The Auction Academy is expanding its training to include commercial and government fleet managers, commercial account representatives, and dealers for the first time in its five years of existence, the continuing education organization has announced.

"We have successfully expanded and diversified each Class Group to date, and this is a logical progression in a move to include all industry groups that participate in wholesale automotive remarketing," said Pierre Pons, the academy's CEO. "This grew from interest in the coursework from different segments of the industry."

The academy offers two-year programs training and development experience for auction professionals taught by a faculty of expert practitioners around the country. The curriculum includes site visits, field trips and work with industry experts in all areas of auction operations.

Enrollment is currently open for Class 5, the next two- year program that involves one training session per quarter. This course gives participants an overview of the auto auction process, and includes visits to multiple auction sites throughout the curriculum as well as presentations by industry experts in various aspects of the auction and remarketing process.

"So much information is shared among the student participants that a more diverse class group will further enhance and elevate the experience for everyone," said Penny Wanna, the academy's president. "We truly feel the addition of Commercial Account and Dealer participants to the group will continue to make Auction Academy a very unique training and learning experience."

Since its founding in 2012, the academy has offered training to all levels of staff at independent auctions as well as participants from Manheim and ADESA. Other attendees have come from related industry services such as transport companies, reconditioning services companies and floor plan companies.