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TJ Freije wins International Auctioneer Championship
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Emerging from an overall field of 94 competitors, TJ Freije, of Clayton, and Beth Rose, of Maumee, Ohio, were crowned as winners of the men's and women's National Auctioneers Association 29th International Auctioneer Championship, recently at the DeVos Place Convention Center.
Freije is the 29th man to win the IAC and the first man from Indiana. IAC champions are considered to be the "best of the best" within the auction industry.
From livestock and auto auctioneers, to real estate and benefit auctioneers, each auctioneer competes against fellow professionals to be crowned an IAC champion. IAC contestants must be 18 years of age or older, a current NAA member, and registered for conference.
Seven judges score the contest, with final scores determined by combining the interview score (40 percent of the total) and the bid-calling score (60 percent of the total).
The IAC was established in 1988.
Richard "TJ" Freije is a third-generation auction professional and won the Indiana state bid-calling championship in 2005. He topped a fiercely competitive overall men's field and finals group, coming in ahead of runner-up Dustin Rogers, CAI, of Mount Airy, N. C., who finished second for the second year in a row. Justin Croy of Culver, Ind., finished third.
"I would like to thank all of the people who have invested, supported, and helped me," Freije said. "Not only with this achievement, but in life. This association means so much more than a championship to me. I am humbled and honored to be able to serve as an Ambassador for the National Auctioneers Association for the next year."
Freije resides in Clayton, Indiana with his wife Joellyn, son Tyce and daughter Kylie. He is the president and lead auctioneer at Freije & Freije Auctions & Marketing, LLC located in Clayton.
Freije is also an auctioneer for Barrett-Jackson, Adesa, Indianapolis Car Exchange, National Powersport Auction, Auto Dealers Exchange, Martin & Martin Auctioneers and Make-a-Wish.
For more information, visit www.freijeauctioneers.com or call (317) 539-2895.