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.