Fredrick “Frankie” Lingle has been selected as a recipient of the Ron Hope Memorial Scholarship for the Auction Academy, in addition to Abigail Balk from Greater Rockford Auto Auction. Lingle will participate in Class 9 of the Academy, and Balk will participate in Class 10. Lingle is currently the Fleet Manager at Greensboro Auto Auction (GAA).

Lingle has been in the auction industry for 10 years, all at Greensboro Auto Auction. He started as a photographer, taking thousands of pictures for the weekly sales. He then began helping with accounting and worked his way up to become an Account Coordinator, Assistant Fleet Manager, and then Fleet Manager.

“We congratulate Fredrick on receiving the Ron Hope Scholarship,” said Houston Gordon, general manager of Greensboro Auto Auction. “His dedication, hard work, and commitment to GAA over the past 10 years has truly made a difference. We are very thankful to see Fredrick be able to partake in the Auction Academy program. Auction Academy is something truly special within our industry, so my advice to Fredrick is to take it all in, ask a lot of questions, and enjoy.”

NAAA established the scholarship last year to honor the legacy of Ron Hope, who worked in the auto auction industry for over 50 years and founded CARS Recon Inc. Hope was passionate about NAAA and its mission to give back to its members. Throughout his entire career, he was an advocate for NAAA and was a strong supporter of Auction Academy.

Cockroaches. That’s how the NAAA Cybersecurity Task Force describes the criminals who digitally target dealers and consumers. The NAAA’s Cybersecurity Essentials for Auctions shared some examples of real-life incidents to spread awareness of cybercrime and fraud and how to protect yourself. 

Once the criminals have access to an entities’ system, they act like cockroaches who won’t go away. Once detected, they often pop up again with a variation of their name or fraudulent dealer license until they are caught again, and they tend to be organized crime syndicates that are difficult to be linked and tracked by investigators. 

In one recent example, a bad actor convinced a dealer to be added to his account. Once this happens, the bad actor has access to all payment information and can buy vehicles on the unsuspecting dealer’s behalf. In this instance, 45 vehicles were purchased in a matter of days with some having a value as high as $50,000. 

Fraud can also happen with transport as well. In this same case where 45 vehicles were stolen, a fraudulent transporter with forged credentials showed up with a “follower” car that didn’t have license plates and looked suspicious. Fraud can also happen when pickup documentation is manipulated. 

The industry has responded to this through training and changing processes, but it is always important to keep in mind that the thieves try to be one step ahead. 

As a reminder, the NAAA Cybersecurity Task Force put together a Cybersecurity Essentials for Auctions document to share fundamental steps our members can take to protect against cybercrime.

The Task Force will continue to share information on a regular basis, and they encourage everyone to register for NAAA’s 2025 Spring Remarketing Exchange (SRE), which will be held April 22-24 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel. They plan on holding a session specifically focused on cybersecurity that will provide valuable takeaways for members in attendance. You won’t want to miss that interactive session. Register for the SRE by clicking here.

Carvana Co. announced plans for an auction and reconditioning ‘Megasite’ integration in Indianapolis. This effort will bring Carvana’s Inspection and Reconditioning Center (IRC) capabilities to the existing ADESA Indianapolis wholesale auction site, while maintaining digital and in-lane auction operations. The integrated site will expand Carvana’s overall production capacity and enrich its offerings for both retail and wholesale customers in the Indianapolis area.

Located in Plainfield, Ind., ADESA Indianapolis covers more than 100 acres with almost 12,000 parking spaces, offering substantial infrastructure to accommodate Carvana’s inspection and reconditioning activities alongside existing wholesale auction operations. Carvana has already started hiring new associates at this facility and expects the integration of IRC capabilities to create approximately 200 new local jobs over time.

“The Indianapolis area has served as ADESA’s headquarters for more than thirty years, and we are proud to deepen our operational presence and team in this market by integrating Carvana IRC capabilities with our existing wholesale auction,” said Mike Caggiano, ADESA’s executive vice president of operations. “The Megasite integration leverages Carvana and ADESA’s combined infrastructure to improve our offering for local retail and wholesale customers while also creating many new entry level and skilled jobs in the community.”

Introducing Carvana IRC capabilities to ADESA Indianapolis increases Carvana’s total reconditioning capacity, improving selection for all customers nationwide. Creating a new pool of retail inventory in the Indianapolis area also makes Carvana’s delivery network more efficient while providing local customers access to more vehicles with as-soon-as same-day delivery times. Wholesale customers will benefit from even more robust auction operations, now complemented by on-site reconditioning services.

United Auto Credit Corporation named Carolina Auto Auction as the recipient of its 2024 Auction of the Year award. This honor is given to the auction that demonstrates superior performance, exceptional service, and a strong commitment to supporting United Auto Credit’s remarketing efforts. Carolina Auto Auction has been a loyal partner for many years, and this well-deserved recognition reflects their outstanding performance and dedication.

UACC scores auctions throughout the year based on sale conversion, retention, and operational efficiency. The auction with the highest average score earns the Auction of the Year title, and Carolina Auto Auction’s standout performance made them the clear winner.

“Carolina Auto Auction has been a trusted and valued partner, consistently delivering exceptional results through their professionalism, efficiency, and customer-first approach,” said Scott Mousaw, vice president of servicing operations at United Auto Credit. “Their team’s ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain the highest standards has played a critical role in our success. We are proud to recognize their dedication and look forward to continuing our partnership.” 

Vann Humphrey, general manager of Carolina Auto Auction, expressed appreciation for the recognition. “This award is a reflection of the commitment and passion our entire team brings every day,” said Humphrey. “We deeply value our partnership with United Auto Credit and remain dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to our consignors and buyers. Being recognized for the first time is an incredible honor, and we look forward to building on this success.”