As TPC Management Co. (TPC) rolled out details for the next installment of Auction Academy, an operation that has sent graduates through that continuing education program recently received a top industry accolade from United Auto Credit.

Officials announced registration for Auction Academy Class 6 is now open as it's scheduled for May 16-18 in Nashville, Tenn.

And showing how training can be beneficial, United Auto Credit has named Missouri Auto Auction as its 2018 Auction of the Year.

Auction Academy’s Class 6 news

Auction Academy has confirmed Class 6 participants from the following operations:

—McConkey Auction Group
—BSC America
—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
—CARS Recon
—Dixie Auto Auction
—America’s Auto Auction.

Auction Academy president Penny Wanna said in a news release that interest in the sixth class group has been “tremendous.”   

“Auction Academy’s presence and exhibit booth during the 2018 NAAA/NRC Convention in Scottsdale, and the positive reviews by previous graduates and the companies they work for have generated great interest and excitement for the upcoming Class Group,” Wanna said.

Auction Academy has developed two curriculums. One is a two-year program structured like an executive MBA program that provides training and development for auto auction professionals. The second is Seminar Series, which features one-day sessions covering a specific topic or functional area. The curriculum includes site visits, field trips and work with experts in all areas of auction operations.

Auction Academy also announced the completion of the seventh session of Class Group 5 in Detroit and that its final session and graduation would take place at the 2019 CAR Conference in Las Vegas next month.

In addition, the academy made its seminar series available to the staff at BSC America’s Bel Air Auto Auction in Belcamp, Md.

“Class 5 has been the most Industry-aggressive group to-date, with both the IARA CAR Certification and Safe T. Sam Certification added to our curriculum,” Wanna said in a news release. 

“Our students have worked diligently to complete their certifications during and in between class sessions," she added.

Class 5 will meet next during the 2019 CAR Conference in Las Vegas beginning on March 25. In addition to a tour of ADESA Las Vegas, the group’s eighth and final session will include in-class presentations by Brent Ramels of SmartAuction, Lynn Weaver of IAG, Cody Boswell of Missouri Auto Auction and Auction Academy Alumni, who will host a segment on Auctioneering 101.

The group’s graduation ceremony will take place on March 27 during the conference’s awards and recognition ceremony. During the IARA portion of the ceremony, the entire class is expected to receive IARA CAR certifications.

Back on Dec. 3 and 4, the academy took its workplace culture seminar to BSC America’s Bel Air Auto Auction, and the auction’s department heads and key employees attended a program focusing on sexual, physical and mental harassment, physical danger, safety and insurance. 

“The Nichols family has developed a strong culture of continued education, key reminders and real-time guidelines to help ensure a safe and productive work environment for their dedicated employees,” Wanna said .

United Auto Credit honors Missouri AA

As mentioned, United Auto Credit awarded Missouri Auto Auction as its 2018 Auction of the Year.

United Auto Credit director of loss mitigation Scott Mousaw noted in a news release that the honor stemmed from consistently performing at the highest levels in sales, services and operations.

This year’s award follows Missouri Auto Auction’s designation in 2017 as a United Auto Credit regional auction of the year. Missouri AA is a member of the ServNet Auction Group.

“The auction’s dedication to service shows in every step of the auction process, and by every member of the auction team who has responsibility for our vehicles,” Mousaw said.

“Missouri Auto Auction has developed a robust market for United Auto Credit, and their concerted efforts on our behalf are evident in outstanding retentions and conversions throughout the year," he continued.

Mousaw will present the Auction of the Year Award on site at Missouri Auto Auction in March to the auction’s general manager, Justin Brown, and the auction team.

Brown said in a news release that the auction has been selling vehicles for United Auto Credit since 2010, featuring its vehicles at monthly sale events.