America’s Auto Auction recently presented its August Spotlight Award to Cheri Slaughter, the company’s fleet/lease specialist for the Houston market.
The company highlighted Slaughter — who has been with the operation for 12 years — divides her time between America’s Houston and America’s North Houston operations.
“Cheri is an invaluable member of the America’s team,” America’s North Houston general manager Buddy Cheney said in a news release. “Since coming onboard with us in 2009 as a dealer account manager, she has taken on many different responsibilities, including fleet sales, credit union and bank account management, and even some operational responsibilities.
“She’s the first to raise her hand when any department in our auction needs help, and she always does it with a fantastic attitude and a smile. She’s an outstanding person, a tremendous success in our business and an asset to our industry,”
Slaughter’s 30-year career in the auto industry began in 1989 when she worked for a Toyota distributor as an administrative assistant. From there, she went on to work for two different finance companies in the Houston area, calling on auto dealers and eventually becoming a subprime finance company representative.
America’s highlighted that Slaughter “hit the ground running” when she launched her career with the company in 2009 at its North Houston auction.
In her initial post as a dealer account manager, America’s recollected that Slaughter generated more vehicle sales in her first three months than any other previous representative had. Her stellar performance led to her promotion to fleet sales, and she began calling on credit unions and local fleet accounts while maintaining her relationships with dealers in the Houston market.
The company said Slaughter has continued to make an impact on her customers and her auction team, serving as local fleet/lease specialist, managing accounts for both America’s Houston and America’s North Houston Auto auctions.
America’s national sales director Tammy Swofford remembered her first meeting with Slaughter in 2013 when they made customer visits and attended conferences together as Slaughter mentored Swofford in fleet/lease account management.
“My expertise up to that point was dealer sales, and Cheri was so helpful in showing me the fleet/lease ‘ropes,’” Swofford said.
“It was immediately evident what strong and productive relationships she had built with our auction customers,” Swofford continued. “Since that time, we have expanded in the Houston market with our South Houston location, and Cheri divides her time between both locations.
“Just as recently as last week, I received another compliment from a customer about Cheri’s excellent level of service. She is warm, inviting, knowledgeable, thorough and has a smile that lights up a room,” Swofford added.
Slaughter described what her experience has been like with America’s
“I love all the people I work with, and I believe in service at heart,” Slaughter said. “I’ve always known how important it is to truly listen to what our customers say, even if they’re upset about something.
“Stopping, focusing on them, and listening makes them feel they’re important to our business. That individual attention is a big part of America’s Auto Auction’s customer service culture, and has helped me be successful,” she went on to say.
Founded in 2005, America’s Auto Auction has 23 locations. Additional information on all company facilities can be found at www.americasautoauction.com.
In an increasingly digital remarketing world, what effect does a vehicle passing through an auction lane actually have? ADESA is aiming to find out.
Auto Remarketing has confirmed that ADESA has begun conducting a small pilot return of running vehicles through auction lanes, largely to gauge the numbers-impact of running a car through a lane. In other words, gather the data to make decisions going forward.
Automotive News was the first to report news of this pilot on Wednesday.
ADESA parent KAR Global said the pilot will be limited in scope. Chief executive officer Peter Kelly said in an interview with Auto Remarketing on Thursday that the vehicles running through the lane would be a “small fraction of our total vehicles sold.” Kelly estimated it would be roughly 5% of its volume.
It is being conducted at 11 ADESA auction sites (in the U.S. only) and for approximately 90 days.
The vehicles involved in the pilot would be lower-value vehicles, essentially repossessed vehicles and dealer cars. ADESA, which has resumed in-lane bidding for months, will still offer the cars running through the lanes on Simulcast, as well, the company said.
Kelly said KAR is “not backing down” from its stance of being a digital marketplace “supported by physical infrastructure.”
“It’s also evident that customers have adapted to that at different paces,” Kelly said.
Through this limited pilot, KAR is looking to gauge, through “apples-to-apples” data, what specific impact running a car through a lane makes.
The company is aiming to see what place in-lane sales should have on what it believes to be a digital future for the industry.
“And we think this (pilot) will give us a true apples-to-apples comparison within our network,” Kelly said, and give ADESA the necessary data to support such a comparison.
Kelly, who described himself as a “numbers person,” said the pilot can provide some clarity into the “true value” of running a vehicle through an auction.
While the sites are those with higher numbers of vehicles ADESA is testing in the pilot, there is a diversity in the mix of sites. The locations conducting the pilot — which Kelly said include mostly medium and smaller auctions, along with some larger ones — stretch from Portland, Ore., to Atlanta and from Minnesota to Texas.
The 11 auctions represent slightly less than 20% of ADESA’s U.S. locations, said Kelly, who said he believes “we’ve got a good representation” of auctions included in pilot.
The pilot will start at different times for different auctions, as some locations may be ready earlier than others, KAR said. And the 90-day period won’t end at the same time. The staggered times are largely due to labor ramp-ups, KAR said. The pilots did, however, begin this week, Kelly confirmed.
KAR has also brought in additional safety measures/protocols to the locations involved in the pilot, and these go beyond the pre-COVID safety protocols, the company said. It is using this as a way to further test safety measures, as well.
Acquisitions aren’t just happening among dealerships. Auctions and other automotive service providers are in the mix, too, with the latest move involving the rarest of vehicles.
On Thursday, Barrett-Jackson Holdings, the parent company of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., announced the acquisition of the Phoenix-based Collector Car Network, including ClassicCars.com, AutoHunter, The ClassicCars.com Journal and the Future Collector Car Show.
The company said through a news release that the acquisition furthers Barrett-Jackson’s mission to grow the collector car market through strategic alignment of best-in-class brands and world-class customer service.
“Barrett-Jackson Auction Company and ClassicCars.com are two of the most respected companies in the collector car hobby,” Barrett-Jackson chairman and chief executive officer Craig Jackson said in the news release. “Our internationally broadcast live events and their online platforms are unrivaled.
“Working together, we will better serve our booming customer base, as well as attract the next generation of collectors to the hobby,” Jackson continued. “This strategic step has the potential to fuel unparalleled expansion of the collector car market.”
Collector Car Network is a four-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and is comprised of four brands, including:
— ClassicCars.com: Five-time Stevie Award winner for Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year. Attracts more than 4 million visitors each month and supports the largest online network of buyers, sellers, dealers and auction houses.
— ClassicCars.com Journal: Reaches more than 500,000 monthly readers and is recognized as one of America’s most influential online automotive websites.
— AutoHunter.com: Launched in 2020 and offers a simple, convenient online auction site supported by a seasoned team of automotive experts who guide, inform and educate buyers and sellers.
— Future Collector Car Show: Hosts more than 12,000 guests annually and features vehicles that target the next generation of car lovers, as well as the up-and-coming cars of today.
Roger Falcione, president and CEO of Collector Car Network, described the potential impact of this deal involving Barrett-Jackson, which was founded in 1971 and has been on the internet since 1994 to incorporate online auction catalogues, online bidding and live streaming.
“We see this acquisition as an enormous growth engine for the collector car marketplace,” Falcione said. “Our two companies are perfectly aligned to be the leading resource for car collectors worldwide, including the rising generation of collectors who are evolving the market.”
Jackson added, “Roger and his team have built an exceptional organization with an award-winning customer service culture. Like Barrett-Jackson, they have built incredible brand equity over the years.
“Combined with Barrett-Jackson’s customer service record, expertise and world-class marketing efforts, we will make it even easier for everyone to engage in the hobby,” Jackson went on to say.
As part of the September NAAA Convention issue of Auto Remarketing, we are launching a new project: High-Performance Auto Auctions.
Essentially, this is a roundup of "Auto Auction of the Year"-type awards from consignors, auction groups and other industry stakeholders.
We are spotlighting the award-winning auctions throughout the industry.
For example, if you are a consignor, this might be a list of your auction of the year award winners for 2021.
If you are an auction group, this might be a list of your top peforming auctions that you'd like to recognize.
If you would like to recognize your latest auction of the year honorees in this issue, please email senior editor Joe Overby at [email protected] with a news release or list detailing the honorees and what the award means by Friday Aug. 6.
Manheim said Thursday it has opened its first-ever physical auction location n in Northwest Ohio with the launch of Manheim Montpelier.
The auction, which held its grand opening sale Tuesday, was formerly Montpelier Auto Auction, which appears to have previously been closed.
A Manheim spokesperson said via email that this would not be considered a purchase, but a “partnership arrangement.”
Manheim will host biweekly sales at the four-lane facility on at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Manheim Montpelier is part of the company’s Local Auction Network, which includes 49 sales each month. Of that, 31 are recurring and 18 are event sales.
“We are excited to offer another local, convenient option for dealers to source inventory,” Manheim regional vice president Randy Beil said in a news release.
“Our goal is to provide choices for them to do business. Whether it’s kicking the tires in person at our newest location or doing business digitally, we want to meet our clients where they are.”
Manheim’s local auction sales are set up in three different formats:
- There are 21 locally branded facilities that host Digital Block sales, which can launch with an anchor partners and then broaden out to other consignors.
- Manheim offers dedicated trailers or buses outfitted to conduct both in-person and Simulcast sales.
- Event sales held at a venue determined by the consignor. The location and vehicles are provided by the consignor.
Each of these three setups would include an auctioneer, support staff and Manheim services like Simulcast, financing, condition reports, assurance solutions and so forth.
Manheim’s local auction locations can be found here.
It’s hard to argue with the statement McConkey Auction Group chief executive officer Bob McConkey made Wednesday when announcing details for DAA Northwest’s Rock & Roll Sale.
“After the year we’ve all been through, we are ready for a party,” McConkey said in a news release, announcing the headlining musical act for the auction’s signature promotional event that will feature The Barenaked Ladies (BNL) on the DAA Stage.
Now in its 26th consecutive year, DAA Northwest’s Rock & Roll Sale will take place on Aug. 25-26.
“Last year’s pandemic caused us to shift gears with a virtual concert featuring our longtime house band, The Cronkites, on the auction’s rooftop,” McConkey said. “They did a great job, but I’m excited to have them off the rooftop and on our stage opening for The Barenaked Ladies.”
MAG highlighted BNL was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018, has its own ice cream flavor (Ben & Jerry’s Barenaked Ladies If I Had a Million Flavors), and has sold 15 million records worldwide.
As a dynamic, live headliner with hits like “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme,” MAG is confident the band will entertain DAA’s invited guests.
The private concert is part of DAA Northwest’s two-day Rock & Roll Sale, which includes:
Aug. 25
11 a.m. (PT): auction featuring dealer and selected fleet consignment
1 p.m. (PT): MAG Now digital auction
5:30 p.m.: private party and concert for MAG customers featuring The Barenaked Ladies
Aug. 26
A full day of auction action beginning at 9 a.m. (PT)
Thousands in promotional prizes
DAA Northwest’s 26th Annual Rock & Roll Sale auctions will be in-lane and online via Edge Simulcast, with Wednesday afternoon’s MAG Now digital sale powered by EBlock.
“We can’t wait to give our customers the chance to have more fun than they’ve ever had at work,” McConkey said.
To learn more about DAA Northwest’s Rock & Roll Sale, go to this website.
Pyle Family Auctions has hired former ADESA executive Jane Morgan as the company’s chief client officer.
Morgan started with the group, which includes Mountain State Auto Auction and Capital City Auto Auction, this month, and will head up sales growth, the client experience and operational efficiencies, Pyle Family Auctions said in a release.
Morgan’s career in the auction business goes back more than 30 years and includes several leadership positions with ADESA. Her most recent post was a president of the ADESA specialty division and off-site solutions. She also spent time as assistant general manager at ADESA Dallas, GM at ADESA Charlotte and as regional vice president of the ADESA Eastern Region.
Morgan was among the inaugural Women in Remarketing honorees in this publication back in 2009.
“I have been friends with the Pyle family for over 25 years. Their dedication to the auction industry, the NAAA and the emphasis on family, employee care and customer service and growth makes me proud and excited to be a part of their organization,” Morgan said in a news release.
Joe and Charlotte Pyle, owners of the company, added: “Jane is an industry leader with strong client relationships and we are excited to have someone of her caliber on our team. Her team-building ability and enthusiasm and understanding of the auction business makes her a perfect fit for the Pyle organization and our growth plans for the future.”
Christina Potts said she feels “like I’m coming home.”
America’s Auto Auction announced that Potts has been named the company’s national client accounts manager. A native Texan with 15 years of auction industry experience, the company highlighted Potts brings with her a strong background in operations, fleet/lease management and client relationships.
“We are so fortunate to welcome Christina Potts back to America’s Auto Auction,” said America’s national sales director Tammy Swofford, mentioning Potts was part of the inaugural team at America’s Auto Auction Houston when the facility opened in 2015.
Potts worked at that location for four years as both transportation and fleet/lease manager.
“Christina is sure to be strong addition to our management team, particularly in this unique and challenging time in our industry,” Swofford continued in a news release. “She’ll be a great support to America’s Auto Auction on a national level and a great asset to our 23 auction locations.”
Potts began her career in the industry as a transportation coordinator before signing on with America’s Houston to head its transportation department and serve as the fleet/lease admin manager.
Following another two years as fleet/lease manager and commercial accounts manager in the Houston area, she now returns to America’s.
“America’s Auto Auction is a great company, a great work family, and I feel like I’m coming home,” Potts said. “I’d missed the level of customer service that is such an integral part of America’s operations.
“As long as I’ve been in the industry, I’ve focused maintaining strong connections with customers,” she continued. “I’m proud to be part of a company that is not only successful and growing, but is centered on people and relationships.”
Additional information about all of the America’s Auto Auction facilities can be found at www.americasautoauction.com.
Manheim is adding another support pillar to make sure the auction giant is meeting the need of every one of its clients with the launch of a new client shared services group. The group is designed to deliver a more consistent client experience and to align the varied needs of its clients, the Manheim team explained in a press release Wednesday.
This move is part of it’s nearly $100 million investment announced in early 2021. Offering more insight into the move, Manheim brings us back to auction life before the growth of digital options, when many support services like arbitration and auction block duties were taken care of at the physical auctions. Now, with the rise in Manheim’s digital transactions (80% of Manheim’s transactions occur digitally, the company shared), it became harder to provide consistent in-lane and digital sales procedures to meet the needs of all of its clients.
“An extensive review of our auction processes, combined with client feedback, resulted in our decision to align all of Manheim’s shared services within one group,” said Grace Huang, president of Manheim, in the press release announcing the news. “This approach not only brings deep auction expertise to common client issues where solutions can be shared seamlessly, but also meets our commitment to delivering a more connected client experience.”
The group will be structured to provide both “a high-touch client experience and a high-volume delivery system.”
Manheim offered this example: Arbitration will be handled by dedicated teams across Market Centers and regions, and virtual block specialists will be focused on sale-day operations. The company says this approach will produce more consistency for clients while ramping up efficiency across operations.
Manheim also announced it has promoted Dana Lowenthal to vice president of client shared services. In her new role, she “will lead key support operations, with the goal of matching clients to the right expert to resolve their issues faster, while enhancing satisfaction,” the company explained.
As leader of the new group and and a new VP, Lowenthal and her team will work to support Manheim’s 24 Market Centers across the country. This includes managing call center operations, vehicle arbitrations, virtual block clerks, title services and commercial pre-and post-sale operations. Lowenthal, who began her career with Manheim in 2008, most recently served as general manager of Manheim Central Florida.
“Dana’s knowledge of auction operations and technology, and a passion for serving clients, made her the ideal choice for this new and important group within our business,” Huang said. “Her ability to manage high-performing teams toward a common service goal will greatly benefit our clients.”
Story has been updated to correct Lowenthal's prior role.
Probably no one would have begrudged Sara Edgington if she exclaimed an extra loud “Yee-haw” during the 2021 Texas Auctioneers Association Senior Bid Calling Championship.
The general manager for Texas Lone Star Auto Auction became the first woman to win the competition, which culminated on Saturday at the Kalahari Resort & Conference Center in Round Rock, Texas.
According to a news release from the XLerate Auction Group, Edgington competed on Friday and was named champion at the awards banquet the following evening.
Each contestant sold two items during the convention where they could show their style to the judges and the crowd. The competition was judged by five industry experts with points awarded in six categories, including style, overall bid calling, professional image, opening statement, salesmanship and professionalism.
“Sara is the first female in the 30-year history of the contest to win the senior competition,” XLerate chief executive officer Cam Hitchock said in the news release. “We are very proud of her accomplishments: in winning this award, and in the strong leadership she brings to the Texas Lone Star auction.”
Edgington reports that her father, Lyle Bond, who won the championship during the event in 2000.
“This has been the highlight of my 24 years in the auction industry that I get to share the same award as my father,” Edgington said.
While accepting her awards, which included a belt buckle, she added, “And you know how we love our big buckles in Texas!”
Yee-haw!
