We’re settled in at the Overland Park Convention Center, ready to officially kick off the festivities tonight. The unofficial kick-off held last night with the Aaron Traffas Band at the Mayo Auction Center went very well. We’re going to drop a little of the formalities over the next few days with perhaps more frequent updates, using I instead of the shielded we, and perhaps even throw in some video if I can find someone to hold the camera.
I’ll be updating my TwitPic photostream regularly, so head over there for the pictures. Here’s the NAA’s press release I picked up from PRWEB.
Auctioneers ‘Sold’ on Kansas City
60th International Auctioneers Conference & Show – July 13-18, Overland Park, Kan.Overland Park, Kan. (Vocus/PRWEB ) July 11, 2009 — Auctioneers from the across the world will travel to Overland Park, Kan. for the 60th International Auctioneers Conference & Show next week. This year’s conference will take place July 13-18 at the Overland Park Convention Center. This year’s event will feature over a thousand auctioneers celebrating one of the world’s fastest growing and oldest industries. The conference is coordinated by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., the NAA is the nation’s largest association dedicated to the auction profession and industry.
The NAA and its members will be celebrating six decades of service at this year’s conference. Highlights of the conference include over 40 educational seminars ranging from technology in the auction industry, to growth in the real estate auction market. One of the major highlights of this annual event is its competitions. Each year the NAA crowns the world’s top male and female auctioneers at its conference. Auctioneers from across the world will compete for the coveted International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) title. In addition to the IAC competition, conference attendees will enjoy the International Ringman Championship (IRC) and the International Junior Auctioneer Championship (IJAC). Conference attendees will also be provided with one of the largest trade shows in the history of the event.
To learn more about Conference & Show, visit: auctioneers.org/conference2009.
In 2008, the live auction industry sold $268.4 billion in goods and services in the United States. The fastest growing sectors of the auction industry in 2008 were residential real estate and agricultural machinery and equipment auctions. With over $83 billion in gross sales, automobile auctions continue to lead the industry. The auction industry is vast and diverse with auctioneers specializing in a variety of markets, such as art/antiques, automobiles, machinery, real estate, personal property, and charity.
About the NAA
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) represents the interests of approximately 4,400 auctioneers in the United States, Canada, and across the world. Founded in 1949, the mission of the NAA is to promote the auction method of marketing and enhancing the professionalism of its members through education and technology. To learn more about Auctioneers or to find an auctioneer, visit: www.auctioneers.org.Contact:
Chris Longly
(913) 541-8084 ext. 31# # #