The Auction Advocate

The National Auction Association's Certified Auctioneers Institute turns 50 years old in 2026, and on this episode of The Auction Advocate, we’re taking a deep dive into the program that has helped shape leaders across the auction industry.Host Taven Wohlford sits down with John Schultz, CAI, AMM, and Taylor Kent, CAI, members of the 2025 graduating class, to talk through the full CAI experience. From the multi-year structure and business-focused curriculum to the projects, relationships, and real-world impact, this conversation goes beyond the surface to explore what makes CAI the gold standard of auction education.If you’ve ever wondered what happens in Bloomington each summer, or if CAI is worth the commitment, this episode breaks it down.

National Auction Association's Marketing & Digital Media Manager and host of The Auction Advocate, Taven Wohlford, sits down with two women whose work spans fundraising, estates, livestock, real estate, and state leadership.Carol Miller, CAI, BAS, and Suzannah Underwood, BAS, bring different paths and perspectives together in a conversation about building credibility, finding your niche, leading with confidence, and why experience still matters in a changing auction industry. This episode isn’t about comparisons. It’s about expertise, leadership, and the people shaping the future of auctions every day.

National Auction Association’s Marketing & Digital Media Manager and host of The Auction Advocate, Taven Wohlford, talks with three leaders at the center of the NAA Marketing Competition: Susan Campbell from the American Marketing Association of Kansas City, 2025 Campaign of the Year winner Braden McCurdy CAI, AARE, AMM, and Marketing Competition Task Force Chair John John Genovese CAI, AMM, BAS.They share what makes strong auction marketing, how judging works, what trends to watch in 2026, and how to get your submissions ready for January. Tune in for a fun and practical conversation designed to help auction professionals enter the competition with confidence and take their daily marketing efforts to new heights.If you hear a few email chimes in the background…consider it the most realistic behind-the-scenes look at how busy marketing professionals really are. 

National Auction Association's Marketing & Digital Media Manager and your host for The Auction Advocate, Taven Wohlford, sits down with Mike Jones, CAI, BAS, GPPA, to talk about his work leading America’s Auction Academy and World Wide College of Auctioneering — two auction schools shaping tomorrow’s auction professionals. Then, 2024 and 2025 International Junior Auctioneer Champions Caleb Taylor and Ellie Ratliff join the conversation to share their stories and advice for young people looking to get started in the industry. It’s a fun, insightful look at where passion meets opportunity — and how early that spark can begin.

National Auction Association's Public Relations & Marketing Specialist and your host for The Auction Advocate, Taven Wohlford, speaks with newly installed NAA CEO Allison Mazzei. Covering everything from her business background to her NAA priorities to her love for the Muppets, get to know Allison in a whole new way!

National Auction Association's Public Relations & Marketing Specialist and your host for The Auction Advocate, Taven Wohlford, speaks with newly installed NAA President Morgan Hopson, CAI, and Vice President Mike Fisher, CAI, AARE, AMM, BAS, CES, GPPA, about their shared vision for the auction industry's future as it begins today. Thank you to BidPath for sponsoring a portion of this month's episode. 

National Auction Association's Taven Wohlford sits down with the 2024 International Auctioneer Championship Champions Marcela Davila Diez-Gutierrez, CAI, and Shane McCarrell, CAI, AARE, BAS, CES, live at the NAA's 76th annual Conference & Show. Attendees of this live recording offered up questions for our champions, who were able to share insights on what it takes to take your IAC game to the next level. Thank you to Bidpath for sponsoring a portion of this episode. 

Time to shine those belt buckles and Git-R-Done! National Auction Association's Taven Wohlford speaks with Trey Morris, CAI, BAS, CAS, about his time with Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. Then, Wade Leist, 2024 Livestock Marketing Association World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, sits down to talk about the world of livestock auctions.

Happy holidays! National Auction Association's Taven Wohlford speaks with Freddie Silveria, CAI, BAS, and Reggie Rivers, BAS, about the journeys that led them to their current success in auctioneering. 

We all start somewhere! National Auction Association's Taven Wohlford speaks with Carrie Cunningham, BAS, and Seth Weiner, CAI, BAS, about the journeys that led them to their current success in auctioneering. 

National Auction Association Communications Coordinator Taven Wohlford speaks with the newly installed NAA President John Schultz, AMM, and Vice President Morgan Hopson, CAI, about their shared vision for the auction industry's future as it begins today.

NAA Communications Coordinator and Host, Taven Wohlford; 2023 International Auctioneer Championship champions Haile Behr, BAS; and Brian Damewood help answer common questions amongst IAC competitors and share their experiences on what brought success to their championship runs.

NAA Communications Coordinator and Host, Taven Wohlford; Jason Deel, CAI, GPPA, CES; and Sara Rose Bytnar, CAI, AARE, delve into the crossroads of AI and the auction industry. Discover the revolution AI offers the auction industry, from how to differentiate yourself using AI and what programs to utilize.

NAA Communications Coordinator and Host, Taven Wohlford, speaks with Braden McCurdy, CAI, AARE, AMM; Jimmie Dean Coffey, CAI, AARE, AMM, BAS, CES, MPPA; and Morgan Hopson, CAI, about the ever-evolving real estate auction world. Discussions on potential buyer apprehension, the auction method of marketing for real estate, the outlook of the real estate auction industry, and so much more are all points of conversation in this episode.

New NAA Communications Coordinator and Podcast Host, Taven Wohlford, speaks with the newly installed National Auction Association President Lance Walker, CAI, BAS, CES, and NAA Chair of the Board Sherman Hostetter, Jr., CAI, AARE, BAS, CES, GPPA, about their impact, trajectory and target of the past year and the future in the auction industry.

Hear directly from the 2022 International Auctioneer Champions Jerick Miller, and Chantel Kimball, CAI. We're talking about:Tips for competitionPreparationJudging criteriaCamaraderieRegister for Conference & Show 2023: http://auctioneers.org/cs2023

The National Auctioneers Association's Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications, chats with Brook Gillespie, AMM, content marketing lead at Steffes Group, and JD Miller, digital marketing executive with Jeff Martin Auctioneers, about current trends in auction marketing and the future of AI. 

In this episode of the Auction Advocate, Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications for the National Auctioneers Association, speaks with two families about how they find success in their family-run auction businesses.Guests: Frank Imholte, CAI, AARE, CESAndy Imholte, AMM, BASJoe ImholteBryce Hansen, CAIChase Hansen

An update on how Covid-19 changed the auction business, and the tips and tools for success nearly three years later. Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications for the National Auctioneers Association brings back fan favorites Russ Hilk and Erik Rasmus to chat about:Client managed salesQuality biddersProblem solvingHiring and educatingHow to prepare sellers for the future

Every state has different auctioneer licensing requirements, from one end of the legislative pendulum to the other. Learn more about state licensing, challenges, advantages and what the future may hold. Guests include:Wade Baer, CAI, AMM (Ohio)Nick Bennett, CAI, AMM, BAS (Montana)Joe Gribbins, BAS, CES (Kentucky)Shane McCarrell, CES (Tennessee)Darron Meares, CAI, BAS, MPPA (South Carolina)David P. Whitley, CAI, CAS (Colorado)

In this episode, we're talking with newly installed National Auctioneers Association President Sherman Hostetter, Jr., CAI, AARE, BAS, CES, GPPA, and NAA Chair of the Board Beth Rose, CAI, AARE, AMM, about the past year in the auction industry and the exciting things to come!

National Auctioneers Association (NAA) Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps touches base with leaders from the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA). Guests include Tricia Heon, CEO of NAAA; and, Charlotte Pyle, CAI, AARE, past president and current secretary of NAAA, as well as co-owner and auctioneer at Joe R. Pyle Complete Auction and Realty Service. Topics:Big announcement from NAAANAAA advocacy effortsUpdates on NAAA education and trainingAdvice for getting into the auto auction industry

In this episode, we've brought together marketing professionals from the most winningest companies in the 2022 NAA Auction Marketing Competition. Guests include Lindsay Doll, marketing director for McCurdy Real Estate & Auction; Leslie Basinger, marketing team leader for Schrader Real Estate & Auction; Nick DePasquale, director of marketing and special projects for Kaufman Realty & Auctions; and, Wes Sigler, owner of Blue River Digital, who created some entries for Jeff Martin Auctioneers. 

Everyone has a story. Stories are powerful. But are you telling them right? How much more money could you raise for nonprofits by tweaking your storytelling just a bit? In this episode of the Auction Advocate, Lori L. Jacobwith, master storyteller and founder of Ignited Fundraising walks us through bigger and better stories. After spending an hour or so on the podcast with Erin I have to say, she rocks!! Her voice is delightful to listen to; her questions really caused me to think. She is fun, prepared, funny, a terrific listener. Our time together literally FLEW by and I was truly sad when we said goodbye. Erin is a true professional who has found her calling as a podcast host. You'll enjoy any sessions she records. I promise! — Lori Jacobwith, Ignited Fundraising

Hear directly from the 2021 International Auctioneer Champions Nick Bennett, CAI, AMM, BAS, and Laura Mantle, CAI, CAS. We're talking about:Tips for competitionPreparationJudging criteriaCamaraderieLife as a championRegister for the NAA's 2022 Conference & Show

National Auctioneers Association Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Shipps  chats with her own IT manger, Adam Jones from Firefly MSP, about the top 10 things your help desk wants you NOT to do.

The National Auctioneers Association's series on supply chain issues concludes with a discussion on the livestock and farming industries. The esteemed panel for this podcast includes Doak Lambert, CAS, auctioneer for Lambert Auction Company; Kyle McMahon, founder and CEO of Tractor Zoom, and active farmer; and, Dr. Roger Cryan, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

Part two in this series on supply chain issues and the auction industry features Kevin Chartier from Manheim. He sits down with NAA Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps to talk about the effects on the auto auction industry. 

Supply chain issues are having unique effects on the auction industry, and the many asset groups served by auctioneers. To start this conversation, Auction Advocate Host and NAA Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps sits down with Matt Ackley, chief marketing officer from the global auction powerhouse, Ritchie Bros. 

NAA Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Shipps chats with NAA Directors Peter Gehres, CAI, CAS, CES, (Jeff Martin Auctioneers) and John Schultz, AMM, (Grafe Auction) about the responsibility in collecting personally identifiable information. Why do auction companies collect it? What types of data are there? What is an auction company liable for? What do you need to look for in a third-party vendor?Links:Auction Marketplaces, Auction Data, and the Impact (white paper)Is My Personally Identifiable Information Safe with an Auction Company? (blog post)

NAA Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps chats with outgoing CEO Hannes Combest, CAE, FSAE, about more than a decade of service to the auction industry. From the early days to projects she is most proud of, difficult moments, funniest moments, and the future of the industry. Also, don't miss a special guest who has shared many memories with Hannes. 

The National Auctioneers Association's membership is made up of only 17% women, so how did it reach this historic moment of having both outgoing and incoming female Board of Directors presidents? Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications sits down with NAA President Beth Rose, CAI, AARE, AMM, and Chair of the Board Terri Walker, CAI, BAS, CES, to discuss leadership, volunteerism, family businesses and the future of the auction industry. 

Contract auctioneering is a very lucrative career for many bid callers and other auction professionals, but it takes hard work, organization and determination. It also takes a little bit of luck and the right networking. For this episode of The Auction Advocate, National Auctioneers Association Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps sits down with three of the best contract auctioneers in the industry -- Matt Hostetter, CAI, CAS, CES; Joseph Mast, CAI; and Trey Morris, CAI, BAS, CAS -- to talk about finding success in working for others while working for yourself. Resources:International Auctioneer ChampionshipNAA's State Licensing GuideVoice37 Throat RemedyGrethers Pastilles Dry Mouth and Sore Throat Relief Chips Eucalyptus Menthol throat lozengeFIGROL Portable mini humidifierThroat Coat teaPopperBlocker mic filterThayers slippery elm lozengesAlien EarsWestoneUltimate EarsJH AudioTumi garment bag

Have you considered a career in the auction industry? The National Auctioneers Association has numerous resources available for budding auction professionals, and you may be surprised at the diversity of needs within the industry. Find out how your talents, from marketing to web design to accounting to photography, etc., fit into the world of auctions. The NAA also has resources for teachers and young students to raise awareness of the auction method of marketing. Share those with your community and students today!Resources:Supervised Agricultural ExperienceNAA NextGenAuction Adventures Game5th Grade CurriculumMiddle School CurriculumEducational Auction CraftAuction e-Comic

In this episode of the Auction Advocate, host Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications for the National Auctioneers Association, and co-host Kora Cameron, content developer for the NAA, sit down with LinkedIn Makeover pioneer Donna Serdula. Much to our surprise (not Kora's), LinkedIn has evolved into an essential tool for marketing, networking and professional growth, and you need to make sure you're doing it right. Listen now for Donna's quick tips and deep dives into the value of this platform. Upcoming NAA events

Host Erin Shipps, marketing and communications director for the National Auctioneers Association, talks with benefit auction market leaders from Marquam Auction Agency about the challenges they faced in 2020. Misty Marquam, BAS, and Christine DeCastro, BAS, also give their outlook for fundraising in 2021 and join in a little East Coast/West Coast trivia. 

Ever feel like you have too much to do and too little time? Do you find yourself trying to handle every work project yourself? Stop it. There is an easier way! In this month's episode of the Auction Advocate, NAA Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Shipps talks with Russ Hilk, CAI, AMM, GPPA, of Fram Fram, and Erik Rasmus, CAI, AMM, from Rasmus Auction about working smarter, not harder.

Auction Advocate host Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications for the National Auctioneers Association, talks with auctioneer Jason Roske, CAI, AMM, of KC Auction & Appraisal Co. about the best ways to handle sensitive matters when it comes to personal property estate auctions and the importance of mental health. 

The Auction Advocate host Erin Shipps, director of marketing and communications for the National Auctioneers Association sits down with two of the auction industry's finest: Billie Jo Schultz, CAI, AMM, and John Schultz, AMM. Both are instructors for NAA's Auction Marketing Management (AMM) Next course and experts at marketing auctions through Facebook and Google. Which method is right for you? It depends. Tune in to learn more!

In episode two of the Auction Advocate, the podcast where we're all in, we're talking about how to grow business awareness by creating a culture in your local community. Braden McCurdy, CAI, AARE, AMM, CEO and auctioneer at McCurdy Auction in Wichita, Kansas, joins NAA Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Shipps to share tips on how he and his coworkers have made moves and strengthened relationships to increase the auction presence in their community.

Do you want to improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) but find the idea overwhelming? Do you find yourself struggling just to know where to start? The Auction Advocate sat down with Garry Grant, CEO of SEO, Inc. to talk about easy steps you can take right now to begin the journey of mastering SEO. Grant is a veteran expert in search engine optimization and the digital marketing industry. With more than 24+ years of experience, Garry has successfully built a multi-service operation at SEO, Inc., developing proprietary technologies through complex strategic solutions.auctioneers.orgDesignation Academy (AMM/AMM Next)Auction Marketing Management