Lori Kiko - International Auctioneer Champion

Introducing ... The National Auctioneers Association International Auctioneer Champions


The National Auctioneers Association, Inc.
8880 Ballentine                              Phone: (913) 541-8084
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Congratulations to Andy Dunning and Lori Kiko, 1997 Auctioneer Champions

The states of Ohio and Texas have something to crow about once again — they have produced the International Auctioneer Champions for the second year in a row.

Lori Kiko of Canton, Ohio, and Andy Dunning of Dallas, Texas, won the Women’s Division and Men’s Division titles July 16 at NAA’s Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

This year’s contest, which celebrated the championship’s 10th year, was extremely large. Nearly 100 people — 75 men and 23 women — vied for the title.

Andy Dunning
Dallas, Texas

Andy Dunning isn’t one to turn away from a challenge.

He took one, after all, from his father, and look where it’s led him — to the 1997 International Auctioneer Championship, Men’s Division, title.

Dunning, 26, had at one time been an oil and gas broker, but decided that life just wasn’t for him —he wasn’t enjoying the stress and pressure.

His father, who had been in the antiques business for 15 years, suggested a career in auctioneering in the form of a challenge.

Dunning attended auction school and then earned his auctioneer’s license. His father and brother soon earned auctioneer licenses as well.

Dunning said there was another reason he looked to auctioneering as a career.

"I got into the auction profession because it’s a good family oriented business," he said.

Winning the International Auctioneer Championship came right after Dunning won another contest — the Texas State Championship.

"Becoming the International Auctioneer Champion on the heels of earning the Texas State Champion Auctioneer title is an incredible honor," he said. Among his plans for the year are to introduce "more people to the auction business — both customers and those interested in the profession."

Dunning serves on the board of directors of the Texas Auctioneers Association.

He conducts a variety of auctions, including antique and collectibles, auto and charity auctions. His family recently began work to build an on-line antiques and collectibles auction company.

"Making auctions available on the Internet is the cutting edge of the auction marketing method," Dunning said.

During his championship reign, Dunning will act as a goodwill ambassador for the auction industry, which includes promoting NAA’s official charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The NAA made a $1 million pledge to the Memphis, Tenn., hospital and through the "Get SOLD on St. Jude Kids" program NAA members hare raised more than $360,000 thus far.

Dunning will also travel across the country presenting seminars at state auctioneers association conventions and promoting the auction method of marketing to the general public through the media.

Lori Kiko
Canton, Ohio

When Lori Kiko looked for an inspiration, she didn’t have to look very far.

She found a mentor in her dad, Richard T. Kiko, CAI.

And before him was another person to draw inspiration from — a grandfather who built a life in the auction business.

Kiko, of Canton, Ohio, now could be inspiration for someone else. She won the 1997 International Auctioneer Championship, Women’s Division, title July 16 in Nashville, Tenn.

In some respects, Kiko was born to be an auctioneer. She is the first third-generation auctioneer in a family auction business started by her grandfather and staffed by her father, uncles, brother, sisters and cousins.

The first female auctioneer in her family, Kiko works with the Russ Kiko Associates, Inc., auction company and manages the real estate division for Richard T. Kiko Agency, Inc. The auction firm conducts more than 650 auctions each year throughout Ohio.

Kiko shadowed her father for three years — she said she became his right-hand person and followed him everywhere, going to his appointments with him.

"It was the best education I could have ever gotten," she said. "I look to him for advice."

Kiko looks back and says she thinks she wanted to be an auctioneer nearly all her life. Especially interested in real estate, she would tag along with her father as a youngster and look at different properties.

Today, she loves what she does.

"How can you not like it when you have an auction and you see people happy?" she said. "It’s great when there is a couple who had an interest in a house...and when they get that final bid, they are so happy and they hug and cry. I have to hold back tears.

"It’s just so good to see them so happy and then to see the seller happy."

Kiko strongly supports the auction method of marketing as a highly profitable way of turning seller’s property into cash.

"Auctions provide the most attention, competition and earn the most amount of money in the least amount of time, ultimately reaching the seller’s goal," she said.

During her championship reign, Kiko will act as a goodwill ambassador for the auction industry, which includes promoting NAA’s official charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The NAA made a $1 million pledge to the Memphis, Tenn., hospital and through the "Get SOLD on St. Jude Kids" program NAA members hare raised more than $360,000 thus far.

Kiko will also travel across the country presenting seminars at state auctioneers association conventions and promoting the auction method of marketing to the general public through the media.