Ritchie Brothers Executive Accepts NAA Board Position
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Longly
NAA Public Affairs
(913) 541-8084 ext. 31
Ritchie Brothers Executive Accepts NAA Board Position
Overland Park, KS - NAA President Tommy Williams, CAI, announced today the addition of Ritchie Bros. Senior Vice President Rob Whitsit to the Board of Directors. During the 58th International Auctioneers Conference and Show, NAA members voted in approval of Article VI which allows the President to appoint one additional board member to serve on the Board of Directors. As a voting member of the Board of Directors, the member may or may not be a member of the association and their term shall last for one year.
An NAA member, Mr. Whitsit began his auction career in 1978 as a General Partner with Forke Auction Company in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he eventually rose to the rank of CEO. In 1999, Ritchie Brothers purchased Forke Auction Company and Rob transitioned over to the company as a Vice President. Mr. Whitsit became a Senior Vice President in 2003 and is charged with the responsibilities of managing the company's East Coast operations. Mr. Whitsit is also a member of the publicly trade company's executive council.
"Rob is passionate about the future of the industry and the NAA," said NAA President Tommy Williams. "The experience and the knowledge he has gained throughout his career will help shape the future of the industry."
"This is a serious industry and it needs a strong voice," said Mr. Whitsit. "I hope my 'bottom-to-top' experience from running a small auction company, to leading the world's largest industrial auction company will help strengthen the voice of the industry and its future."
Licensed in eight states, Mr. Whitsit is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, as well as a graduate of Nashville Auction School. Rob and his wife, Peggy, live in Atlanta, and have four children and two grandchildren.
# # #
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE: RBA) conducts over 300 unreserved industrial and agricultural auctions every year, and has over 110 offices in more than 25 countries, including 37 auction sites worldwide. To learn more about Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, visit http://www.rbauction.com.
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) represents the interests of almost 6,000 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. In 2006, the auction industry grew by 7.1% with over $257 billion in goods and services sold. To learn more about Auctioneers, auctions and the NAA, visit: www.auctioneers.org