NAAA Posthumously Presents Don Meadows with the
2014 Industry Pioneer Award
BOSTON, Mass. — Don Meadows was posthumously presented the National Auto Auction Association Industry Pioneer Award during 66th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition. Accepting the award was Don’s wife, Shannon and his daughter Lucy Meadows.
Mr. Meadows, was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Auto Auction Services Corp. (AASC) when he died Dec. 10, 2012, and a long supporter and key individual in the auto auction and remarketing industries. He had earned the NAAA Marie Hingst Exhibitor of the Year Award in 2009 during the NAAA annual convention.
The Industry Pioneer Award is given to persons who have
worked in the wholesale motor vehicle industry and/or NAAA. The award is presented to individuals who have brought innovation and enhanced methods of improving services to remarketers through NAAA member auctions.
Raymond C. Nichols, CEO of BSC America Companies, which owns auto auctions in Maryland and Florida as well as other remarketing-related firms, said he was honored to present the award to Mr. Meadows.
“I was fortunate to have been closely involved in 1998, in the recruiting of Don for the AASC position along with Larry Brasher and several others from the auto auction industry,” Nichols said. “Don was hired in 1998 to start and create the company, lead the development and the operations of the company. He, ultimately, became CEO. Those were interesting and sometimes challenging times, and it took a very diplomatic and knowledgeable person to lead, develop and build that industry-owned entity.
AASC was created in 1998 to connect the wholesale market through Internet technology and to offer “Cyberlots,” so that remarketers could connect with buyers virtually anywhere at any time. With the Internet still in relative infancy, Meadows helped to grow the technology partner to the remarketing industry into the robust set of industry-leading collection of online applications it is today, including AutoIMS, RecoverIMS and MyLocalAuction.
Prior to leading AASC Mr. Meadows spearheaded the remarketing group at Donlen Corp. Known for his infectious positive attitude and tireless efforts in support of the auto auction and remarketing industries, he was honored by the NAAA at the time of his passing.
NAAA’s leadership said it is proud to present this award to Mr. Meadows.
“Don led by example,” said NAAA Chief Executive Officer Frank Hackett. “He was always willing to do whatever it took to solve problems and make our industry and its processes more efficient and profitable for all involved. Don was a family man, avid cyclist and balanced his interests and activities with a busy schedule as the President and CEO of AASC. He is missed.”
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