Five remarketing industry professionals received top honors at the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) with the awarding of the 2016 Consignor of the Year, Remarketer of the Year, Industry Leadership Award, and the Ed Bobit Icon awards.

The awards were presented during the show on March 16 and 17 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Bob Graham, retired vice president of remarketing for ARI, was awarded the Industry Leadership Award by Bobit Business Media.

Graham was humbled by the award and included in the ranks of previous recipients.

"As part of IARA, I got a voice and platform to be involved in key industry moments," Graham said. 

The award recognized Graham for his leadership as past president of the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) and his contribution to the remarketing industry.

"The Industry Leadership Award was created to recognize an individual who has demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively with a wide cross-section of industry participants by leading initiatives for the betterment of the remarketing industry," said Mike Antich, CAR conference chairman. "The award is not an annual award, but one that we bestowed, as justified, to an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership achievements in the remarketing industry."

This year, Levi McCoy, director of remarketing for LeasePlan USA, was named the 2016 Consignor of the Year. The award is sponsored by Bobit Business Media, publisher of Automotive Fleet and the Vehicle Remarketing Reporter.

"This is a very special moment for me and LeasePlan USA," McCoy said. "Our company is very involved with the industry and we will continue to be involved. It's a very exciting industry to be a part of."

The winner is selected by remarketing industry professionals, recognizing industry leaders who have:

• Implemented and encouraged the use of best practices.

• Created, embraced, and implemented industry innovations.

• Moved the industry forward with professionalism and the highest standards.

• Willingly shared expertise and skills to advance the industry.

• Participated in industry associations and groups.

• Served as mentors and/or role models in developing the next generation of remarketing professionals.

Lynn Weaver, general manager of America’s Auto Auction Harrisburg, was named the 2016 Remarketer of the Year.

Weaver recounted his 40 plus years in the industry and the first conference that was held in conjunction with the independent auction group. 

"There are many changes in the industry, but it's really all about the people that you meet and that you work with," said Weaver. 

The Remarketer of the Year award recognizes an individual in the remarketing industry for his or her outstanding efforts in encouraging the use of best practices and embracing innovations while moving the industry forward with professionalism and the highest standards. Also, the recipient actively shares expertise and skills to advance the industry, participates in industry associations and groups, and serves as a mentor or role model in developing the next generation of remarketing professionals.

On March 16, the Ed Bobit Industry Icon award was presented to Tom Webb, chief economist for Cox Automotive, and Tom Kontos, EVP and chief economist for ADESA. They were recognized for their contributions to the industry, their analyses of market conditions, price reporting and forecasting.

On hand to present the winners with their awards were NAAA's president Mike Browning, NAAA CEO Frank Hackett, Tony Long (IARA) and CAR president Jeannie Chiaromonte.  

The Ed Bobit Industry Icon award was created in honor of the late Ed Bobit, who was the posthumous inaugural winner in 2015.