Bryan Knox, of Decatur, AL recently won the men’s division of National Auctioneer’s Association’s International Auctioneer Championship.  He and the winner of the female division, Denise Shearin, CES, of Brandywine, MD, were honored from among 92 contestants in the event in July in San Diego, CA.  Contestants were judged on the clarity, speed and rhythm of their chant, plus their appearance, poise, body language and eye contact with the crowd.  After a day-long preliminary competition, the field of 92 was narrowed to seven women and 15 men finalists who once again showcased their bid-calling skills and underwent an interview process.  Knox, a Christian pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Mt. Olive, AL, said he was blessed to have won.  “I view myself as a full-time Auctioneer and a full-time pastor,” he said. “For example, I am sometimes visit a church member in the hospital and then stop nearby at the bank to talk with someone about an auction. I blend both careers.”

Knox began his auction career in 1998 doing auto auctions. In 1999 he graduated from Nashville Auction School and began to pursue a career in real estate auctions that has proven rewarding.  He was the 2001 Alabama Bid Calling Champion.  Knox said a key to his win in the IAC this year was to relax and treat it like a regular auction, focusing on clarity and good performance. He also regularly reads NAA publications to stay informed on industry and association issues, which helped him in the interview question section of the contest, he said.

Knox, 38, is single. He has a daughter, 16. This year was his third time to participate in the IAC. He had not made it in to the final before, and this year went straight to the win.  “I just wanted to have fun and connect with the audience this year,” he said. “I really felt comfortable,” he said.  The whole contest was broadcast in video and audio live on www.NAALIVE.com.