The Colorado Auctioneers Association celebrated their 65th Anniversary with Education, Networking, Socializing, Fundraising, Excellent Food and some competitive Championships at the 2023 Colorado Auctioneers Convention held at the Renaissance Denver Central Park Hotel in Denver, CO, February 2 – 5, 2023.Thursday kicked off the convention weekend with Technology Thursday in which many of our vendors hosted sessions showcasing their software products, answering questions and providing one-on-one sessions with attendees. These sessions were sponsored by the Colorado Auctioneers Association to help us provide not only a technology aspect to our convention, but also to provide a more intensive workshop for those who wanted to take advantage of this. And by that evening, the CAA hosted a Meet & Greet with refreshments to jump start the networking, meeting new members, welcoming back familiar faces and launch the 2023 CAA Competitions.
Once every 5 years, our association kicks-off the annual convention with a fun and fan favorite bid calling championship, the Challenge of Champions, in which the competitors registered for this competition is crowned, Colorado State Champion Auctioneers. The champion not only receives a championship belt buckle, but also a cash prize in addition to “bragging” rights for 5 years. The Challenge of Champions is just that, a challenge. Why do we call it the “Challenge of Champions”? Well, it’s just that, a call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel. Only when the winner is announced do we ultimately have a Champion of CAA Champions.
And this year, the contest did not disappoint! The judging point spread from this competition from “1st to last position” was less than 10 points! In the end, Tony Wisely, 2022 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer, was crowned the winner, with Michael Nichols, 2019 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer, being crowned Reserve Champion and Josh White, 2002 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer received 3rd place.
Friday and Saturday was packed with engaging educational sessions that included online auctions, marketing / branding, auction house management, hoarding & safety, organizing personal property for liquidation and diversifying and going from invisible to invincible. The Annual Meeting was brought back by popular vote on Saturday where members were able to hear updates from the Committee Chairmen along with a review of the financials.
Per election, Mike Whitfield is the incoming President and Harold Unrein as 1st Vice-President and Edith Parrish-Kohler elected as 2nd Vice President. Halie Behr was elected to return as a CAA Board Director, with newly elected Board Directors of Jon W. Flack, T.C. Johnston and Todd Natale.
Scott Shuman was inducted into the CAA Hall of Fame and we recognized 3 outstanding Colorado Auctioneers Foundation scholarship recipients that were awarded to Keaton Glassman (2022), Shelby Shuman and Rachel White. Samantha Partridge was the recipient of the newly established CAA Memorial Scholarship.
The Colorado Championship events also included the following championships:
*Cissy Tabor was crowned the 2023 Colorado Ringman Champion; Matthew Heitmann, Reserve Ringman Champion and Jess Nighswonger, 3rd Place Ringman
*Trent Holzworth & Rylie Behr were crowned the 2023 Colorado Auction Team Champions; Josh Phelps & Tony Wisely, Reserve Auction Team Reserve Ringman Champion and Dean L Gunter and Tony Wisely, 3rd Place Auction Team
*Lance Nichols was crowned the 2023 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer; Mike Whitfield, Reserve Colorado State Champion Auctioneer and Jon Flack, 3rd Place
The annual CAA Fun Auction, which is our associations annual fundraiser in which attendees donate items, and sell them in this open auction to the public was a great way to end the annual, 2023 CAA Convention.
We would like to thank our sponsors, Manheim Denver, Auction Flex, AuctionTime, Shipping Saint, Handbid, SCI Colorado, Greater Giving, Premier Farm Credit, Nichols Auctioneers, Peak Auto Auctions – Colorado and Sterling Livestock Comm. Co.. And a BIG Shout Out of Gratitude to The BARN – Brian Allmer Radio Network for your continued support throughout the years and in broadcasting our events, supporting our association!
We could not do this without you and your support of the Colorado Auctioneers Association and the Colorado auction industry!
Lastly, we would like to show our gratitude to the members that had served on the CAA Board; Casey Giddings, Shawn Hagler and Craig Weichel. Thank you.
