FRANKLIN, Tennessee — Auction Academy’s newest class, Class 8, is in full academic swing having completed two in-person sessions and three virtual training sessions, and is currently preparing to come together for Session #3 in Dallas, Texas in February. 

Class 8 is Auction Academy’s largest to date, with 34 students from around the country representing auto auctions, finance companies, and other entities that provide services to the auto auction industry.

Says Penny Wanna, Academy President, “We have an outstanding group of students in Class 8 who are devoted to the industry and are eager to increase their skill and knowledge as they participate in Auction Academy’s two-year training and development experience.”

Wanna notes that Auction Academy’s curriculum includes quarterly in-person meetings, alternating with virtual classroom sessions.  Both formats include training led by subject matter experts in the remarketing field from all over the country.

Following its inaugural session in Nashville, Tennessee in August 2023, Class 8 convened in Scottsdale, AZ in November. Classroom training included presentations by David Ibarra of eLeader Tech, Inc; Mike Caggiano of ADESA Operations; Jamye Carpenter of UVEye; Kim Waterman of Auction Edge; Ann Cammarata, Dusti Daniel and Bo Boshell of AutoIMS; Melanie Glaze of U-Haul; and Steve Greenfield of Automotive Ventures.  The group was hosted by Metro Auto Auction of Phoenix for a tour of the auction facilities; a Q/A session with auction GM Jerry Stiver, Controller Steve Dulley (Class 7 Alum), Fleet/Lease Manager Ron Kemp, and Director of National Accounts Bill Westlake; and an evening at the Brittlebush patio at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa.  To close Session #2, Auction Academy’s Class 8 attended NRC/Used Car Week.

Auction Academy will convene in Dallas, TX in February for the next in-person training session. Classroom presentations and training will be led by Mike Jones of Smart Auction; Pierre Pons of TPC Management; Doug Evans of Hyundai Capital America; Scott Mousaw of United Auto Credit; Brent Huisman of Exeter Finance; Dave Woods of Harley-Davidson Financial Services; Mark Lindenmuth of Caprock Auto Remarketing; Casey Hughes of Toyota Financial Services; and David Walsh with Training Services, Inc. who will deliver leadership training on “Conversation Based Selling.”

During Session #3, Class 8 will get to have a one-of-a-kind “ENTERTRAINMENT” experience with Former Navy SEAL officer Clint Bruce at his Trident facility.  Co-Founder and CEO of the Trident Response Group, Bruce and his team will lead students through exciting and actionable personal and group readiness training.

Auction Academy has planned two industry site visits for Session #3 as well.  The group will tour Metro Auto Auction of Dallas hosted by General Manager Scott Stalder; Controller Rob Gorman (Class 6 alum); Fleet/Lease Manager Mike White; and Bill Westlake, Director of National Accounts. Class 8 will also visit Union Pacific’s Auto Facility for a rail yard tour with Shawn Cook of Union Pacific, coordinated by Jeff Grandstaff, President of Gold Star Resources, LLC.

The remainder of 2024 will take Class 8 to Detroit, MI where they will be hosted by Manheim; to Spokane, WA where they will be hosted by McConkey Auto Auction Group’s DAA Northwest; and to Baltimore, MD where they will be hosted by BSC America’s Bel Air Auto Auction.

Wanna also reports that since Class 8 launched in August of 2023, 100% of the class have taken the NAAA Diversity and Inclusion Pledge as well as become NAAA Safe T. Sam Certified.  In addition, the entire group is actively testing to become IARA “CAR” Certified with one third of the class having already completed the certification.  In the first quarter of 2024, Auction Academy will roll out the NAAA Privacy Pam Certification and the IARA ACT Certification.

 

Auction Academy is a continuing education program developed by TPC Management Company (TPC) for professionals in the auto auction industry.  Auction Academy’s two-year program provides a training and development experience for auto auction professionals, structured like an Executive MBA program.  With faculty drawn from expert practitioners around the country, Auction Academy’s programs are designed to enhance essential skill sets, promote best practices and yield better auction performance.  The curriculum includes site visits, field trips, technical certifications and work with industry experts in all areas of auto auction operations.

For additional information about Auction Academy, contact Penny Wanna by telephone: (615) 591-4544; or by email:  pwanna@auctionacademy.net , or visit the web site www.auctionacademy.net.