
Boswell and Boswell-Bray are the son and daughter of Gregg and Dagmar Boswell. Gregg Boswell founded Missouri Auto Auction in 2000.
Gregg Boswell founded the auction while maintaining ownership in KCI Auto Auction. In 2016, he sold his ownership to his partners to concentrate solely on Missouri Auto Auction.
That focus on growth resulted in a $2 million renovation in 2015, a reconditioning facility and an update of the current auction space.
The reconditioning facility included mechanic bays and four detail lanes.
The auction also added office space and three additional lanes, which brought the auction to five total sales lanes.
“My sister and I are very excited to continue the legacy that our father has started and continuing to build on his dream,” Cody Boswell said in a news release.
He continued, “Our goal has always been to remain a family owned, independent auction. I feel honored to be a part of this team, this family and this industry.”
Missouri Auto Auction general manager Justin Brown has been with the auction for 15 years and said he was “thrilled for Cody and Candice.”
“They are ready to move the auction into a new era and are focused on the continued success of the auction and the employees,” Brown said in a news release.
He continued, “We are geared for growth and new opportunities in the months to come.”
The auction has received awards since 2018 from companies such as United Auto Credit and ARI, and on Monday, the company said United Auto Credit Corp. named it Auction of the Year for the second consecutive year.
In winning the award, Missouri Auto Auction beat out 43 other U.S. locations.
United Credit director of loss prevention and remarketing Scott Mousaw said Missouri Auto Auction was a strong partner for United Auto Credit.
“The service, and most importantly, the results, have kept them in the top spot for the last two years,” Mousaw said.
“I am so proud of our team,” Cody Boswell said.
Boswell continued, “Every day we go to work with one mission: to make sure our customers are well cared for and satisfied with all the products and services we provide. This award reflects their hard work, commitment and dedication.”
Auction general manager Justin Brown said, “We are very honored to win this award and hope to continue our growth through 2020.”
He continued, “In addition to our success with UACC, we have experienced a great increase to our dealer consignment and commercial business. We have a great auction and are looking forward to continued success in 2020.”
As a human resources executive, Carmel Galvin has led diversity and inclusion, employee engagement and culture management programs at companies with various languages and cultures throughout the world.
Her human resources career has involved executive leadership and C-suite roles at Autodesk, Glassdoor, Advent Software and Deloitte.
On Friday, KAR Global announced it has named Galvin to its board of directors, noting her more than 25 years of talent and culture leadership experience working with global technology and online sector organizations.
Her addition to the board is effective Feb. 1.
KAR Global chairman and chief executive officer Jim Hallett said the company continues investing in innovation and people, leading to its “evolution into a digitally and data enabled auto tech company."
“It makes sense that we add someone with human resources expertise like Carmel to our board of directors,” Hallett said in a news release.
He continued, “She has seasoned leadership skills that have helped transform companies, and she brings the perspective of a company leader who has worked closely with a board to drive success.”
Galvin for the past two years has been chief human resources officer for Autodesk — a publicly traded 3D design, engineering and entertainment software company.
In that post, she has overseen all people functions across the globe for that company.
Before she joined Autodesk, Galvin performed similar work at Glassdoor, developing and driving the company’s global talent strategy.
In that post, she worked with Glassdoor’s board to establish executive compensation, equity programs and succession planning initiatives.
Her HR career began at IBM in Ireland in 1991.
“At KAR Global, our employees and our board of directors are laser-focused on becoming the leading end-to-end global remarketing solution for our customers,” Hallett said.
He continued, “Carmel can help us continue our journey toward powering automotive marketplaces across the world.”
KAR Global vice president of intellectual property and technology counsel Michelle Bray will expand her responsibilities to include the role of chief privacy officer.
She becomes the first in company history to serve in that role.
“Protecting the privacy of our data and information is one of our highest priorities, and an expectation of our customers, stakeholders and board of directors,” KAR Global senior vice president, general counsel and secretary Chuck Coleman said in a news release.
Bray’s added responsibility includes navigating what the company describes as a “complex and changing regulatory landscape.”
KAR Global said Bray takes on that responsibility as the company evolves into an even more data-driven, technology-enabled company.
“Michelle has been instrumental to protecting KAR’s intellectual properties and fostering innovation throughout the organization,” Coleman said.
He continued, “Her unique experience and skillset will help us continue to meet and exceed those expectations in the rapidly-changing data and technology landscape of our company and industry.”
Before this new announcement on her expanded role as chief privacy officer, Bray led the legal aspects of safeguarding KAR’s intellectual properties.
That has involved maintaining global trademark and brand licenses, seeking patent protection for company innovations and inventions, and providing counsel on trade secret protection, global and national laws and regulations.
She began her career working on cases involving the use of trademarks and copyrights in cyberspace during the mid-1990s internet boom.
In addition, Bray has worked in private practice protecting global trademark portfolios, negotiating brand and product licenses, and litigating trademark and copyright cases.
“As KAR continues to evolve into a more global, digital and technology-driven business, data privacy is absolutely mission-critical,” Bray said.
She continued, “I look forward to working with our broad and talented data security team as well as our diverse technology and legal professionals to reinforce our strong data-privacy foundation and accelerate innovation across the growing patchwork of legal and regulatory requirements around the globe.”
