Bid to be state's top auctioneer is winner

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 27, 2007 | by DEBBIE KELLEY THE GAZETTE

Mike Heitmann works the crowd like a Hollywood star on the red carpet. He scans the audience, his gaze acknowledging and confident. His body moves in sync with his rapid-fire words.

"Who'll give me $1,050? One thousand-fifty. One thousand-fifty. I've got $1,025. One thousand-fifty? If you're done, I gotta be. SOLD!" Heitmann declared at an estate auction in Kiowa last Saturday.

For his stage presence, chant, salesmanship and expertise in the field, the Colorado Auctioneers Association this month selected Heitmann as the 2007 state auctioneering champion. Heitmann, a 27- year auctioneering veteran from Colorado Springs, doesn't take the award lightly.

"We work hard on our technique all year, and your fellow auctioneers judge you. This is a real honor," Heitmann said.

He's been second runner-up once and first runner-up twice in this competition. When judges asked Heitmann why he should claim this year's title, he said because he would champion the profession with the same enthusiasm of a beauty pageant winner.

"There are a lot of nuances, a lot of tricks to this trade," he said. "It's a competitive industry, but once you find your niche, it's a lot of fun."

Del Schwab, general manager of Adamcyk LLC auction house based in Elizabeth, said Heitmann is at the top of his game.

"He's consistently really good," Schwab said, "and this award opens up all kinds of opportunities."

Heitmann started auctioneering as a freshman in college in Montana, attending auctions with his dad, an oil field and farm- equipment salvage man. He received on-thejob training and found he had a knack for talking fast, reading the crowd and knowing the value of merchandise such as old farm equipment, livestock, antiques, furniture and trash turned treasure.

Auctioneering was put on hold when Heitmann joined the Marines and became a pilot for eight years. He then bought his dad's salvage business in Montana and raised cattle and horses.

Colorado Springs became his second home in 2001 when, as a reservist, he was reactivated to duty at Peterson Air Force Base. He continues to work for Homeland Security at U.S. Northern Command/ NORAD as an aerospace operations watch officer.

But the draw to auctioneering was strong. Heitmann formed his own company, MH Bar Enterprises, and became an independent contractor for prominent auction houses, including Ross Auction, Holt & Associates and Ed Kovitz & Associates.

He's worked sales at The Broadmoor, livestock sales, estate sales, government surplus sales and charity benefit auctions.

"I love the interaction with the people," he said. "An auction is a social event where people come to see if they can get a bargain."

That's why Dennis Potter of Elizabeth went to the estate sale in Kiowa last week, despite the frigid weather and falling snow.

"I look for just about anything, and today I got a big bundle of firewood for five bucks," he said.

The popularity of online auction house eBay hasn't diminished interest in the real thing, Heitmann said. Today's hot auction markets are handcrafted Western art, construction equipment and real estate, he said.

"People understand auctions," Heitmann said. "It's one of the most effective forms of marketing, if you want your items to bring what they're worth."

Heitmann plans to open an auction house near Ellicott, east of Colorado Springs, and specialize in agriculture and farm sales. His wife helps with his schedule of about 30 auctions a year, and their two sons are interested in the business.

"You have to really know your stuff. You get to where you recognize something of quality, whether it's jewelry, furniture, antiques, guns, glass, china, pottery, silver," Heitmann said.

Throw in some humor with the product knowledge, sound business ethics and the ability to interact with buyers, and you've got a top- notch auctioneer.

"Good auctioneers get the best price for the product. They know how to read people and when to keep going and when to stop," Heitmann said.

He proudly wears the silver belt buckle he received as state champion and in July will compete in the national contest in San Diego.

"Mike will go far in this business," Schwab predicts. "He knows how to sell."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0235 or debbie.kelley@gazette.com

ONLINE > Slideshow

Watch Mike Heitmann conduct a recent auction in Kiowa. gazette.com/interactives