And now for the next installment of Auto Remarketing's 40 Under 40 program.
This time, we feature the 2022 honorees in “40 Under 40: Industry” program, which is sponsored by IAA and focuses on the consignors, auctions, auto finance, vendors, tech companies, associations and other players within the used-car space.
Honorees will be spotlighted in the upcoming October issue of Auto Remarketing and at Used Car Week, which is being held Nov. 14-17 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.
The full list of honorees can be found below:
Dustin Bachand of EBlock
Kyle Bailey of NuVinAir
Jim Baker of Mountain State Auto Auction
Jesse Ball of ACV
Bryce Beckstrom of ConditionReports.com
Glenna Bishop of South Florida Manheim Market Center
Ronnie Bounds of CARFAX
Geoff Brooks of CarNow
Kristen Brothers of IAA
Daniel Burke of Agora Data, Inc.
Chris Burton of Auction Credit | XL Funding
Josh Carr of Kinetic Advantage
Lindsay Ciavattone of CarGurus
Ruby Coates of ADESA
Shawn Curran of DriveTime
Heather Ford of MBSi
Tiffany Gates of Carolina Auto Auction
Nick Gerlach of CarOffer
Subi Ghosh of Stream Companies
Kameran Glenn of McConkey Auction Group – DAA Northwest
Emily Green of TrueCar
Jennifer Hawxhurst of BacklotCars
Gavin Kesten of ShipYourCarNow
Dannielle Lawson of ACERTUS
Jeremy Louisos of Preowned Auto Logistics
Alonzo Luna of Location Services LLC
Justin Makinson of NextGear Capital
Michael McCollum of C&F Finance Co.
Sean Morgan of Westlake Financial
Amy Myers of Music City Auto Auction
Cortney Osborne of DRNdata
Dominick Paolino of Costco Auto Program
Craig Phelps of Dealer's Auto Auction of Oklahoma City
Ryan Quinn of GM Financial
Nathan Reid of uShip Logistics
Lyamen Savy of 321 Ignition
Brett Scott of National Independent Automobile Dealers Association
John Sibbitt of RDN
Kevin Stallings of Greenville Auto Auction
Sawyer Walker of America's Auto Auction Group
Brandon Webb of CarBucks Floor Plan
Earlier this year, Auto Remarketing announced honorees for the inaugural “Dealers Under 40” program which is sponsored by CARFAX and focuses exclusively on leaders from auto dealerships.
The National Auto Auction Association annual convention wrapped up in Dallas on Thursday with a flurry of announcements, including the election of a new vice president, an inductee into its Hall of Fame, another Industry Pioneer recognized, naming of this year’s Auctioneer of the Year as well as 2022 Warren Young Fellows for chapter presidents.
Elected as vice president of the NAAA for the 2022-2023 term was Craig Amelung, who has put together a 30-year career with Manheim.
According to an NAAA news release, Amelung has led teams in achieving new levels of operating efficiency, industry recognition and client and employee engagement. He currently serves as general manager of the company’s Mid-Atlantic Market Center where he leads the collaboration of shared resources and support functions across Manheim Baltimore-Washington, Manheim Harrisonburg, and Manheim Fredericksburg.
Amelung’s previous positions include senior director of operations support where he managed training and support for all of Manheim’s North American operating locations, and director of best practices where he led the company’s efforts toward standardizing processes and procedures throughout the country.
The association pointed out Amelung is a longtime supporter of NAAA, serving on the organization’s Auction Standards and Legislative Committees and as a member of NAAA’s Southern Chapter and Board of Directors.
Raymond C. Nichols honored as Industry Pioneer
On Thursday NAAA named Raymond C. Nichols an Industry Pioneer for his visionary leadership and exemplary service to the wholesale auto auction industry and NAAA.
Earlier during the week’s convention, NAAA gave similar recognition to R. Tony Wolfe and Warren Byrd.
NAAA reiterated that its Industry Pioneer Award is given to those who have:
—Worked in the wholesale motor vehicle industry
—Recognized individuals who have innovated or enhanced methods of improving services to remarketers through NAAA member auctions
—Championed NAAA member auctions as providing services for motor vehicle remarketers unavailable from any other source
—Consistently followed the standards of the NAAA Code of Ethics.
Nichols is chairman and chief executive officer of BSC America, a collection of privately-held asset management companies, which includes BSC America Auction Group encompassing Bel Air Auto Auction, Tallahassee Auto Auction, and a specialty weekly sale located at BSC’s Clayton Station in Edgewood, Md.
NAAA highlighted that Nichols works in close partnership with his family, with his son R. Charles Nichols, who was 2022 NAAA president and serves as BSC America president, and his daughter, Michelle Nichols-Neff, who serves as executive vice president.
“Under the Nichols family leadership, Bel Air Auto Auction has grown to become the largest independent dealer auto auction located in the Mid-Atlantic region, handling more than 100,000 vehicles annually,” NAAA said in a news release.
Throughout his career, the association mentioned Nichols has been an active member and supporter of NAAA.
Nichols served as NAAA president in 2002 and was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 2008. He is chair of the NAAA Joint Marketing Committee, which is responsible for engaging in marketing services related to auto auction industry data, known as AuctionNet, which began in 1991 and is the largest and most comprehensive wholesale used vehicle sales data set in the United States.
Nearly 270 NAAA member auctions contribute sales data on a weekly basis to AuctionNet, covering approximately 80% of dealer-only wholesale sales activity in the country.
“Nichols was instrumental in starting AuctionNet and he has provided outstanding leadership and vision for the project as it has evolved,” NAAA said.
With the distinction of receiving the Industry Pioneer award, the association said Nichols becomes just the sixth person in NAAA history to be NAAA president, inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame, and receive the Industry Pioneer award.
Seger inducted into NAAA Hall of Fame
And speaking of the Hall of Fame, NAAA highlighted in another news release that its newest inductee is Paul Seger, who is executive vice president and general manager of asset remarketing at Element,
NAAA described Seger as an “innovative remarketing leader” who has held multiple positions within the fleet services and consumer finance vehicle remarketing divisions during his 35-year career at GE and now Element.
Established in 1968, the NAAA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose long-term service to the auto auction industry and NAAA has contributed improvements to remarketing, has worked with the trade organization to benefit its members, and has consistently followed the high standards of the association’s Code of Ethics.
NAAA represents more than 340 auction members and 140 associate members in North America.
Throughout his career, NAAA highlighted Seger has achieved numerous milestones and accomplishments.
During the 1990s, Seger was instrumental in navigating the consumer finance business through one of the most challenging cycles in the automobile industry. He is a GE Six Sigma Green Belt with multiple quality improvement projects to his credit.
In the early 2000s, Seger led the launch of GE’s automotive remarketing services business for non-lease customers.
In 2015, he was named Consignor of the Year by his industry peers.
He is on the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) board of directors and served as IARA president from 2019-2021.
“Seger has been recognized for his leadership skills and he has worked to support the auto auction industry and bring people together to achieve common goals in the industry. He has adapted and led as auctions have created new technology, and he was an early adapter and champion of simulcast,” NAAA said.
With a consistent focus on giving back throughout his career, after Hurricane Katrina, NAAA mentioned Seger and a key auction partner created The Race to Give, a collaborative fundraising effort between Element, a key auction partner and buying dealers.
By 2022, The Race to Give had raised more than $2.5 million for charities, including the American Red Cross and others.
“The National Auto Auction Association congratulates Seger on becoming the newest inductee into the Hall of Fame,” NAAA said.
Michael Adcock receives NAAA Auctioneer of the Year Award
Michael Adcock claimed another auctioneering trophy, adding to the distinguished family mantle.
Adcock has been named the NAAA Auctioneer of the Year for 2022.
Named in honor of Bernie Hart, who served as NAAA’s executive director for more than 30 years before retiring in 1988, the annual award recognizes the auctioneering industry’s most visible person.
Michael Adcock is a third-generation auctioneer from Lancaster, Pa. He has shared the block with his grandfather, his father, his brothers, his uncles, and his cousins. He was inspired by the talented auctioneers in his family from a young age.
Adcock’s father, M. Scott Adcock, won the esteemed title of World Champion Automobile Auctioneer in 1991 when Michael was just 5 years old.
In 2008, at the age of 22, Michael earned his own World Champion trophy, and he was the youngest contestant to ever do so.
The following year, his brother, Charles Adcock, won the title, earning their family triple-crown recognition in the auction industry.
“Over the course of his career, Adcock has been working many types of auctions around the country, and he has extensive knowledge of the used car and classic automobile markets,” NAAA said. “NAAA congratulates Adcock on winning the 2022 Auctioneer of the Year Award and commends him for his dedication and service to the industry.”
NAAA announces 2022 Warren Young Fellows for Chapter Presidents
This roundup of convention activities culminates with more Warren Young Fellows.
NAAA has named Chrissy Briggs, Jacob Warren, Tom Francois and Jennifer Leocardi as Warren Young Fellows for 2022. NAAA is honoring the fellows following their term as president of their respective NAAA chapters.
The award recognizes the fellows for their many contributions to NAAA and their distinguished service to the auto auction industry.
NAAA bestows the award with a $2,500 donation in each fellow’s name to the NAAA Warren Young Sr. Scholastic Foundation. A fellow is a donor at that level, or in whose honor or memory a contribution is made in that amount, to support the scholarship organization.
Since its establishment in 2004, the Scholastic Foundation, named in honor of Warren Young, Sr., a pioneer of the auto auction industry who retired after 35 years of service to his profession and NAAA, has helped students pursue dreams of higher education. The foundation is a self-sustaining nonprofit organization and awards $52,000 in merit scholarships annually for study at accredited institutions.
“The 2022 Warren Young Fellows each have a record of exemplary service to the auto auction industry and have been steadfast supporters of NAAA and its mission,” the association said.
Briggs served as NAAA Eastern Chapter President and is general manager of Greater Erie Auto Auction.
Warren served as NAAA Southern Chapter President and is vice president and chief operating officer for Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction.
Francois served as NAAA Midwest Chapter President and is general manager of America’s Auto Auction – Wisconsin.
Leocardi served as NAAA Western Chapter President. She recently switched from being general sales manager at America’s Auto Auction – Kansas City to being vice president of institutional sales for the combined America’s Auto Auction and XLerate Group.
“NAAA congratulates Briggs, Warren, Francois, and Leocardi for earning the lifetime distinction of being named a Warren Young Fellow and for joining this exclusive group of individuals who further the legacy of Warren Young, a pioneer of the auto auction industry,” the association said.
Also named as Warren Young fellows this year were a pair of executives from the Cox family of companies — Paul Scolese and Hugo Carmona.
The National Auto Auction Association honored two distinguished individuals as Industry Pioneers as part of its annual convention in Dallas on Wednesday.
First, NAAA named Wolfe’s Auto Auctions founder and president R. Tony Wolfe as an Industry Pioneer for his leadership, vision and dedication to the auto auction industry throughout his career.
Also tabbed as an Industry Pioneer by NAAA was Warren Byrd, owner of Keyscore Consulting, for his significant contributions to advance the auto auction industry throughout his career.
NAAA highlighted the Industry Pioneer Award is given to those individuals who have worked in the wholesale motor vehicle industry, recognizing professionals who have:
—Innovated or enhanced methods of improving services to remarketers through NAAA member auctions
—Championed NAAA member auctions as providing services for motor vehicle remarketers unavailable from any other source
—Consistently followed the standards of the NAAA Code of Ethics.
NAAA recapped in a news release that Wolfe’s career in the automotive industry started in 1959 when he went into business with his father John, mother Elizabeth, and his wife Susan. After 15 years on the retail side of the business, Wolfe decided that he wanted to pursue a career in the auto auction industry.
Wolfe selected a site in Terre Haute, Ind., to begin his first auto auction. The first sale was held in 1975.
NAAA noted that Wolfe’s children Cynthia, Dan, and Jeff have all worked in the business.
In 1986, Wolfe purchased an auto auction site in Evansville, Ind. A location in South Bend was added in 2003.
The Wolfe family continues to operate all three auto auctions. There are 13 family members representing four generations currently in the business.
Wolfe served as president of the National Auto Auction Association in 1991 and has been a dedicated supporter of NAAA throughout his career, according to the news release.
NAAA pointed out that Byrd has been involved in the auto remarketing industry for almost 30 years, where he has managed multiple businesses and ventures.
Currently, Byrd is the owner of Keyscore Consulting, a company focused on development in the areas of automotive remarketing and senior housing. Key clients of Keyscore include Dealers Auto Auction Group based in Nashville, Tenn., having among other businesses nine auto auction locations throughout the southeastern United States, and Vita Investment Holdings, a senior housing development company.
Previously, Byrd served as executive vice president of corporate development and real estate at KAR Global.
During his tenure at KAR and its affiliated entities for more than 20 years, NAAA noted that Byrd led the acquisition of dozens of large auto auctions across the U.S. and Canada. Many of those auctions were then relocated onto expansive properties in major metropolitan areas ranging in size of up to 200 acres.
Ultimately, Byrd managed the multi-billion-dollar portfolio of 300 facilities, including hundreds of auctions and 20 corporate offices around the world.
His capstone project was leading the real estate effort to develop and construct the new corporate headquarters building in Carmel, Ind.
In addition to his acquisition and real estate development role at KAR Global, Byrd served as the chief operating officer for the ServNet Auction Group.
Byrd has also served on several industry boards and committees.
For 20 years, Byrd served as a board member leading the creation and growth of the industry technology consortium AutoIMS and for more than 10 years served on the joint marketing committee overseeing the industry database known as AuctionNet and on the NAAA executive committee and board of directors.
Wednesday activities during the National Auto Auction Association’s annual convention in Dallas included the naming of the two newest Warren Young Fellows.
Collecting the accolades for 2022 were a pair of executives from the Cox family of companies — Paul Scolese and Hugo Carmona.
According to news releases from NAAA, Scolese received the award for his longtime service working on behalf of the automotive industry in Washington, D.C., while the honor recognizes Carmona for his service and contributions to the wholesale auto auction industry and his leadership as part of NAAA’s Legislative Committee.
NAAA highlighted Scolese has a diverse array of experience in public policy and government relations. He currently serves as vice president for government affairs for Cox Enterprises, where he is responsible for representing Cox Enterprises before lawmakers in Washington, D.C., developing and implementing key public policy positions and building relationships with members of Congress, their staff, industry peers and trade associations.
Prior to joining Cox in 2012, Scolese served as an outside government relations consultant to the company’s public policy office through the public law and policy practice at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
Scolese also spent more than 10 years working in the U.S. House of Representatives.
NAAA noted Carmona has led an accomplished career in government affairs. Carmona is currently senior manager of government affairs at Cox Automotive.
Prior to this role, he served as government affairs manager for Cox Communications and spent time in government working as a deputy district director in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Carmona currently serves as co-chair of the NAAA Legislative Committee, helping to lead a legislative team that supports and advocates on behalf of the auto auction industry’s needs and interests by monitoring state and federal legislation.
The association reiterated that the NAAA Warren Young Fellow award was created in honor of Warren Young, Sr., a pioneer of the auto auction industry. The award comes with a $2,500 donation in each fellow’s name to the NAAA Warren Young, Sr. Scholastic Foundation.
Since its establishment in 2004, the Scholastic Foundation has helped students pursue dreams of higher education. The foundation is a self-sustaining nonprofit organization and awards $52,000 in merit scholarships annually for study at accredited institutions.
“NAAA congratulates Scolese and Carmona for earning the lifetime distinction of being named a Warren Young Fellow and for joining this exclusive group of individuals who further the legacy of Warren Young, a pioneer of the auto auction industry,” the association said.
Welcome to Auto Remarketing’s second annual High Performance Auto Auctions awards program.
Through a series of recaps, this special feature spotlights the auctions who have taken home “Auto Auction of the Year”- style awards from consignors, auction groups and other industry stakeholders over the last year and change.
Join Cherokee Media Group in congratulating these auctions that have been recognized by their partners for excellence.
GM Financial highlights 2021 Auction of the Year winners
Earlier this year, 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.
CPS honors top auctions
Over at CPS, it shared its award winners for 2021. Those included:
- CPS Top Gun Award (Auction of the Year) – Rawls Auto Auction in Leesville, SC
- CPS Top Gun Award (AOY CPS Small Market) – ADESA Las Vegas in North Las Vegas, Nev.
- CPS Operational Excellence Award (Best Fleet/Lease Dept.) – ADESA Lexington in Lexington, Ky.
- CPS Heavy Hammer Award (Highest Net Recovery Percentage) — Greensboro Auto Auction in Greensboro, N.C.
Ford Vehicle Remarketing spotlights 2021 Auction Service Award Winners
Next up, Ford recognized honorees in its Ford Auction Service Award Program for 2021. Auction winners are those “who outperform their colleagues on Ford’s standards critical to the success of the Ford Motor Company and our dealers,” and are top performers in key metrics.
There are two categories to the award. Starting with the Ford Motor Credit off-lease vehicles, those honorees were:
Manheim New York in Newburgh, N.Y.
Greensboro Auto Auction in Greensboro, N.C.
Manheim Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss.
And for the non-off-lease vehicle category (like company vehicles and rentals) honorees were:
Manheim New York
Manheim Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa.
DAA Seattle in Auburn, Wash.
“The winning auctions represent best in class performance with inventory handling, lowest days to turn and maximizing wholesale values in an unprecedented business environment. Congratulations to the 2021 ASAP winners who ensured Ford Sponsored Auctions remain ‘the best play to buy,’” said Andrew Ashman, Ford US Used Vehicle Manager, in a news release.
Chase recognizes top-performing US auction partners
Late last year, Chase Auto recognized its top U.S. auto auction partners, spotlighting 10 auctions via Zoom for their performance in its annual Chase Cup for Auction Excellence program.
After reviewing 36 auctions for their respective performances in handling preparation, sales, invoice processing, transport requests, title processing and more, Chase awarded ADESA Kansas City the Chase Cup for Best National Auction Performance honors, while Manheim Orlando earned top honors as Best National Performance Service Delivery.
Also recognized were:
- Best National Jaguar Sales – Manheim Atlanta
- Best National Land Rover Sales – Manheim Dallas
- Best National Mazda Sales – Manheim Milwaukee
- Best National Subaru Sales – Manheim Nashville
- Best National Maserati Sales – Manheim Dallas
- Best Regional Performance, Midwest – Manheim Minneapolis
- Best Regional Performance, Western – ADESA Salt Lake
- Best Regional Performance, Central – ADESA Kansas City
- Best Regional Performance, Northeast – Manheim Fredericksburg
- Best Regional Performance, Southeast – Manheim Tampa
Credit Acceptance honors top auctions
Earlier this year, Credit Acceptance Corp. named its National Auction of the Year award winners for 2021.
The honorees include:
— ADESA Knoxville, National High-Volume Market
— Dealers Auto Auction Group of Huntsville, National Small-Volume Market
— 166 Auto Auction, Midwest Regional High-Volume Market
— ADESA Knoxville, Southeast Regional High-Volume Market
— ADESA Phoenix, West Coast Regional High-Volume Market
— Manheim Baltimore/Washington, NE Regional High-Volume Market
— Manheim DFW, Southwest Regional High-Volume Market
defi REMARKETING presents 2021 Auction of the Year
defi REMARKETING, the end-to-end remarketing services of defi SOLUTIONS, announced its 2021 Auction of the Year this spring.
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.
Exeter honors top auctions
Exeter Finance announced its 2021 Exeter auction eXcellence and EMI awards at the 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!”
Westlake Financial spotlights 2021 auction winners
Westlake Financial announced its 2021 Auction of the Year Award winner in May, along with Top Regional Auction honorees.
Taking home top honors was Manheim Dallas, which was also the regional winner in the South-Central U.S.
Other Top Regional Auction honorees included:
- Midwest Region: Manheim Milwaukee
- Southeast Region: Rawls Auto Auction
- Northeast Region: Manheim Baltimore-Washington
- Southwest Region: ADESA Salt Lake City
- Pacific Region: ADESA Golden Gate
Manheim Dallas, Rawls, Manheim Baltimore-Washington and ADESA Golden Gate were repeat winners.
Honorees are determined by an average score calculated from the consignor’s remarketing unit sales from last year. Auctions that sold Westlake vehicles at the highest Manheim Market Report book value percentage received recognition.
“Westlake is proud to work alongside the top auction performers in the country,” said William Walters, vice president of remarketing for Westlake Financial Services, in a news release. “I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success!”
Manheim Dallas general manger Rich Curtis added: “Our team at Manheim Dallas is truly honored to be named the 2021 Westlake Financial Services Auction of the Year.
“We thank our team for taking great pride in servicing our clients and helping them achieve their goals,” he said. “We value our long-standing partnership with Westlake and appreciate this prestigious recognition.”
Merchants Fleet names top auction
Merchants Fleet not only received three Stevie Awards as part of the 20th annual American Business Awards, the fleet management company also recognized its Top Overall Auction for 2021.
Claiming the auction accolade for the second year in a row from the fifth largest fleet company in the U.S., according to a news release from ServNet, is North Bay Auto Auction.
“Our entire auction team is thrilled to again be named the top auction in the U.S. for Merchants Fleet,” said David Aahl, partner and general manager at North Bay Auto Auction.
“This award is evidence of the care and attention we devote to our customers. Lease returns never let up even in the height of the pandemic, and Merchants Fleet has been an important partner during a tumultuous time,” Aahl continued in the news release from ServNet, of which North Bay Auto Auction is a member.
Aahl acknowledged the role that Ashley Sackett, the fleet lease representative at North Bay, played in the auction’s success with Merchants Fleet.
“Ashley provides the boots on the ground for Merchants Fleet, making sure that all areas of quality control are met,” Aahl said. “She touches every vehicle, and it is due to her efforts that we know that condition reports are accurate and that all the details of sale preparation and sale are managed with care.”
North Bay Auto Auction has been handling vehicles for Merchants Fleet since 2015. In addition to winning top honors for the account in 2020 and 2021, the auction also won its Top Line Service Award in 2018.
“Merchants Fleet recognizes its top auction based on service, performance, and a variety of metrics, including timeliness of days to sale and conversion rate,” Merchants Fleet remarketing manager Bill Boutwell said. “A group of us determines our annual award recipients, and the decision to name North Bay as our Top Overall Auction was a unanimous one.”
“The team at North Bay does everything you’d hope an auction would do, going out of their way to process our vehicles and get them sold,” Boutwell continued. “While we can only look at photos of our off-lease units, they can really see what’s going on, and they’re proactive in communicating, with status reports, follow up and vehicle assessments. They’ve proved an invaluable part of the remarketing process and have set a standard of excellence for our auctions all over the country.”
As a family-owned independent auction founded in 1993 by Don Morrow in the region stretching from Los Angeles to Seattle, North Bay Auto Auction is situated on 33 acres near the I-80 corridor in between San Francisco and Sacramento in Fairfield, Calif.
Additional Manheim honorees
In addition to the Manheim honorees named elsewhere in this section, the company said eight of its locations were honored in the 2021 Remarketing by Element awards. Those included:
- Manheim Statesville – Gold Award
- Manheim Fredericksburg – Above and Beyond – Mid-Market / Central
- Manheim Atlanta – Above and Beyond – East
- Manheim San Francisco Bay – Above and Beyond – West
- Manheim Riverside – Outstanding Promotions Award
- Manheim Baltimore – Washington – Silver Award – Northeast
- Manheim Chicago – Silver Award – Midwest
- Manheim Phoenix – Silver Award – West
Manheim also said its Manheim Lakeland auction was recognized by Holman as a Regional Auction of the Year.
Manheim spotlighted several of its own auctions with the M Award, which recognizes auctions for exceeding sales and digital volume targets. The award is given out each quarter. Winners are below:
The winners for the second quarter of 2022 were:
Manheim Portland
Manheim Phoenix
Manheim West Palm Beach
Manheim Pittsburgh
The winners for the first quarter were:
Manheim Portland
Manheim Phoenix
Manheim Philadelphia
Manheim Pensacola
In another internal award, Manheim spotlighted facilities for proactively reporting “near-misses” before they occur, recognizing winners in a safety-themed bracket-based “tournament” dubbed Safety Madness.
Manheim San Diego was the winner, with semifinalists Manheim Seattle, Manheim Southern California and Manheim St. Pete.
In an overall company award, Manheim earned recognition as “THE Innovation Driven Company by the Technology Association of Georgia.”
More awards
Over at DAA Seattle, the McConkey Auction Group member was named the 2021 Ford Vehicle Remarketing Auction Service Award Program: Rental Sale Winner; and it also took home the 2021 Exeter Division III Excellence Award.
Down along the Southeastern coast, America’s Auto Auction – Charleston won the Stellar Performance Award 2021 from Lease Plan; while America’s Auto Auction – Savannah took home the Southeast Region Auction of the Year 2021 award from C&F Finance.
Further up the East Coast, Bel Air Auto Auction in Maryland share a few of the awards it earned for 2021:
Santander/Chrysler Capital 2021 Retail Auction of the Year (Northeast Region)
Santander/Chrysler Capital 2021 National Auction of the Year
Exeter Division 1 Excellence Award
Merchants Fleet 2021 Mid-Atlantic Region Auction of the Year
OVE Highest Digital Mix Award
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors
AR is posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Alexi Venneri, co-founder and chief executive officer of Digital Air Strike.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Alexi Venneri: I love our industry! I have been given many wonderful opportunities in retail automotive for over 20 years. I have found that our industry really embraces technology, and so many of us have an entrepreneurial spirit. My first paying job in high school was working at a dealership on the weekends, writing handwritten lead forms to get customer information. It’s incredible how times have changed! We now have the technology to respond to leads 24 hours a day.
This amazing AI gives consumers a better experience while freeing up more mundane tasks for the team working in dealerships. Dealers are leaving money on the table if they are not leveraging technology to give them a competitive edge, including technology to serve up different options to consumers to help with vehicle shortages.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Venneri: Electric vehicles will be a big part of our future, and dealers have started to see vehicles like Teslas come in on trade. We work with our dealer clients to help them understand how to market to consumers looking for EVs and still make money on custom F&I packages. I recently bought a used Tesla from one of our local dealer clients after fi nding it online from our BestRide.com consumer site. I traded in my pre-owned BMW i3, my first EV, which just became too small with growing kids.
The local dealer I worked with had a process to buy the vehicle from the comfort of my home easily, drove the Tesla to my office for a two-day test drive, and brought the paperwork. A salesperson showed me how to use the technology and explained the charging features. It was the most amazing experience and one every dealership should strive for. With so many OEMs releasing new electric vehicles, all dealers must know the ins and outs of these cars when selling and in case of trade-ins. It’s also essential to continue to engage consumers after they put down deposits and are waiting for their new vehicles, EV or not.
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Venneri: I would advise my younger self to consider doing more mergers and acquisitions sooner in our Digital Air Strike history. In the past 10 years, we have completed eight M&A transactions, but we could have started sooner. Last year, in the middle of the pandemic, we completed two. We acquired our first consumer-facing company, BestRide.com, to expand seamless online car buying, and we bought a leading inventory marketing SaaS company, LotVantage.
Our acquisitions have not only helped the company grow with new complementary technology but have also added signifi cant talent to our growing team. It’s vital to look at ways to continually expand and improve your company.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Venneri: I attribute my success to being fl exible, pivoting fast, and always being an option thinker, especially when curveballs hit our economy or industry. I started Digital Air Strike during the height of the recession after my business partner decided to close our advertising agency. After attending a conference, I partnered with several successful dealers and industry veterans. We identified that consumers wanted to do more online. There were also similar inventory challenges that prepared us for today. When the pandemic hit, 60% of our clients wanted to cancel their digital marketing programs.
We helped them through the tough times, often giving them technology at a highly discounted rate to help them “stay open” virtually. Our clients were able to engage with customers online from their homes, and they learned to embrace new ways to engage with consumers. Digital Air Strike has only grown since, continuing to hire and increase revenue. With the right approach, adversity can bring out the best in all of us when we embrace creativity and new ways to do business.
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors
Over the next few weeks, AR will be posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Brandie Linfante, chief marketing officer at Spectrum Automotive Holdings.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Brandie Linfante: The automotive retail business is changing, developing, and reinventing itself with unprecedented speed as a result of newly established customer expectations, and the desire to better serve well-informed consumers. Innovation, technology, and digitalization are on a fast track. I really enjoy that this is a dynamic industry with a consistent fl ow of new and challenging opportunities.
What I think I appreciate most is that there is such a strong commitment to excellence in automotive. Another top priority is the customer satisfaction. We are always on the road moving towards something better, and a more successful approach. As to what I would change, it would be to further the development and advancement of women in automotive where traditionally we have been an underutilized population. Encouraging women early in their careers to pursue their goals and ambitions within the industry, as well as a fundamental understanding of what a good working environment means to women are essential in helping this initiative gain ground.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Linfante: While we have all been living through decades of the automotive evolution, we are now in the process of the 2030 automotive revolution. The top trend I am focused on is the advancement of electric vehicles and how that will transcend the landscape. How will it aff ect our infrastructure and what will the environmental impact be? Who will emerge as new players, what new products will surface, and how will consumers and the markets react?
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Linfante: Trust your instincts. You know what you are capable of, so don’t be afraid of showing it. Watch, listen, and learn from others. Never be hesitant to reach outside of your comfort zone.
You can plan ahead to give yourself direction and clarity, but always anticipate that the plan can (and most likely will) change.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Linfante: Keeping customers’ needs first. Customer service and satisfaction is a top priority for our organization. Always strive for awesomeness. Be a differentiator. As chief marketing officer for Spectrum Automotive Holdings, I get to work with the brightest and the best colleagues in the industry. Innovation is a priority.
I have the benefit of being a part of a team who is highly motivated and driven to succeed. By embracing innovation and strategy we have eff ectuated change, developed relationships between consumers and our brands, and are consistently building brand awareness and loyalty.
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors
Over the next few weeks, AR will be posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Tori Morandi, head of marketing at A2Z Sync.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Tori Morandi: It’s no secret that I am all about the product! Just being around cars on a regular basis is so exciting to me. While I’m a woman who chants “long live the manual,” I love learning about new products like EVs and autonomous vehicles and how they change the shape of auto retail. It’s been amazing to watch the industry as we transition to EVs and a more sustainable future, and how the dealership itself needs to adjust its facilities, education, staff, etc. to meet the needs of new customers.
If I could change something about auto retail, I would put more emphasis on the need for a tailored, concierge-style customer experience, not one tailored to score well on a survey. When my great-grandfather advertised his dealership in the 1930s, he used words like “fair dealing,”“courtesy” and “prompt service,” and that made his store known for customer experience.
Nearly 100 years later, these words are still the biggest opportunity we have in order to really know and deliver a tailored experience and keep our customers coming back. Assembling and asking a diverse team of employees will spark fresh ideas on how to better accomplish this in a dealership.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Morandi: The top trend in auto retail in 2022 is a focus on simplifying the tech stack. This is a time of extraordinary circumstances and retailers are experiencing record profits, so I see them reviewing all of their tech stack tools (DR, desking, etc.) with a magnifying glass. They are asking why they need to toggle between multiple tabs to allow a customer to buy a car. It’s time consuming, laborious and unnecessary — all of which take away from the employee and customer experiences.
Our industry loves data and we have no lack of it on what customers do and do not like about the car buying process, as well as how they’d like to buy a car. Dealers are using this data and responding with a simplified transaction experience that allows one shared screen to begin and complete the entire sales process. It’s the same screen for both the customer and the dealer, so it’s very transparent and allows flexibility to transact from home, in dealership or both. As a result the experience numbers are off the charts and the profits even higher.
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Morandi: 1. Be an optimistic realist. I tell people to look at each situation realistically. Will this work? Why or why not? Nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, so move forward, be realistic and hope for the best. 2. Learn all you can while you can. The world will evolve and change, so make sure you’re always learning more and keeping up with what’s happening in an industry you love. Learn from your colleagues, customers, vendors and partners and have conversations with people who disagree with you. Try to learn why people think the way they do, even if they disagree. 3. Help others and let others help you. Nobody achieves greatness on their own two feet so make sure to repay the kindness. Offer to mentor and lift up colleagues and others who are looking to you for insight and growth. 4. Follow your gut. If something looks good but doesn’t feel right, there’s a reason. So by all means, use the data available to make smart and informed decisions while trusting your own sense of what is and isn’t a good idea. 5. Walk away when it’s ugly. Sometimes it just isn’t working out, and that’s ok. After you’ve done what you can to make it work, leave if you aren’t appreciated for your unique gifts and talents.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Morandi: Discipline is the key for me. I learned at a young age that I can have opportunities if I create them and stay diligent and disciplined in their pursuit. I stay true to my beliefs and stand for what is right, even if I’m standing alone. This takes discipline and commitment. I focus on the basics every day because I believe a disciplined approach to improvement is critical to continued success. My day begins the same way seven days a week. I do not deviate from this routine as it reminds me to stay disciplined and focused in all areas of my life, be it at work or at play.
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors.
Over the next few weeks, AR will be posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Andrea Weidman, who is vice president of auto remarketing partnerships at SiriusXM.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Andrew Weidman: Every day is different in the retail auto industry. I love the variety, challenges and new technologies that each new day can bring. My goal is to deliver the same seamless new car introduction of SiriusXM to used vehicle buyers in this ever-changing environment. This means we are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to reach pre-owned customers and enhancing the overall experience. As far as what I would change, I feel we have entered a new era of buying and selling vehicles which I believe is overdue.
I started my career at Saturn which positioned itself as a “Different Kind of Car Company.” While it had mixed success, I was able to take away many lessons on how to approach the traditional automotive market with a new and unique perspective. Now 25 years later, the pandemic has forced companies to re-evaluate their business models and practices as it relates to marketing in this current automotive environment.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Weidman: While the pandemic has put a halt on many business activities, digital transformation in the retail sector is more critical now than it’s ever been. Consumer demands and habits have changed, as have their spending and purchasing channels for buying and selling vehicles. I do not believe we will ever go back to how it was pre-pandemic which drives my interest of following trends to see what sticks as well as what challenges arise as companies defi ne new ways to do business both online and in a dealership.
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Weidman: To be open-minded and not be afraid to take risks with your career choices — even when you don’t know where it will take you. It is very easy to stay in a role because it is “comfortable.” Challenge yourself to grow and take on risks you never thought you would consider. Often your leaders/mentors can see your potential before you do.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Weidman: I believe focusing on building relationships and trust with colleagues/partners has been key to my success. I have tried to do this by upholding my commitments and delivering on what I say I am going to do as well as, maintaining a results-orientated approach and giving 110% to exceed expectations every chance I can.
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors
Over the next few weeks, AR will be posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Rebecca Friel, who is finance manager at Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Rebecca Friel: I enjoy the challenge of making a deal come together. There are so many pieces, it’s like a puzzle. Each deal presents its own challenges, some are credit issues or payment limits, some are time constraints or inventory limitations. I like using all of the tools at my disposal to make the pieces fit together.
My job is keeping my dealer profitable and safe and our customers happy. The past few years have posed new challenges in the retail space, but the goal is the same. If I could change anything, it would be the hours. Retail hours are when other people aren’t at work, so they can shop. The 5-9 pm part of the day, after everyone else goes home, is always the hardest. I wish that could change, but it just comes with the territory.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Friel: Pricing is the top trend this year. Will new inventory continue to maintain MSRP sale prices with little to no rebates? Will inflated trade values continue to hold used inventory pricing high? Will the fed continue to raise rates to slow buying? I feel that pricing across the board is becoming more than a trend but possibly an industry transition. The overall business plan is shifting to less sales but higher pricing and profit margins.
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Friel: The advice I probably needed a very long time ago is that I don’t need a college degree to have a successful career, stay the path that works best for me without regret. Like most people I have met in car sales, we didn’t aspire to sell cars. We all happened into this industry and stayed for better and for worse. This isn’t what I thought I wanted to be when I grew up.
Looking back over 27 years, over many diff erent job titles, this is a great career that has all of the potential you want. Commission pay isn’t for everyone, but for me, it is the best. You get what you give. In retrospect, I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to fi nd this kind of career.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Friel: Being flexible, hard-working and resilient is a requirement in the auto business, especially for a woman. I have a saying posted in my office, “The ability to persevere separates the winners from the whiners.” I believe that, and I read it often! I have support at home and from management, my success isn’t about just me. My husband and kids support my career. My colleagues and boss support me being there for my family. Overall, I enjoy my job, so it doesn’t seem like work most days.
