Auction Academy’s Class 5 Group completed the final course on its program syllabus — which included a tour of ADESA Las Vegas — and celebrated its graduation.

The graduation ceremony took place on March 27 during the awards and recognition ceremony at the Conference of Auto Remarketing in Las Vegas.

Auction general manager Jay Hinchman hosted the tour of ADESA Las Vegas, and NAAA president Chad Bailey joined the tour.

In-class presentations were part of the session training, and Kevin Valimont and Brent Ramels of SmartAuction, Lynn Weaver of IAG, and Cody Boswell of Missouri Auto Auction gave presentations. 

Peter Lavallee of OVE, an Academy sponsor since the program was founded in 2012, honored the class during the OVE awards reception on Monday of the conference. The class also received recognition at the IARA luncheon for the achievement of having 99% of the class members receive their IARA CAR certification.

IAG Board members Dave Blake, Charlotte Pyle and Lynn Weaver acknowledged and gave plaques to each member of the graduating class during IAG’s Tuesday afternoon meeting.

Bob McConkey of McConkey Auctions was the keynote speaker at the graduation dinner. Colin McConkey, the last of Bob McConkey’s three sons to complete the Academy program, was among those in the class group.

“Class 5 amassed an impressive list of statistics over the course of their two years together pursuing their training,” Auction Academy president Penny Wanna said in a news release. “Collectively the group has crisscrossed the country touring facilities, learning from experts in the remarketing industry, undergoing training and sharing a multitude of experiences aimed to help them contribute to the success of their auctions and develop them into leaders in our industry.”

Since the Class Group’s first meeting in the spring of 2017, the 21 students in the program accomplished the following:

—     387,938 miles traveled
—     9 states visited
—     504 hours together
—     86 speakers heard
—     39 tests taken
—     44 bus rides
—     126 meals Shared
—     Nine auctions, two manufacturing plants, one railyard toured
—     IARA CAR Certification
—     Safe T. Sam Certification

“Class 5 has been the most industry-aggressive group to-date with the addition of both the IARA CAR Certification and Safe T. Sam Certification added to the curriculum,” Wanna said.  “Each of our graduating students leaves the program focused on the future, with a desire to preserve and progress, not only for themselves and their businesses, but for our industry, our community.”

Registration for Class 6 is now open, with limited spots remaining. The class will begin May 16-18 in Nashville. 

“We have already confirmed participants from McConkey Auction Group, San Antonio Auto Auction, America’s Auto Auction, Big Valley Auto Auction, Carolina Auto Auction, Clark County Auto Auction, Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction, Auction Edge, Plaza Auto Auction, FastLane Auto Exchange, and CARS Recon,” Wanna said. “Auction Academy’s presence at industry events, and the positive reviews by previous graduates and the companies they work for has generated great interest and excitement for the upcoming Class.”

IARA’s partnership with Auction Academy continues, Wanna said. The Class 6 curriculum will once again include IARA Certification and Safe T. Sam training, for each year of the two-year program. Auction Edge, with training modules being included in each session’s training for Class 6, is newly added to Auction Academy course of study.

“The enthusiastic participation in Auction Academy from all corners of the industry confirms that Auction Academy plays a critical role in the remarketing industry and has raised the bar for career education,” Wanna said.

KAR names Jefferson Award winner

In other auction news, KAR Auction Services named David Gonzalez as its 2019 Jefferson Awards recipient. KAR honored Gonzalez for his creation of and continued work with the “My First Wheels” bike donation program.

KAR said Multiplying Good, formerly The Jefferson Awards Foundation, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fuel personal growth and leadership through public service. KAR is in its first year as a Multiplying Good Champion partner.

Five years ago at the ADESA office in Mesa, Ariz., Gonzalez launched the “My First Wheels” program. Gonzalez collected 43 bicycles in its first year to refurbish and donate to children at nearby Luke Air Force Base. The program has grown, and Gonzalez has recruited other KAR employees to help grow it. More than 1,100 Luke AFB children have received bikes since the program’s launch. That is a result of the efforts of Gonzalez and various KAR employees who voluntarily refurbish donated bikes and assemble new bikes.

For the honor, on June 18, Gonzalez will attend the 2019 D.C. Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C. The Jefferson Awards are Multiplying Good’s signature recognition platform. Through the awards, KAR and other corporate partners in the Champions program can highlight their employees for their community work.

Vice President of the Multiplying Good Champions program Amanda Johnson said honorees from all over the country come to the D.C. Jefferson Awards in June.

“It’s our organization’s biggest stage and the time when those who have given so much in service of others are inspired to do even more,” Johnson said. “We’re thrilled that David will represent KAR this year.”

KAR employees submitted 31 nominations during KAR’s inaugural year with Multiplying Good’s Champions program. KAR’s judging panel narrowed down nominations to six Jefferson Awards honorees recognized for their community service: Wendy Buchanan (ADESA Seattle), David Gonzalez (ADESA Mesa), Candice Hernandez (IAA Tifton), Gregg Maidment (ADESA Canada), Antwan Myers (KAR IT) and Christiane Ouellette (ADESA Montreal).