Dealers Auto Auction of Oklahoma City has a new general manager. Named to that role is Jon Reininger, who has been assistant general manager since March 2007. He began working at the auction in 2000.
“We know our customers and employees alike applaud Jon’s promotion to general manager,” said auction owner Gary Smith. “We have all come to rely on him for his understanding of the auction business, his focus on customer service, and his attentiveness to many details involved in processing vehicles through an auction sale.
“Jon has proved himself to be a vital member of the auction team here at DAA/OKC since coming to work here nearly 15 years ago, and we know he will continue to serve our business well in his new post,” he continued.
Reininger’s first role with DAA/OKC when he joined in March 2000 was as assistant controller, quickly moving over to the role of controller.
“Working in the auction industry is a dream come true for me,” said Reininger. “I love the work I do here at DAA/OKC and feel tremendously fortunate to associate with a great group of people here at the auction.
“Following Gary Smith’s lead, the entire staff works hard to serve our customers well, and we’ll continue to focus on providing a level of service that’s second to none here in our area.”
The Greater Rockford Auto Auction is celebrating its 40-year business anniversary this month with prizes and promotions. The auction’s rewards include different giveaways such as gas grills, Yamaha scooters and Polaris all-terrain vehicles.
Chad Anderson, the auction manager, is looking forward to the GRAA’s 40th anniversary party sale, which will be held on July 23.
“We are proud to celebrate 40 years in business this year,” Anderson said. “Our anniversary celebration provides us a great opportunity to give back to our customers that have supported GRAA for the past 40 years. Without our customers, we would not be where we are today.”
In Other Auction News
Charleston Auto Auction hosted its 11th Annual Luau/Pig Pickin’ & Car Sale on June 20, breaking an auction record with 1,800 vehicles present on the day. The auction included over 700 franchised dealer trades from more than 35 new-car stores as well as 450 units for institutional accounts and 700 vehicles sold by consigning for independent dealers and wholesalers.
Twenty four dealers were selected from a barrel of tickets at the end of the event, each ticket representing a vehicle bought or sold over the previous seven weeks. The winners split $35,000 in cash and prizes which included three separate $5000 cash winners.
Laura Taylor, the auction’s general manager, was pleased with the record-setting celebration.
“Every year we seem to set a record at the Luau Sale and this year was no exception,” Taylor said. “Dealers traveled from all over the country to be part of this event. Not only were there many great vehicles to purchase, but everyone was excited to have a chance to win some of the great prizes.”
NextGear Capital recently added the EDGE ASI Auction Operating System to its floor planning integration with AuctionACCESS.
As a result of this integration, NextGear Capital president Brian Geitner highlighted that all auctions on the Edge ASI system will have the ability to receive updated NextGear Capital credit availability and originate floor plan transactions through the AuctionACCESS platform.
“Innovative technology solutions have been the hallmark of NextGear Capital since day one,” Geitner said. “This integration with EDGE ASI furthers our commitment to create and provide simplified solutions that help our customers grow and succeed.”
Geitner went on to mention EDGE ASI auctions will now benefit from automated credit availability and floor plan loan processing with NextGear Capital.
Facilitated by the AuctionACCESS platform, this integration is designed to streamline the buying process for NextGear Capital dealers and enable them to floor their vehicles with NextGear Capital more quickly and efficiently.
“Many of our Edge ASI customers have a great working relationship with NextGear Capital and this integration just makes sense,” said Watson McClam, general manager of the Auction Edge ASI Division.
“Auctions are already seeing benefits from more reliable availability figures and streamlined post-sale settlement,” McClam added.
Copart has invited the general public to vote on the finalists of its first Copart Rebuild Challenge.
The contest, which gathered video entries of various vehicle rebuilds from April 14 through July 6, has been narrowed down to 10 finalists. The three with the most votes by July 25 will receive one of three prizes: a $10,000 grand prize, $2,000 second-place prize or the third-place reward of one year of Copart Premier Membership.
Matt Burgener, the chief marketing officer at Copart, was elated to view the variety of entries his company received.
“We had an overwhelming response to the Copart Rebuild Challenge,” Burgener said. “Our members fixed up everything from luxury cars to boats and motorcycles. It was wonderful to see how talented our customers truly are. We are excited to get the public involved to vote for their favorite video and ultimately select the winner of our inaugural Copart Rebuild Challenge.”
To view the ten finalists selected by Copart’s panel, click here.
The National Auto Auction Association will hold its next round of Auction Standards Training about one month from now, as it will offer a course on vehicle grading (AutoGrade) at Manheim Dallas on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19.
Day 1 will include a damage analysis overview, and Day 2 will include a structural damage overview.
Single-day registration is $385 for each day, and combined registration is $700.
More information can be found here.
Next up in our latest Auction News Roundup is Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho, which recently hosted another vehicle give-away.
Winning a new Mitsubishi Mirage was Tom Harrod, owner of PBT Auto Sales in Nampa, Idaho.
The car was originally purchased from Bronco Motors Mitsubishi.
Staying out West, Brasher’s Portland Auto Auction and Brasher’s Northwest Auto Auction recently shared details about Brasher’s Backstage 2014.
The auctions will host back-to-back sales on Aug. 6 (at Brasher’s Northwest) and Aug. 7 (Brasher’s Portland) and expect to offer a combined consignment of more than 2,000 trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles from their fleet and finance partners and dealers throughout the region.
Highlighting the event will be an outdoor concert featuring Sara Bareilles at McMenamin’s Edgefield Amphitheater, adjacent to Brasher’s Portland, on Aug. 6.
Flint Auto Auction recently picked up a pair of top awards from two of its commercial consignors — US Bank and Automotive Credit Corp.
First, the auction received a rare recognition from US Bank, which presented the auction with its Director’s Award for 2013. US Bank has presented this award only three times and honored Flint AA for 2013 as US Bank’s most outstanding auction in the nation.
“We are so pleased to receive this singular honor from US Bank,” Flint AA president Bill Williams, Jr. said. “We work hard to provide superior service to our customers and are thrilled to have those efforts recognized with the US Bank Director’s Award.”
Flint AA holds a sale for US Bank every other Wednesday.
“It takes a team to win an award of this caliber, and we recognize the extraordinary efforts put forth by everyone at Flint Auto Auction,” general manager Lawrence Cubitt. “Every single person at Flint Auto Auction contributes to our success.
“The US Bank Director’s Award is a confirmation of the hard work put forth by every member of our staff who goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve our customer,” Cubitt continued. “Staying late, working in the cold and snow, getting last minute repairs completed and processing reruns, are just a few of the special touches that distinguish Flint Auto Auction as an award-winning auction.”
Vice president John Luce also touched on Flint’s staff as part of the reason the operation can be award winning.
“There is no better team in the business than the team here at Flint Auto Auction,” Luce said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with US Bank and pledge to redouble our efforts to remain their top auction in the nation.”
The honors for Flint AA didn’t stop there. The auction has been named the nation’s top-performing auction for Automotive Credit, receiving the remarketer’s 2013 Auction of the Year Award.
In determining its leading auction, Automotive Credit scores its auction partners on all processes involved in bringing a vehicle to auction and selling it on the auction block.
“Automotive Credit Corporation is proud to acknowledge our vendors who work so hard to maximize our return on our assets. This is the first time we have given this award, and we are proud to recognize Flint Auto Auction as the 2013 Auction of the year,” said Greg Duff, remarketing manager for Automotive Credit.
Flint AA has been working with Automotive Credit since 2012, and conducts a sale for the subprime lender every other Wednesday.
“Being recognized as the top auction in the country for Automotive Credit Corp. is a tremendous honor for all of us at Flint Auto Auction,” Williams said. “Our commitment to providing unparalleled service is deeply ingrained in our culture here at Flint Auto Auction, and we work hard to make sure that our focus on customer service is evident in everything we do.
“We are delighted to receive the 2013 Auction of the Year Award from Automotive Credit Corp., and we share it with our auction team,” he added.
Luce reiterated the value of the operation’s personnel.
“Every member of the staff in every department at Flint Auto Auction contributes to our success,” Luce said. “Service is a team effort, and when we receive a superior grade for performance from the start of the auction process to the finish, we acknowledge the efforts of everyone who has a part in getting the job done, from transport to lot operations, from the shop technicians to the office staff, from the clerks and the auctioneers to the managers who ensure that the flow is smooth and our customers’ expectations are met.”
Cubitt closed by emphasizing what Flint AA tries to do on a regular basis.
“Going above and beyond the call of duty isn’t just a saying at Flint Auto Auction. It is something that happens every day,” Cubitt said. “We are proud of the results we achieve for our customers, particularly when our performance distinguishes Flint Auto Auction the No. 1 auction in the nation.”
Flint Auto Auction is a member of ServNet and has been serving dealers in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and beyond since 1953.
In addition to dealer auctions, the operation also provides reconditioning, body and mechanical repair, marshaling and inspection services. More information on Flint AA can be found at www.flintaa.com.
Auction Broadcasting Co. president Jason Hockett highlighted the company is expanding seven of its eight locations in anticipation of upcoming volumes.
Hockett indicated construction started earlier this year at those facilities as management based its decision on the anticipation of off-lease returns and an uptick in repossessions.
At ABC Baton Rouge, the company just celebrated its first anniversary in business in the Louisiana capital. Now, ABC is developing eight additional acres with a new reconditioning center.
“It will allow us to expand our mechanical and post-sale inspection areas as well,” Hockett said.
At ABC Birmingham, the company purchased and developed 13.5 additional acres. “It is allowing us to build a new reconditioning center and body shop, plus install our new state of the art photo booth,” Hockett said.
Moving north to ABC Lancaster, the company is developing 12 additional acres.
“It’s been exciting to see a need for more asphalt in the Pennsylvania market,” Hockett said of the eight-lane auction that has reconditioning center and body shop to go with three full lanes dedicated for vehicle inspections.
“It was Jason Brinkley and Greg Gehman’s goal to have pictures and a condition report listed online for every vehicle in the sale,” Hockett added.
Shifting west to ABC St. Louis, the company is developing 15 additional acres and installing its first drive-thru photo booth.
“I am truly excited to share with the industry our finished product from the photo booth,” Hockett said. “It’s going to be a game-changer.”
Elsewhere in the Midwest, at ABC Detroit/ Toledo the company plans to develop 10 additional acres and renovate its check-in area and reconditioning center as Hockett predicted to be “inundated” with off-lease volume in Detroit.
“As the supply increases, we hope to create more of a demand by moving the vehicles 45 minutes southeast,” he said.
The company recently completed the remodeling of the auction arena and front office at ABC Bowling Green.
“Our dealers have really appreciated the improvements,” Hockett said.
Finally at ABC Cincinnati, the company purchased an adjoining property with three acres. The property was formerly a dealership with a service department and body shop.
“We really needed the service department and body shop to allow us to offer the proper services for our bank and fleet customers,” Hockett said.
Hockett mentioned ABC have seen 15 to 20 percent growth year-over-year for the past four years, making the improvement plans all the more necessary.
“I think that all auction owners are excited in anticipation of volume increases,” Hockett said. “At ABC, we are grateful for our customers who have been so good to us and it’s nice to be able to give back to them by improving our facilities with additional parking and making key improvements for ancillary services.”
ServNet president Patty Stanley acknowledged there are alternatives for remarketing vehicles such as wholesalers, dealer-to-dealer transactions and direct selling to consumers. But Stanley recently reinforced what auto auctions offer, highlighting six specific benefits.
The owner of Carolina Auto Auction and Indiana Auto Auction covered a wide array of attributes and services when compiling her list, including:
— Market liquidity: At the auction, dealers can convert vehicles into cash quickly.
— Fair market pricing: Auctions can provide an objective view of what vehicles are worth in the marketplace, and move large volumes of vehicles without depressing prices.
— Selection: Through the auction, dealers can access a broad selection of vehicle types, mileages and price points from a variety of consignors, including other dealers, lease companies, rental companies, bank and finance companies, fleet companies and manufacturers.
— Integrity: Check and title transactions are secure and guaranteed; standards for vehicle condition and inspection are uniform across NAAA auctions.
— Technology: Auctions have developed technologies that increase efficiency, offer convenience and can provide multiple services to buyers and sellers. With cutting-edge internet applications, dealers can attend auctions in multiple locations, seeking the inventory that fits their inventory requirements.
— Ancillary services: Auctions can provide and coordinate a wide array of complimentary services including vehicle reconditioning, transportation, and wholesale financing.
“Whether auto dealers are buying or selling, the benefits of the wholesale auto auction are many,” Stanley said. “From ease of use and vehicle selection, to the security of check and title transactions and the multiple services offered, today’s auto auction is a key resource in the business strategy of any dealer looking to expand his used-car operations.”
Stanley also stressed that ServNet auctions, in particular, are important partners for dealers across the country.
“Auto dealers are the backbone of our business, and our partnership with both franchise and independent dealers is of paramount importance to the 31 auctions in the ServNet group,” Stanley said.
Stanley went on to mention ServNet auctions are firmly rooted in their communities and are dedicated to the relationships that have been developed over their many years in business.
Like many of the dealerships they serve, ServNet auctions are backed by multiple generations of private ownership and experience, and the owners are clear about their personal stakes in their businesses, according Stanley.
“As independent ServNet auction owners, we are united in our commitment to building strong relationships with our customers, offering the finest auction services available,” she said.
“At every ServNet auction, buyers benefit from a tremendous selection of vehicles running weekly in the auction lanes, the convenience of many online services, and the confidence of secure transactions,” Stanley added. “Buyers benefit from a quick turn of inventory at market value, in a venue where a vehicle can even sell for more than asking price.”
Philanthropic activities continued by ServNet auctions recently with a pair of inaugural events orchestrated by two member facilities — KCI Kansas City and Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies.
Back on May 8, KCI Kansas City held the first KCI Cares charity auction of the year with the proceeds benefiting Sheffield Place. Since Sheffield Place empowers homeless mothers and their children, KCI scheduled the charity auction the week before Mother’s Day and encouraged customers, staff and business partners to get involved.
“The support we received this year was absolutely amazing,” KCI Kansas City co-owner Doug Doll said. “With the overwhelming generosity and support, we were able to raise $16,209 for Sheffield Place which is the most money we have ever raised during a charity auction.”
Customers, staff and business partners participated in a silent auction with items ranging from Coach purses, Tiffany & Co., jewelry, body lotions, candles, meals at local restaurants and more.
Auction staff indicated the most sought-after silent auction item was lunch provided by “3 Girls and A Grill,” which included lunch for 15 people cooked and served by auction managers Kay Nordhausen, Morgan Mackey and Melissa Miller. After a bidding war between two customers, the item eventually sold for $1,300.
Other fundraising efforts included a bake sale and donations from dealerships including Miller Investment Group, Zeck Ford, McCarthy Auto Group, Landers McLarty Group, Randy Reed Automotive Group, Anderson Ford, Fenton Auto Group, DM Northwest, Tyson Auto Source, Excel Motors, SS Auto, and Wholesale One.
KCI Kansas City also donated a portion of the sale’s proceeds to Sheffield Place.
In addition, KCI set up bins for staff and customers to donate much needed supplies for Sheffield Place. Twin sheet sets, non-perishable food items, diapers, and personal hygiene supplies were among the items donated.
More than 300 pounds of supplies were donated and hand delivered to Sheffield Place, according to auction management.
“I want to thank everyone for their overwhelming generosity and participation,” Doll said. “We’re on track to surpass our fundraising goal this year, and I know it wouldn’t be possible without the support from our staff and customers.”
DAA of the Rockies Holds Charity Golf Tournament
Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies held its inaugural charity golf tournament at the Inverness Hotel & Conference Golf Course in Englewood, Colo., on May 19. A portion of the proceeds were donated to SafeHouse Denver.
Management highlighted that among the sponsors for the event were Best Car Buys LTD, Groove Automotive, Larry H. Miller Automotive, AutoNation, and The Auto Connection.
At the awards luncheon following the tournament, prizes were awarded to the top three teams as well as to the team with the highest score. The Inverness Golf Club created a special prize for the foursome that arrived with only one ball for the whole day.
The DAA Rockies inaugural golf tournament had 130 attendees which included customers, vendors, and employees.
“We lucked out with perfect weather on the day of the tournament, a miracle when you consider that it had snowed the week before,” said Alex Zyla, marketing manager at DAA Rockies. “Our sponsors and participants really enjoyed themselves, and we were able to support a great Denver charity.”
Zylva also pointed out that DAA Rockies is gearing up for its upcoming fourth annual live charity auction, which will benefit The Family Tree.
For more than three decades, Family Tree has provided innovative, life-changing services designed to end child abuse and neglect, domestic violence and homelessness. As the only organization in the Denver metro area working to address the interconnectedness among these issues, Family Tree is changing how individuals, families and communities see, respond to and overcome them.
This year’s charity auction will take place on Thursday after DAA Rockies’ regular sale.
“Each year it is difficult to choose one charity out of the hundreds of local charities for our event,” Zyla said. “This year we chose an organization that focuses on helping families within our community.”
DAA Rockies charity auction will include special appearances from Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot, two Denver Broncos’ cheerleaders, and Miss Colorado. Roses Creamery will also be supplying ice cream cups for everyone at the event.
For more information about this event and other upcoming promotions at DAA Rockies, visit the auction’s website at www.daarockies.com.
As part of its ongoing commitment to introduce products and services that drive business growth for customers, Manheim tapped on Tuesday two former NextGear Capital executives to be new vice presidents of national accounts.
Now reporting to Manheim vice president of commercial sales Rich Coutu are Peter Grupposo and Janet Hendrixson.
“We’re excited to have the industry expertise and strong leadership of Peter and Janet on the commercial team,” Coutu said. “In these roles, Peter and Janet will provide influence and direction to a team of commercial account managers charged with implementation and execution of the company’s plan to protect and grow current market share.”
Grupposo most recently served as NextGear Capital’s vice president of operations and business development.
In that role, Grupposo oversaw NextGear’s corporate support departments of business initiatives and operational planning. Manheim highlighted that he led the effort to broaden NextGear’s value proposition through delivery of unparalleled service and operating efficiency.
Grupposo also directed all of NextGear’s internal business development functions to drive new business growth as well as strategic initiatives.
Prior to joining NextGear Capital last year, Grupposo worked with Dealer Services Corp. (DSC) from 2005 until the company was acquired by Manheim in 2012.
Grupposo held a variety of roles at DSC, including sales executive, general manager and regional director for the Northeast region.
Prior to joining DSC, Grupposo worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car during his career.
Hendrixson served as regional director for NextGear Capital prior to this new role. She was responsible for the management and oversight of all aspects of NextGear business in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Manheim noted Hendrixson was also charged with driving sales strategies for new business development, maximizing market return and deploying new initiatives to exceed budgeted goals and revenue.
Prior to joining NextGear Capital, Hendrixson served as general sales manager for Manheim’s Southeast Market. She joined Manheim in 2000 following the acquisition of ADT Automotive.
During her Manheim career, Hendrixson has held many roles in the field, including assistant general manager, mobile inspection strategy, sales and operational leadership.
During her career at ADT Automotive, Hendrixson focused primarily on establishing relationships with key customers and sales support.
Manheim Technology Finishes as Finalist for PMI Award
Manheim Technology, a part of Manheim, was selected as one of three finalists for the Project of the Year Award by the Atlanta chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Manheim was in the running because of its strategic plan and implementation of a newly created demand management office effort last year.
Officials highlighted the Manheim project was among eight nominations, and was chosen as one of three finalists for the annual PMI award.
“It was not an easy decision for our judges to make,” said Yvonne Byars, chairwoman of PMI’s Atlanta chapter. “Our three finalists had very detailed and effective presentations. We were excited to select Manheim’s Demand Management Office as one of the finalists.”
A panel of judges evaluated all three projects following separate 10-minute presentations from the finalists, including Manheim, Coca-Cola and Home Depot. Coca-Cola’s project was selected as the winner by the judges, and Manheim was awarded second place.
“We are honored to have been selected by PMI as a finalist for this award,” Manheim chief technology officer Michael Noel said. “It is very nice to see our teams recognized for their great teamwork and dedication to this effort. This new function truly helps Manheim deliver on our promise to add value for our customers.”
System Evolution, assisted Manheim during this project, which was led by Lauren Foster.
“SEI is proud to be a part of the Manheim team and this important initiative,” System Evolution chief operating officer Rob Seichter said. “We are thrilled to see Manheim honored as a torchbearer in the Demand Management space and look forward to our continued partnership.”
PMI Atlanta, an organization that serves project managers throughout many industries in metro Atlanta, hosted the awards dinner that featured analysis of the finalists’ projects on June 9 at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.
As part of the project, Manheim IT is being recognized for the merger of two technology functions into one group and the Demand Management roll out last year to satisfy business needs. The new team provided a solution to business requests that required support from both IT functions. Demand management is a planning methodology used to manage and forecast the demand of products services.
