Speaker lineup at auctioneers conference

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The 74th Illinois State Auctioneers Association Conference and Trade Show is slated for Feb. 11-13 and will feature a strong lineup of guest speakers from across the country.

The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington and kicks off with multiple continuing education classes Feb. 11.

Real estate contracts will be featured in the opening session with Michael Fine. Fine has participated in real estate auction programs for a wide array of companies and financial institutions, including The Northern Trust Co., Wells Fargo, Citicorp, Bank of American, Fifth Third Bank, Arvest and many others.

“Hanging Out Expanding Your Mind as an Auctioneer by Advancing Your Relationships to Grow Successful Career and Life Skills” is the theme for John Weaver’s early afternoon CE class on Feb. 11.

Weaver has over 40 years of senior level real estate marketing, real estate auction, brokerage and 1031 exchange experience on a national level.

He has earned a national reputation as one of the most effective and successful real estate strategists for the utilization of alternative real estate marketing methods. He is a certified real estate CE instructor in Arizona and California.

The final CE class on Feb. 11 will focus on auction contracts with Dave Aeschliman. Aeschliman has been in the auction business for decades and moved to the Quad Cities area in 1983 and is owner of Walnut Cree Auction Co.

He also owns Growth Work, a marketing firm, where he conducts marketing with more than 200 businesses across the United States and has strategically coached struggling businesses how to turn misfortunes into fortune.

In addition, Aeschliman’s auction school offers an intense, comprehensive five-day course focusing on the entire management process of operating a profitable auction firm.

Emily Kroul will open the Feb. 12 events with “Social Media Marketing Made Simple.”

Kroul is a second-generation auctioneer from Iowa who now makes her home in Idaho. She has won state auction championships in Iowa, Colorado and Wyoming and was crowned International Auctioneer Champion in 2018.

“My Thoughts in the Auction Industry” with Gene Klingaman is on tap to conclude the morning sessions Feb. 12. Klingaman has been with Schrader Real Estate and Auction Co. for 48 years and has sold land in over 40 states with annual sales in excess of $200 million.

He is co-author of “SOLD! The Professional’s Guide to Real Estate Auctions,” published in 1991. He has conducted numerous seminars in marketing agricultural and timberland at auction.

Scott Shuman’s “Slum Dog Auctioneer” will be held after lunch on Feb. 12. Shuman is a real estate partner and auctioneer for Hall and Hall Auctions with over 30 years of experience. He holds auction and real estate licenses in 28 states and resides in Eaton, Colorado.

Shuman’s presentation is based on actual experiences — successes and failures — in the auction and real estate world. He will share tips and strategies of what not to do and touch on strategies to get the deal, working with sellers, buyers and marketing auctions.

Shuman opens sessions the next morning with “Selling Real Estate and Water at Auction and the Multi-par System,” while Kroul will hold a presentation focusing on online auction business practices.

The mid-morning program on Feb. 13 will feature “Becoming a Monster Producer” with Jay Cash, a second-generation auctioneer from Middle, Tennessee, and owner of James R. Cash Auctions.

The auction service has a footprint in 14 states, and Cash specializes in the sale of real estate, estate settlements, farm and business liquidations, and benefit auctions. He was recently elected to the National Auctioneers Association board of directors.

Cash will also be featured to start the afternoon sessions Feb. 13 with “The Relentless Auction” and in conjunction with that will be a social media workshop with Kroul.

The final session will focus on better business practices and sexual harassment prevention presented by Renee Jones, ISAA president, and Cissy Tabor, ISAA executive director.

Jones is a licenses auctioneer and Realtor and has worked for over two decades as an advocate and counselor for victims of workplace harassment and violence.

She works for profit and nonprofit organizations to insure they have written effective and enforceable policies on sexual awareness and sexual harassment to ensure a safe environment for all employees, contractors and individuals who do business with their organizations.

Numerous other activities will be held at the convention, including a scholarship awards dinner, novice auctioneer and ISAA ringman championships, awards banquet and fun auction.