XLerate Auction Group and America's Auto Auction are moving leaders into new roles following a major acquisition deal, according to recent news releases:

XLerate, also the parent company of Auction Credit Enterprises (ACE), XLerate Auctions and XL Funding (XLF), named Chris Burton in February as president of Auction Credit Enterprises and XL Funding, bringing both floor plan finance companies under common leadership. Burton previously served as chief operating officer of ACE, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Burton helped ACE grow its footprint from five to 14 markets served and enhanced the customer experience by establishing a dealer portal. These efforts led to a three-fold increase in ACE’s loan portfolio and six-fold increase in their earnings.

Burton is a CPA with a B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University and an M.S. in accounting from the University of Texas-Dallas. He began his career in public accounting, managing the America’s Auto Auction financial statement audit for four years. He continued his work at KPMG assisting private equity and strategic clients on both buy-side and sell-side engagements in a wide variety of financial advisory services and joined the AAA organization in 2015.

Last month, the company hired Sawyer Walker as director of national sales for their combined wholesale automotive company. Walker started in the auction industry as a sales representative with the Brasher’s family auctions. Throughout the next decade, he continued his growth in the industry with regional and national sales management positions, joining America’s in 2021.

XLerate also announced Melissa Miller as director of marketing and Kaetlin Sherk as national sales manager, which took effect immediately on March 15.

“Melissa Miller has worked in the auction industry for more than 26 years,” said Chuck Tapp, executive vice president of AAA, in a news release. “She’s been a noteworthy leader at America’s Auto Auction Kansas City – growing from managing dealer sales to marketing manager – successfully leading their sales promotions, public relations, and advertising team.”

Kaetlin Sherk, who joins AAA as national sales manager, has also risen in the ranks of the auction arena from driver and block clerk to fleet/lease manager and GSM at Columbus Fair Auto Auction.

“I realized early on that I had a passion for connecting with customers as well as an eye for analyzing data and spotting trends to help customers increase retention values and sales percentages,” Sherk said. “During my time at Columbus Fair, I focused on using these same tools to penetrate our dealer market and maximize market share.”

Pat Dudash, senior vice president of sales at AAA, said, “Kaetlin built a top-performing sales and marketing team at Columbus Fair by focusing on client relationships and leveraging our company’s national brand presence to increase their commercial consignment. We look forward to that same energy and success on a national level.”