At the 2017 National Auctioneers Association (NAA) International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) recently held Friday, July 14 in Columbus, Ohio, three questions were asked of the contestants. Here, we note those three questions and our answers to them:
In your opinion, what do you think the most important element of being an effective auction professional?
What steps could the NAA take in involving more women and people of color into the auction industry and our association?
As an auction professional what is your greatest strength and what is your greatest weakness?
In your opinion, what do you think the most important element of being an effective auction professional?
There are auctioneers from throughout the world in this very room this afternoon. They come from a variety of countries, industries, and perspectives and the vast majority are very effective auctioneers. What makes them effective? Simply put, they care about their client and the auctioneer profession overall. Effective auctioneers work to maximize their client’s position while protecting the integrity of the auction industry. Finally, what can an auctioneer do to become more effective? Get involved in the National Auctioneers Association.
What steps could the NAA take in involving more women and people of color into the auction industry and our association?
Many have commented and written about diversity in the auction industry and questions remain — for one, do we need more diversity in the auction industry and our association? I believe the answer to that question is, “Yes.” Quite often, children exposed to a profession early in life find themselves in that occupation later in life. We should expose children — boys and girls — and minorities to the auction method of marketing as adolescents. Further, we need to have women and people of color providing that exposure so those kids can see themselves in those presenters. Why should we do this? Such an effort will result in a more diverse group of people being auctioneers, and far more importantly an equally more diverse group hiring auctioneers.
As an auction professional what is your greatest strength and what is your greatest weakness?
Can I start with the weaknesses? There are still things I don’t know and am I making enough time to learn what I don’t even know I don’t know? My greatest strength is clearly this association — the National Auctioneers Association — which allows me to learn what I don’t know, network with smarter auctioneers and stay ahead of trends in the auction industry. Quite frankly, membership in this association maximizes all our strengths and minimizes all our weaknesses.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College of Business, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School and Faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University.
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