In his year-end message to the auction industry, Eric Autenrieth, ServNet's President, surveys the group's 30th anniversary year, highlighted by the addition of its 23rd auction location and business solutions that will carry forward into 2019.

Another year draws to a close. As we all pause to take stock of the past 12 months, to straighten our desks in preparation for a break from the flow of traffic through our auction lanes to enjoy the holidays, I look back on a great year in business, topped by 30 years of growth and success among our group of ServNet auctions.

As I reported earlier this year, the market has continued to be interesting, though positive. Tax time took hold early and never really stopped, with the dip we generally expect to see following the arrival of refund checks not really materializing until late in the fall. While dealer inventory was lighter than in years past, our auctions made up for that in institutional business: repossessions, off-lease units and rental returns. Dealers who reported shortages in inventory looked for cars on all platforms, which has resulted in strong pricing and strong conversions.  

Along with a dynamic market, customers enjoyed an exceptional customer exeperience at ServNet auctions across the country in 2018.

ServNet wraps up its 30th Anniversary Year with another upswing in growth, adding FastLane Auto Exchange as its 23rd auction location.

"The ServNet auction owners welcome yet another new facility to our ranks," said ServNet President Eric Autenrieth. "Led by owner/operator Greg Price, an industry veteran who comes from second-generation family lineage in the industry, FastLane Auto Exchange is taking the industry by storm, recording exponential growth over the past two years. Greg is a colleague with great experience and talent, and we are pleased to expand ServNet's geographic footprint into the all-important upper Midwest region."

Located just north of Flint Michigan in Mount Morris, FastLane Auto Exchange has been in operation since 1978, and was purchased by a group led by Greg Price in January of 2017. Under Price's leadership, the auction has undergone a staggering transformation, expanding in less than 2 years from an evening sale running 100+ vehicles a week on one lane to a Wednesday afternoon auction featuring 700+ vehicles on 8 lanes.

Chad Bailey, President of Akron Auto Auction, was inaugurated as NAAA President in early November during the 2018 Conference in Arizona.  Among the past presidents of the NAAA are several of ServNet's own who have set a precedent for involved, active leadership: Henry Stanley (Carolina and Indiana Auctions), Raymond Nichols (BSC America), and Bob McConkey (the McConkey Auction Group).

As he spends the upcoming year at the helm of the NAAA, he will be joined by a number of ServNet auction owners, who serve in various capacities with the national association to nurture the health and growth of the industry, lending their expertise and voices to establish policy, explore solutions to common challenges, and consider the innovations that will benefit the wholesale buying and selling process.

Bailey heads a family business founded by his grandfather in 1973.  Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, he earned a B.S. in Mass Communications at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and went on to received his MBA at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.  After college, he returned to Ohio, working for one uncle at the auto auction by day, and for another uncle as a restaurant bartender by night. Out of the blue he received an offer from Hilton Las Vegas to take over its marketing department, an opportunity he declined, realizing that he enjoyed the auction business.  It was a decision that fit. He soon became the auction's general manager, then a minority partner, and acquired majority ownership of the company in 2011.

Early in his auction career Bailey saw the benefits of active industry involvement, which helped him gain leadership skills as well as find solutions to challenges he faced in operating his business. 

Two ServNet auction owners have been tapped to serve on the group's Board of Directors, announces Eric Autenrieth, ServNet's President.  Ryan Clark, Director of Greater Rockford Auto Auction, and Matt Fetter, President of Clark County Auto Auction, were elected to the Board at a recent ServNet Owners' Meeting, held in October in Chicago. The pair replace outgoing Board members Steve DeLuca of Auto Auction of New England and Ashley Dietze of the W. Walker Auction Group, both of whom completed two-year terms.

"We are delighted to announce the addition of Ryan Clark and Matt Fetter to ServNet's Board of Directors and look forward to working with them," said Autenrieth.  He explains that the change is part of a planned rotation in governance, with all members of the Board serving regular two-year terms. "By the same token, we are grateful for the contributions made by Ashley Dietze and Steve DeLuca during their tenure and express our appreciation for their hard work on our behalf."

The summer of 2018 saw the return of the industry's most notable mega-sales hosted at ServNet auctions and made a lasting impression on the market, reports ServNet's President Eric Autenrieth. The excitement and activity continues into the fall, as ServNet auctions bring customers together for special events marking special seasonal events, anniversary sales and celebrations of autumn's bounty. Throughout the summer and into the fall, ServNet auctions are building consignments from dealers and national remarketers, positioning their inventory to take advantage of the biggest auction events in the country.

In a mid-year assessment of market conditions, ServNet's President, Eric Aurenrieth, observes a continued healthy market and a sales environment that continues to thrive thanks to the active involvement of ServNet's auction owners in their own businesses and the industry at large.

Reports Autenrieth: "The economy is performing well, and we are seeing higher conversion percentages across the board. In addition, volumes are stable: while dealer inventory is a bit light, we're making up for that in institutional business which is keeping the lanes full of vehicles. Dealers who report that they're short on supply are looking for cars on all platforms, which has resulted in strong pricing and strong conversions."

As leaders of some of the best independent auto auctions in the country, ServNet's auction owners play vital roles in the daily operations and ongoing success of their businesses. With feet on the ground, in the lanes and on the block, they manage operations, set the bar for customer service, and produce results for buyers and sellers across the country. But for many of these owners, their work in the business of vehicle remarketing extends far beyond their own auction arenas. Many give their time and attention to their communities and the industry beyond.

Leading the charge is Chad Bailey, president and third-generation owner of Akron Auto Auction, who is currently President-elect of the National Auto Auction Association. When he takes on the post of NAAA President in the Fall, he joins a distinguished group of industry leaders who have directed the activities of the NAAA.

Summer is in full swing at ServNet auctions across the country, where the industry's most notable mega-sales set the bar for innovation and impact on the market, says ServNet's President Eric Autenrieth. Bringing customers together for everything from anniversary sales and rock concerts to summer barbecues and celebrations of the red-white-and-blue, ServNet auctions are building consignments from dealers and national remarketers, positioning their inventory to take advantage of the biggest auction events in the country.

"Summer promotions at ServNet auctions have for years defined the season," says Autenrieth. "The variety, quality and creativity of these events are remarkable, and they have a tremendous impact on the marketplace. They bring customers together from all parts of the country for good times and prime opportunities for buying and selling in the auction lanes."

ServNet has announced the 2018 recipients of the group's scholarship program during its Spring Owners' Meeting, held early in May. Now in its third year, the scholarship program was established in 2016 as an ongoing initiative to help ServNet auction employees and their families pursue the dream of higher education .

"We were pleased to expand the scholarship program this year, adding an additional award for $2,500 for a student attending a four-year college," said Kevin Brown, ServNet's president. "We awarded a total of $19,000 this year and are very happy to announce the names of eight ServNet scholarship recipients." 

As ServNet observes its 30th anniversary in 2018, the group plans for its future guided not only by the independent auction owners who have spent a lifetime in the business, but also by members of the next generation who work to ensure the ongoing success of some of the most successful auto auctions in the country. Those next generation owners are making their marks on the daily operations of their auction locations, and have developed into strong, capable, visionary leaders, as they continue the pattern set by their parents in building the family businesses. They are also filling leadership positions in the industry, most notably as members of ServNet's Board of Directors. Serving a two-year term as ServNet's President is second-generation owner Eric Autenrieth (Carolina Auto Auction and Indiana Auto Auction). Three next generation owners also hold seats on the Board: Beth Barber (State Line Auto Auction), Steve DeLuca (Auto Auction of New England), and Ashley Dietze (San Antonio Auto Auction).