Auctioneers conference offers industry updates

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Attendees of the annual Illinois State Auctioneers Association Conference and Trade Show will have opportunities to learn from some of the best in the auction industry and elite speakers from across the country.

The conference is also bringing back the auctioneer and ringman team competition and the senior auction division bid calling competition for current active ISAA members 62-plus years old.

This event not only provides attendees with the ability to learn from professionals, but also from peers within the industry and to be able to have the opportunity to network with fellow auction industry professionals that adhere to a code of ethics and professionalism.

The trade show aspect of the annual conference provides attendees the opportunity to meet, visit with and view professional services and products that can assist the auctioneers and auction companies with their company.

The auction industry is unique just as much as the products, tools, marketing and targeted social media. This aspect provides not only attendees to speak with the vendors in one location, but it also provides our vendors the opportunity to talk with as many potential clients as possible to show them their services and products to help make their job more efficient.

CPR Training

The conference kicks off Thursday, Feb. 6. Registration begins at 3 p.m., and there will be American Heart Association-certified CPR training from 3 to 5 p.m.

There will be a meet-and-greet at 5:45 p.m.

Full Slate

Conference attendees will have a full slate of events on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8.

ISAA officers Jeff Prochnow of Bloomington, president, and Wayne Mollett of Greenville, vice president, provide the welcome at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7, followed by a presentation by Robert Wahlbrink.

Wahlbrink, Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police officer, will provide an update on regulations as they relate to auction items.

Beginning at 11:15 a.m., Kerry and Anita Lenhart of Lenhart Auction Company, based in Georgetown, will cover issues related to durable medical equipment and more that cannot be sold. With licenses in Illinois and Indiana, Lenhart Auction and Realty has been a full-service auction business for over 50 years.

Afternoon sessions on Friday include a vendor Shark Tank session with vendor presentations of services offers, and a representative from the Illinois Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will provide an update on regulations followed by a question-and-answer session.

Following the trade show and dinner, there will be the senior division auctioneer championship, a fun auction and entertainment provide by country western band Modern Cowboyz.

Keynote

Keynote speaker Christopher Carter will open the conference Saturday at 9 a.m., with his topic, “The Body Language of Sales and Leadership.”

For over 25 years, Carter has astonished audiences around the world with his high-energy presentations. He’s appeared at over 2,000 corporate and association events.

He has received dozens of awards for his programs, and American Entertainment Magazine called him “one of America’s premier corporate entertainers.”

As a speaker, Carter is the communication expert that helps business build relationships. He stresses the importance of “reading between the lines” of human behavior to build relationships, establish trust and credibility and to truly listen to the customer.

Following lunch and an ISAA lobbyist update on Saturday, Stephanie McGuire, a wellness advocate and life coach from Grand Junction, Colorado, will present “Emotional Wellness for Auctioneers: Thriving as a Solo Entrepreneur.” McGuire is founder of MAP: Miracles Are Plentiful.

The annual meeting of the ISAA membership will be held at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. The dinner and marketing awards banquet begins at 6 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. with the organization’s novice auctioneer, ringman and auction team championships.

Continuing Education

On Sunday, the convention concludes with a mandatory continuing education class beginning at 8 a.m. covering federal laws pertaining to auctions, presented by Otis Holley.

An elective CE class on “How to Manage Your Auction Company’s Bottom Line” at 12:15 p.m. will be led by Larry Harb.

Illinois State Auctioneers Association Conference and Trade Show

Feb. 6-9

DoubleTree by Hilton

10 Brickyard Drive

Bloomington, Ill.

https://illinoisauctioneers.org/events