We begin this auction news roundup with an update on what has been one of the biggest stories in the space in years.
Carvana said in a news release Thursday that it anticipates its deal to acquire KAR Global’s U.S. ADESA physical auction business will close next month.
The online retailer said that to “facilitate this closing timeline,” it will report its first quarter earnings after the market closes Wednesday. Carvana’s quarterly earnings call is set for 5:30 pm (ET) that day.
NAAA donates to aid in Ukraine relief
Elsewhere, the National Auto Auction Association said last week that it donated $25,000 to the Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
Save the Children, which aims to help children in times of crisis, is putting donations towards helping families meet basic needs like food, water and having hygiene kits, along with other support measures.
NAAA’s efforts began with a $5,000 donation to the fund from headquarters, which was followed by a $5,000 donation from the NAAA Midwest Chapter. The Eastern, Southern and Western chapters each pitched in $5,000, as well.
“We know that so many of members are great stewards of their communities and are eager to support charitable causes that are important to them,” NAAA said in an emailed message to members. “That is why we felt it was necessary to step up as an association to do our part to help families that are directly affected by the crisis in Ukraine.”
Manheim augments LotVision tech
Over at Manheim, the company announced last week that it has added Diagnostic Trouble Code vehicle information at all of its U.S. auctions with LotVision technology.
The company had run a two-month pilot test on the DTC technology at locations in Texas and California.
With the DTC capability, clients will be able to view the diagnostic data on vehicles either at the auction or remotely through searching the VIN or work order number.
“As Manheim broadens its focus on creating a better, more connected client experience, we are committed to delivering the vital information they are looking for to make their buying and selling decisions,” said Bob Grounds, Manheim AVP of operational excellence, in a news release. “LotVision’s expanded capabilities are also an important next step in helping Manheim advance a more transparent marketplace.”
BSC America’s Bel Air Auto Auction is ready for a memorable week.
One of the longest-running auto auctions in the country will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Wednesday and Thursday. According to a news release, Bel Air is expecting more than 2,500 vehicles to cross the block and many customers to participate in the festivities.
Bel Air held a warm-up celebration last week with a kick-off event with food trucks on the lot and a live band, providing free lunch and entertainment for auction associates and customers.
The 75th anniversary at Bel Air Auto Auction begins in earnest on Wednesday evening with a celebration and dinner with entertainment by Onyx, one of the Washington D.C.-area’s premier cover bands that brings a blend of musical styles to the stage to add excitement to the party atmosphere.
To cap off the evening, Bel Air said fireworks will light up the sky over the auction.
On Thursday, bidders will return for the main event when vehicle consignment will run across 10 auction lanes.
“The icing on the anniversary cake will be a special run of classic cars following the regular auction,” Bel Air said, adding that a charity auction is planned to kick off the classic car sale.
Customers will bid on the rights to the No. 1 Bidder Badge for Life, as proceeds will be matched by Bel Air Auto Auction and donated to the American Cancer Society.
BSC America also is commemorating Bel Air’s Auto Auction’s 75th year with the unveiling of its all-new website at www.bscamerica.com.
With a fresh, streamlined design that puts information at the fingertips of its customers, the auction explained its new website is designed to make maneuvering between all BSC Auction locations intuitively easy.
Management pointed out that a dedicated dealer portal can allow customers to view run lists, consign vehicles, request transportation and access market reports.
“Our 75th anniversary is a landmark event, and we’re planning a celebration to remember,” BSC America president Charles Nichols said in the news release. “Our dedicated customers have played a huge role in our many years of success as one of the longest-running auctions in the country, and we’re looking forward to thanking buyers and sellers alike for their loyalty and support.”
Bel Air Auto Auction is the flagship auction of BSC America, with a weekly sale on Thursday, a bi-weekly GM Financial closed sale and a weekly public sale.
The auction’s Clayton Station facility handles the sale of rental scratch and dent units, donations, salvage and in-op units, along with a monthly Tuesday sale with powersports units, heavy trucks and equipment.
Bel Air Auto Auction is a member of the ServNet Auction Group and the National Auto Auction Association.
Auction award season continued this week as defi REMARKETING, the end-to-end remarketing services of defi SOLUTIONS, announced its 2021 Auction of the Year.
The company’s top accolade went to ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton, as defi REMARKETING also recognized Manheim Dallas and Manheim Orlando as second and third place honorees, respectively.
Executives highlighted ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton has been a top performing auction for defi SOLUTIONS and its finance company clients for many years, taking top honors for three of the past four years.
ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton helps put cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, jet skis, four-wheelers and other vehicles in buyers’ hands through digital and physical auctions and empowers defi REMARKETING to lower costs, shorten turnaround times and maximize the resale price of off-lease and repossessed vehicles for its finance company clients.
For more than 30 years, defi REMARKETING has been providing comprehensive vehicle remarketing services that include vehicle valuation, title delivery, vehicle transport services, and premium sale lane placement that improves vehicle visibility.
During that, defi REMARKETING said it has been well-supported by experienced staff, leading technology, proven processes and strong industry relationships, such as its partnership with ADESA.
“We very much appreciate the excellence and high standards of the ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton team,” defi SOLUTIONS vice president of client services Steve Bissett said in a news release. “We look forward to building on the current relationship with these dedicated industry professionals as we continue to evolve our products and services and grow our client community.”
Mike Long is general manager at ADESA Cincinnati/Dayton.
“We are honored to receive this award again — it really showcases our team’s dedication to outstanding customer service and outcomes, day in and day out,” Long said in the news release.
“We’re especially proud of our many years of collaboration with defi and the results we’ve driven together — and we look forward to many more years of partnership and positive impact on our customers and industry,” Long went on to say.
In recent days, Exeter Finance honored four auctions, while GM Financial recognized another five auctions.
XLerate Group, the parent company of America’s Auto Auction, has reinforced its sales and marketing departments by placing a trio of experienced wholesale market professionals into critical roles.
The latest move arrived on Friday when the company announced the appointment of Sawyer Walker as director of national sales for the combined wholesale operation.
Walker started in the auction industry as a sales representative with the Brasher’s family auctions. Throughout the next decade, he continued his growth in the industry with regional and national sales management positions, joining America’s last year.
AAA senior vice president of sales Pat Dudash said in a news release, “Sawyer understands the dealers and buyers in our industry from a national perspective. We’re excited to have him join us as we continue to promote leadership and support for our 39 auctions, their dealers and our clients.”
AAA executive vice president Chuck Tapp added, “Sawyer’s experience exceeds his years in this industry. He has a natural expertise for sales, and I see him as an important component in the future successes of our company.”
The news release also contained Walker’s perspectives on taking this position.
“I am honored to be in this new and expanded sales role,” he said. “I look forward to building on my existing relationships and am excited to create new ones as I work with the strong team forged from XLerate Group and America’s Auto Auction.”
The action involving Walker isn’t the only personnel move by XLerate and AAA in recent days.
The company also named Melissa Miller as director of marketing and Kaetlin Sherk as national sales manager, as their new positions took effect immediately.
“The addition of Melissa and Kaetlin expands support of our 39 auctions, strongly operated by tenured GMs, and better prepares us to meet the needs of our customers,” Tapp said in another news release.
Tapp elaborated about what Miller brings to her position.
“Melissa Miller has worked in the auction industry for more than 26 years,” Tapp said. “She’s been a noteworthy leader at America’s Auto Auction Kansas City — growing from managing dealer sales to marketing manager — successfully leading their sales promotions, public relations and advertising team.”
In reaction to being placed in this executive role, Miller said, “I am very honored to join with the XLerate Group|America’s Auto Auction leadership team I’m excited to work on the merger of these two successful groups into one national auction powerhouse.”
Meanwhile, the company highlighted Sherk, who joins AAA as national sales manager, has also risen in the ranks of the auction arena from driver and block clerk to fleet/lease manager and GSM at Columbus Fair Auto Auction.
“I realized early on that I had a passion for connecting with customers as well as an eye for analyzing data and spotting trends to help customers increase retention values and sales percentages,” Sherk said. “During my time at Columbus Fair, I focused on using these same tools to penetrate our dealer market and maximize market share.”
Dudash offered his assessment of what Sherk will bring to her post with AAA.
“Kaetlin built a top-performing sales and marketing team at Columbus Fair by focusing on client relationships and leveraging our company’s national brand presence to increase their commercial consignment,” Dudash said. “We look forward to that same energy and success on a national level.”
This week, GM Financial named five regional 2021 Auction of the Year winners and a winner of Most Valuable Auction of the Year, which are part of the consignor’s annual nationwide auction of excellence program recognizing the highest-performing auction locations in 2021.
GM Financial said recipients were selected after reviewing each of the company’s 50 auctions’ performance in retention, operational metrics, presale activities and overall auction operations.
The regional auction of the year winners included:
—Manheim Texas Hobby, Houston
—ADESA Phoenix, Chandler, Ariz.
—Manheim Chicago, Matteson, Ill.
—Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.
—Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla.
“In 2021, the auctions we work with navigated many obstacles and went to great lengths to help GM Financial and our purchasing dealers achieve success in a very challenging year,” GM Financial senior vice president of remarketing solutions Bob Winn said in a news release.
With the influx in used-car prices, new-inventory challenges due to microchip shortages and ongoing restrictions from the pandemic, these top performers prioritized buyer safety and kept our vehicle sales strong. Congratulations to these top auctions of the year,” Winn continued.
And the Most Valuable Auction of the Year went to Manheim Pennsylvania.
“The entire Manheim Pennsylvania team is humbled and honored to have our location named as GM Financial’s Most Valuable Auction for a third consecutive year,” Manheim Pennsylvania vice president and general manager Joey Hughes said in the news release from GM Financial.
“I’m so proud of our team for their continued commitment to and focus on providing exceptional customer service and results. We look forward to continuing to work closely with GM Financial and building on their success for many years to come,” Hughes went on to say.
Exeter Finance announced its 2021 Exeter auction eXcellence and EMI awards at the recent CAR Conference in Las Vegas, recognizing auctions in divisions based on size and units sold.
Taking home the honors were:
Division III: DAA Seattle
Division II: Metro Phoenix
Division I: Bel Air Auto Auction
The EMI winner was Indiana Auto Auction.
“Our valued auction partners are a vital part of Exeter’s servicing arm. They are asked to transport, recondition and conduct redemptions of thousands of units, as well as – most importantly — market to our dealer base,” Exeter said in a statement. “The stronger the marketing of our brand, the more dealers that come into our auction lane and online to purchase our assets.”
The company added: “Congratulations on your eXcellence awards and for being the best of the best!”
Manheim PA raises $115,450 for Make-A-Wish
In other auction news, Manheim Pennsylvania held its annual Xtreme Spring Sale last week, hosting a sale with nearly 650 classic, specialty and exotic vehicles, 350 of which sold.
There were more than 2,100 digital and in-lane buyers.
There was also a charity portion of the event, in which a customized 2021 Ford Bronco was auctioned, with the proceeds benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A charity gala was also held as part of the event, with more than 400 dealers attending.
The charity event raised $115,450 to support Make-A-Wish.
“We are so incredibly grateful to our partners at Manheim Pennsylvania for their support of the mission of Make-A-Wish,” said Jennifer Davis, who is president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. “Ensuring that wishes come true is not possible without those in our community like those who gathered together last night. We consider our friends at Manheim part of our Make-A-Wish family. They are true wish heroes and words alone cannot express our gratitude.”
Manheim PA is also the public send-off point for the Make-A-Wish Mother’s Day Truck Convoy on May 8, which the organization says raises funds for more than 75% of the wishes granted annually by its Susquehanna Valley chapter.
Manheim Pennsylvania vice president and general manager Joey Hughes added: “We could not be more excited to offer our site as the starting point for this huge truck convoy that benefits Make-A-Wish. It’s truly going to be a special experience for our team and our community.”
Given the widespread challenges from vehicle inventory shortage and supply chain issues, there was a 10% year-over-year decline in the number of units that entered the lanes of NAAA-member auctions last year, according to the association’s annual industry survey.
There was also a 4.6% drop in the number of cars that entered auction lanes and were sold, NAAA said.
But despite these hurdles, the association did uncover some bright spots in its annual survey of member auctions …
Read more
With more than 40 years of company tenure between them, Manheim announced the appointment of three new general managers who each have deep experience serving their clients, team members and communities.
The trio tapped for these auction leadership positions during the first quarter included DiAngelo Brooks, David Carlucci and Charlie Clarke.
The company said Brooks has been promoted to GM for Manheim Harrisonburg, which is part of the Manheim Mid-Atlantic Market Center that includes Manheim Fredericksburg, Manheim Baltimore-Washington and Manheim Harrisonburg.
With a love for automobiles that began at his grandfather's salvage yard working as an unpaid parts puller, the company highlighted Brooks joined Manheim in 2010 as an OVE sales coordinator and was promoted to field sales manager for Virginia and Maryland in 2011.
Most recently, Brooks was assistant general manager at Manheim Fredericksburg where the location won the Best Auction of the Year award from 2016 through 2019.
Meanwhile, Carlucci has been promoted to general manager for Manheim New England, which is part of the Manheim Northeast Market Center that also includes Manheim New York and Manheim Albany. He previously served as the location’s assistant general manager since 2014, where he was responsible for all aspects of auction operations.
Manheim indicated Carlucci’s 20-plus year career in the auction industry also includes numerous roles in marketing, factory coordinator, dealer services, auction manager, general manager and corporate national sales.
Furthermore, Clarke has been promoted to GM for Manheim Darlington, which is part of the Manheim Carolina Market Center that also includes Manheim North Carolina and Manheim Wilmington. Clarke joined Manheim after college in 2001, beginning at Manheim Tennessee in lot operations before transitioning to various roles including arbitration, financial services and commercial accounts.
While there, the company noted that Clarke helped start the location’s Total Resource Auctions (TRA) salvage sale as well as holding the role of inside sales manager. Following the auction’s merger with Manheim Nashville, Clarke held several manager-level positions before being promoted to assistant general manager in 2016.
“As the industry and our business continue to evolve, we continue to look to our talented leaders to drive innovative solutions for our clients and our company,” said Matt Trapp, who is Manheim’s regional vice president for the East region.
“All three have proven records of success in their regions and we look forward to seeing the ongoing contributions we know they’ll make in their new roles,” Trapp continued in a news release.
On Thursday afternoon, a presentation at the National Auto Auction Association’s Total Access event delved into what the future could look like for automotive, particularly around microchips and electric vehicles.
But earlier that day, the association took time to honor three of the most influential leaders in the auction industry’s recent history.
Sandy Schwartz, the chief executive officer of the Cox Family Office and longtime president and CEO of Cox Automotive as well as being the former Manheim president, was inducted into the NAAA’s Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Janet Barnard — recently retired from her role as Cox Automotive chief people officer — was recognized with an NAAA Industry Pioneer Award. Before serving as chief people officer, Barnard was president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions group, after serving as president of Manheim North America.
Last but not least, NAAA also announced that it has established the Tom Caruso Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of the late ADESA and KAR Global leader.
Caruso, who retired in March 2020, spent 40 years in the remarketing business, including time as ADESA’s president and CEO, its chief operating officer and its executive vice president, among other roles.
He was president of the National Auto Auction Association from 2005 to 2006. Just prior to retirement, Caruso was chief client officer at KAR, a role he had held since 2013.
The memorial fund is part of the NAAA Warren Young, Sr. Scholastic Foundation, Inc. It will award four scholarships each year (one from each NAAA chapter) to students pursuing a degree from a trade or technical school.
The eligibility requirements are the same as the NAAA Warren Young, Sr. Scholastic Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Program.
Donations can be made to the fund by mailing a check payable to Scholarship America to the address below, with “Tom Caruso Memorial Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.
National Auto Auction Association
5320 Spectrum Drive, Suite D
Frederick, MD 21703
We begin this auction news roundup in Ohio, where Value Auto Auction has named a new general manager.
Appointed to the GM role at this Crooksville auction is Carrie Thomas, who was most recently director of sales.
Thomas became director of sales last year after five years as an outside sales representative for the auction.
“It is with tremendous pride and excitement that we have chosen to place Carrie Thomas in the role of general manager at Value Auto Auction,” Value Auto Auction president and owner Chad Bailey said in a news release from ServNet, of which the auction is a part.
“Her passion and dedication to the employees and customers, coupled with her fire to serve as a leader within this organization, community and industry, is contagious. I am 100% confident that Carrie will spearhead The Value Way, defining this auction as the gold standard for many years to come,” said Bailey, who also owns Akron Auto Auction and is president of ServNet.
Value Auto Auction was acquired by Akron Auto Auction in June.
Thomas added: “The idea that passion comes from being part of something you believe in, something bigger than yourself, is a guiding principle of my life.
“Many of my colleagues will tell you that I am very passionate about what I do, especially in helping others grow. A leadership role is an important one, and I am honored to be given this opportunity to be help grow Value Auto Auction to reach its highest potential with Chad Bailey and the team. I’m looking forward with excitement to our future,” she said.
ServNet to open scholarship applications next month
In other news involving ServNet, the auction group has opened its 2022 Scholarship Program, which assists ServNet auction employees and their families with higher education expenses, be it college or vocational schools.
The auction group is providing up to 10 awards totaling $20,000 for undergraduate students for the 2022-23 academic year.
Five of those would be awards of $2,500 each for students attending a four-year college/university, and five would be awards of $1,500 each for those attending a two-year college or pursuing an automotive-related degree at a vocational/technical school. More info is available at https://www.servnetauctions.com/servnet-scholarship-program.
Applications will be available March 10, with the deadline of 3 p.m. (CT) on April 20. ServNet will announce the award recipients in May.
The Scholarship Program was launched in 2016 and is among several education-related endeavors ServNet has pursued.
“As the leaders of family-owned businesses. ServNet owners take a deep personal interest in their employees,” ServNet administrative director Robert Sullivan said in a news release. “ServNet’s scholarship program encourages the members of our auction families and helps lay the groundwork for the next generation that follows.”
