Franklin, TN – December 9, 2025 — As Auction Academy looks back on 2025, Auction Academy President Penny Wanna notes significant achievements in this its 14th year, including the successful graduation of Class 8 and the dynamic progression of Class 9. The Academy also welcomed new sponsors, and noted the receipt of two prestigious industry awards, all of which acknowledge the Academy’s commitment to leadership development, innovation, and collaboration in the automotive remarketing sector.

Auction Academy’s Class 8 successfully completed its two-year program in 2025 with a final session and graduation ceremony held in San Diego, California, in conjunction with the CAR/ARA Spring Conference. The event included a memorable gala attended by alumni, sponsors, industry associates, leaders, and supporters, serving as a fitting celebration of the dedication, growth, and camaraderie displayed by the class of 30 students throughout their journey.

Auction Academy’s newest group, Class 9, began its journey with a productive first session in Nashville, Tennessee, in February. Continuing its momentum, Class 9 marked its half-way point with an October meeting in Detroit, following meetings in Phoenix and Dallas. Looking ahead to 2026, Class 9 will convene in Birmingham in February with the AutoTec companies, Baltimore in May in conjunction with a full day workshop by Michael Hayes of  NADA, Spokane in July alongside DAA Northwest’s Rock and Roll Sale, and Seattle in late September for its Graduation during the NAAA Fall Conference.

Also in 2025, Auction Academy proudly announced three new sponsors: AuctionNet, RunBuggy, and Pinnacle Remarketing, Powered by Location Services.

 Wanna emphasized, “Our sponsors are integral to Auction Academy’s success. Their generosity has enabled us to expand beyond our original vision. Support from our sponsors ensures we can continue to offer exceptional education, industry opportunities, and engagement to our students.”

Reflecting on the Academy’s accomplishments in 2025, Wanna continued, “This has been one of the most energizing periods in our program’s history. We are immensely proud of Class 8 and all their accomplishments, and equally excited about the momentum Class 9 is generating. Our sponsors, industry presenters, and host auctions have been, and continue to be, invaluable partners, and we thank them for their unwavering support.”

In 2025, Auction Academy and its personnel were honored with two prestigious awards. At its Summer Roundtable, ARA presented Auction Academy with its Excellence in Teamwork Award, citing the Academy’s “rich contributions to the remarketing community”.  Said Wanna in receiving the award on behalf of Auction Academy,  “This recognition is especially meaningful as it honors teams that model collaboration, innovation, and shared success.”

Rounding out a year of growth and achievement, Auction Academy’s Founder and CEO, Pierre Pons, received the prestigious NAAA Hall of Fame Award, presented at the World Remarketing Convention in Kansas City. Under his leadership, Auction Academy launched its first class in 2011 as a “next generation” program for the sons and daughters of longtime auction owners and has since expanded to include young leaders from across the auction industry.

“Pierre’s contributions to the industry and his continued impact are seriously unmatched,” said Wanna. “This recognition is a testament to his leadership, dedication, and passion for advancing automotive remarketing.”

“We could not be more proud of the incredible people who make up Auction Academy,” concluded Wanna. “Every class, every alum, every sponsor, every faculty presenter, every auction that has opened its doors to us, and every partner who has joined us along the way is part of the foundation that allows us to serve this industry we care so deeply about.”

“We have concluded a spectacular year at Auction Academy and look forward with great anticipation to an exciting and productive year ahead.”