Rogers, Rose Bytnar win 2017 NAA International Auctioneer Championship

COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 14, 2017) Emerging from an overall field of 93 competitors, Dustin Rogers, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, and Sara Rose Bytnar, of Naples, Florida, were crowned as winners of the Men's and Women's National Auctioneers Association 30th International Auctioneer Championship, which took place Friday at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. Rogers, CAI, CAS, and Bytnar, CAI, AARE, AMM, received a $5,000 cash award, trophy and championship ring for their winning efforts through the preliminary bid-calling round, an interview round consisting of three questions, and a final round of bid-calling that included the top 15 men and seven women. In the two divisions, 73 men and 20 women competed for the right to be known as one of the best auction professionals in the world. The lead Auctioneer for CAT Auction Services, where he specializes in selling heavy equipment and has done so in 18 states and seven foreign countries, Rogers won the North Carolina bid-calling championship in 2008 before participating in his first IAC competition in 2009. His 2017 win capped a magical two days for his family, as his father, Mark, was inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame Thursday night. Behind Rogers, Brian Damewood, of Purcellville, Virginia, finished as runner-up, while Jerick Miller, of Leon, Iowa, rounded out the top three as second runner-up among a stout group of 15 men's finalists. Rose Bytnar finished second last year to her mother, Beth Rose, by one-tenth of one point, and made the 2017 championship a three-generation event as she brought her two-month-old daughter to the competition and conference. Bytnar began competing in IAC in 2012 and won the Florida bid-calling championship in 2015. She has grown up with four female auctioneers in her family to guide and mentor her, which has led to achievements such as being named the CAI Rose Award recipient in 2012. Chantel Kimball, CAI, of Eltopia, Washington, took runner-up, a fantastic follow-up to a second runner-up showing in the 2016 IAC. Morgan Hopson, CAI, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was second runner-up to complete the top three and put the wraps on a fiercely competitive women's field including seven finalists. Earlier in the evening, Kendall Nisly, of Kirksville, Missouri, was crowned winner of the 2017 International Junior Auctioneer Championship, which features competitors ages 12-18 and helps cultivate and promote the next generation of auction professional talent. Also during the IAC competition, which was streamed live throughout the day on Facebook Live, YouTube, and Twitter, the Chuck Cumberlin Sportsmanship, awarded to the IAC competitor who shows the best sportsmanship, was given to John Beechy, of Nappanee, Indiana. The Bob Steffes Rising Star Award was given to Frances Fripp, BAS, of Mississauga, Ontario (Canada). Fripp drove more than 850 miles round trip the day and night before the IAC in order to help her sick auction partner complete an auction before returning in time to compete. Both the IAC and IJAC were conducted as part of the NAA's 68th Annual International Auctioneers Conference and Show, which took place in Columbus this past week. IAC contestants must be 18 years of age or older, a current NAA member, and registered for Conference and Show. Both the IAC and IJAC were conducted as part of the NAA's 68th Annual International Auctioneers Conference and Show, which took place in Columbus this past week. IAC contestants must be 18 years of age or older, a current NAA member, and registered for Conference and Show.