The National Auto Auction Association annual convention wrapped up in Dallas on Thursday with a flurry of announcements, including the election of a new vice president, an inductee into its Hall of Fame, another Industry Pioneer recognized, naming of this year’s Auctioneer of the Year as well as 2022 Warren Young Fellows for chapter presidents.
Elected as vice president of the NAAA for the 2022-2023 term was Craig Amelung, who has put together a 30-year career with Manheim.
According to an NAAA news release, Amelung has led teams in achieving new levels of operating efficiency, industry recognition and client and employee engagement. He currently serves as general manager of the company’s Mid-Atlantic Market Center where he leads the collaboration of shared resources and support functions across Manheim Baltimore-Washington, Manheim Harrisonburg, and Manheim Fredericksburg.
Amelung’s previous positions include senior director of operations support where he managed training and support for all of Manheim’s North American operating locations, and director of best practices where he led the company’s efforts toward standardizing processes and procedures throughout the country.
The association pointed out Amelung is a longtime supporter of NAAA, serving on the organization’s Auction Standards and Legislative Committees and as a member of NAAA’s Southern Chapter and Board of Directors.
On Thursday NAAA named Raymond C. Nichols an Industry Pioneer for his visionary leadership and exemplary service to the wholesale auto auction industry and NAAA.
Earlier during the week’s convention, NAAA gave similar recognition to R. Tony Wolfe and Warren Byrd.
NAAA reiterated that its Industry Pioneer Award is given to those who have:
—Worked in the wholesale motor vehicle industry
—Recognized individuals who have innovated or enhanced methods of improving services to remarketers through NAAA member auctions
—Championed NAAA member auctions as providing services for motor vehicle remarketers unavailable from any other source
—Consistently followed the standards of the NAAA Code of Ethics.
Nichols is chairman and chief executive officer of BSC America, a collection of privately-held asset management companies, which includes BSC America Auction Group encompassing Bel Air Auto Auction, Tallahassee Auto Auction, and a specialty weekly sale located at BSC’s Clayton Station in Edgewood, Md.
NAAA highlighted that Nichols works in close partnership with his family, with his son R. Charles Nichols, who was 2022 NAAA president and serves as BSC America president, and his daughter, Michelle Nichols-Neff, who serves as executive vice president.
“Under the Nichols family leadership, Bel Air Auto Auction has grown to become the largest independent dealer auto auction located in the Mid-Atlantic region, handling more than 100,000 vehicles annually,” NAAA said in a news release.
Throughout his career, the association mentioned Nichols has been an active member and supporter of NAAA.
Nichols served as NAAA president in 2002 and was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 2008. He is chair of the NAAA Joint Marketing Committee, which is responsible for engaging in marketing services related to auto auction industry data, known as AuctionNet, which began in 1991 and is the largest and most comprehensive wholesale used vehicle sales data set in the United States.
Nearly 270 NAAA member auctions contribute sales data on a weekly basis to AuctionNet, covering approximately 80% of dealer-only wholesale sales activity in the country.
“Nichols was instrumental in starting AuctionNet and he has provided outstanding leadership and vision for the project as it has evolved,” NAAA said.
With the distinction of receiving the Industry Pioneer award, the association said Nichols becomes just the sixth person in NAAA history to be NAAA president, inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame, and receive the Industry Pioneer award.
And speaking of the Hall of Fame, NAAA highlighted in another news release that its newest inductee is Paul Seger, who is executive vice president and general manager of asset remarketing at Element,
NAAA described Seger as an “innovative remarketing leader” who has held multiple positions within the fleet services and consumer finance vehicle remarketing divisions during his 35-year career at GE and now Element.
Established in 1968, the NAAA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose long-term service to the auto auction industry and NAAA has contributed improvements to remarketing, has worked with the trade organization to benefit its members, and has consistently followed the high standards of the association’s Code of Ethics.
NAAA represents more than 340 auction members and 140 associate members in North America.
Throughout his career, NAAA highlighted Seger has achieved numerous milestones and accomplishments.
During the 1990s, Seger was instrumental in navigating the consumer finance business through one of the most challenging cycles in the automobile industry. He is a GE Six Sigma Green Belt with multiple quality improvement projects to his credit.
In the early 2000s, Seger led the launch of GE’s automotive remarketing services business for non-lease customers.
In 2015, he was named Consignor of the Year by his industry peers.
He is on the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) board of directors and served as IARA president from 2019-2021.
“Seger has been recognized for his leadership skills and he has worked to support the auto auction industry and bring people together to achieve common goals in the industry. He has adapted and led as auctions have created new technology, and he was an early adapter and champion of simulcast,” NAAA said.
With a consistent focus on giving back throughout his career, after Hurricane Katrina, NAAA mentioned Seger and a key auction partner created The Race to Give, a collaborative fundraising effort between Element, a key auction partner and buying dealers.
By 2022, The Race to Give had raised more than $2.5 million for charities, including the American Red Cross and others.
“The National Auto Auction Association congratulates Seger on becoming the newest inductee into the Hall of Fame,” NAAA said.
Michael Adcock claimed another auctioneering trophy, adding to the distinguished family mantle.
Adcock has been named the NAAA Auctioneer of the Year for 2022.
Named in honor of Bernie Hart, who served as NAAA’s executive director for more than 30 years before retiring in 1988, the annual award recognizes the auctioneering industry’s most visible person.
Michael Adcock is a third-generation auctioneer from Lancaster, Pa. He has shared the block with his grandfather, his father, his brothers, his uncles, and his cousins. He was inspired by the talented auctioneers in his family from a young age.
Adcock’s father, M. Scott Adcock, won the esteemed title of World Champion Automobile Auctioneer in 1991 when Michael was just 5 years old.
In 2008, at the age of 22, Michael earned his own World Champion trophy, and he was the youngest contestant to ever do so.
The following year, his brother, Charles Adcock, won the title, earning their family triple-crown recognition in the auction industry.
“Over the course of his career, Adcock has been working many types of auctions around the country, and he has extensive knowledge of the used car and classic automobile markets,” NAAA said. “NAAA congratulates Adcock on winning the 2022 Auctioneer of the Year Award and commends him for his dedication and service to the industry.”
This roundup of convention activities culminates with more Warren Young Fellows.
NAAA has named Chrissy Briggs, Jacob Warren, Tom Francois and Jennifer Leocardi as Warren Young Fellows for 2022. NAAA is honoring the fellows following their term as president of their respective NAAA chapters.
The award recognizes the fellows for their many contributions to NAAA and their distinguished service to the auto auction industry.
NAAA bestows the award with a $2,500 donation in each fellow’s name to the NAAA Warren Young Sr. Scholastic Foundation. A fellow is a donor at that level, or in whose honor or memory a contribution is made in that amount, to support the scholarship organization.
Since its establishment in 2004, the Scholastic Foundation, named in honor of Warren Young, Sr., a pioneer of the auto auction industry who retired after 35 years of service to his profession and NAAA, 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.
“The 2022 Warren Young Fellows each have a record of exemplary service to the auto auction industry and have been steadfast supporters of NAAA and its mission,” the association said.
Briggs served as NAAA Eastern Chapter President and is general manager of Greater Erie Auto Auction.
Warren served as NAAA Southern Chapter President and is vice president and chief operating officer for Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction.
Francois served as NAAA Midwest Chapter President and is general manager of America’s Auto Auction - Wisconsin.
Leocardi served as NAAA Western Chapter President. She recently switched from being general sales manager at America’s Auto Auction – Kansas City to being vice president of institutional sales for the combined America’s Auto Auction and XLerate Group.
“NAAA congratulates Briggs, Warren, Francois, and Leocardi 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.
Also named as Warren Young fellows this year were a pair of executives from the Cox family of companies — Paul Scolese and Hugo Carmona.