Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame

 

Scott Sykora, MAA Hall of Fame Inductee 2024

Mt. Pleasant, MI. – Clare, Michigan, auctioneer Scott Sykora, who is in his 42nd year as a professional auctioneer with Sykora Auction Service, received the highest honor bestowed to the professional auctioneer. Sykora was inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. He is the 44th auctioneer inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Hall of Fame since its inception in 1951.

“Scott Sykora’s life has been intricately woven into the fabric of the auction industry. He is the torchbearer of a family tradition that spans generations. He has preserved and elevated the art of auctioneering,” said Executive Director and fellow Hall of Famer Tricia Wiltjer.

The story of Sykora Auction Service begins in 1948 when Jim Sykora, also a treasured member of the Hall of Fame, founded this institution. His son, Scott Sykora inherited a business and a rich legacy steeped in the tradition of excellence. Growing up within the family business, Scott learned the business from a young age, starting with the jewelry wagons and picking up bids. After graduating high school in 1981, he formalized his skills at Reppert’s Auction School.

In 1995, Scott married Julie, who became an integral part of the business, working alongside him in both the field and the office. Their union also marked the start of a family, a facet of life that Scott values deeply. As a father to three children, Ryan, Jayda, and Macy, and a cherished grandfather to four granddaughters, Scott proudly embraces the title of a family man.

In the journey of Sykora Auction Service, Scott Sykora’s commitment to excellence and the business’s success became evident when he brought John McConnell on board as an exceptional partner in 1996. Together, they formed a dynamic duo, steering the company towards new heights of success and setting the standard of professionalism within the auction industry.

What makes the Sykora legacy even more remarkable is the involvement of the next generation. The involvement of his daughters, Jayda and Macy, in the family business adds a unique and heartwarming dimension to the Sykora legacy, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds in the success of the company.

Established in 1951, the Michigan Auctioneers Association is dedicated to enhancing Michigan’s Auction Industry through education, promotion, advocacy, and networking. The MAA is the professional association for auctioneers in Michigan, continuing to be one of the leaders in the industry, and is proving to continue in that direction in the future.  The Michigan Auctioneers Association is the most significant representation of auctioneers in Michigan, providing a forum for networking, and sharing ideas and experiences.  For more information about the Michigan Auctioneers Association and the auction industry in Michigan, log onto www.FindMichiganAuctions.com.

###

 

Scott Sykora 2024 Inductee
Ray Tosch* 2023 Inductee
Kenny A. Lindsay, CAI, BAS 2022 Inductee
Brian L. Braun, CAI, GPPA 2020 Inductee
Frank C. Leist, CAI, AARE 2019 Inductee
Leroy Yoder 2018 Inductee
Calvin “Tink” Brown* 2018 Inductee
Jerry P. Cole, CAI 2017 Inductee
Willis Yoder 2017 Inductee
Daniel Burns* 2016 Inductee
Tricia D. Wiltjer 2016 Inductee
Michael W. Furlo, CAI, CAGA 2015 Inductee
Douglas J. Heuker, AARE, GPPA* 2015 Inductee
Martin “Barney” Barnhart* 2014 Inductee
Gwyn Besner, CAI, AARE 2014 Inductee
David G. Helmer, CAI, GPPA, CES 2014 Inductee
Wayne G. Blair, CAI, CAGA 2013 Inductee
Benjamin P. Glardon 2012 Inductee
Richard J. Montgomery, CAI, MPPA, CES 2012 Inductee
Hib Kuiper* 2011 Inductee
Timothy H. Narhi, CAI, GPPA, CES 2010 Inductee
Steven L. Reeser, CAI, AARE, GPPA* 2010 Inductee
Scott A. Miedema, ISA 2009 Inductee
Edward G. King, CAI, CAGA* 2008 Inductee
Jerry Helmer, CAI, AARE 2007 Inductee
Art Smith 2007 Inductee
Lee Smittendorf, CAI, AARE 2006 Inductee
Sid Miedema, Jr, CAI 2005 Inductee
William L. Sheridan, CAI, AARE, GPPA 2003 Inductee
Thomas H. Wiltjer, CAI, AARE, GPPA* 2002 Inductee
James Sykora* 2001 Inductee
Brent Belcher* 2000 Inductee
Herbert Albrecht 2000 Inductee
C.B. Smith* 1999 Inductee
William Podell* 1999 Inductee
Lloyd R. Braun, CAI* 1998 Inductee
Edward L. Belcher* 1997 Inductee
Leo “Red” Merritt* 1997 Inductee
John M. Glassman* 1995 Inductee
Donald C. Diesing* 1995 Inductee
Richard Brodie* 1994 Inductee
William O. Coats* 1994 Inductee
Garth W. Wilber, CAI* 1993 Inductee
Stan Perkins* 1992 Inductee

* Deceased.

Would you like to nominate someone for the MAA Hall of Fame?
Download Nomination Form HERE.

Michigan Auctioneers Association
4529 Gibbs NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
Ph: 616/785-8288
info@msaa.org