2006 IAC winners: John Nicholls and Barbara Bonnette

Orlando, FL - John Nicholls of Fredericksburg, VA won the Men's Division and Barbara Bonnette, CAI, AARE, GPPA, of Alexandria, LA won the Women's Division of the 2006 International Auctioneer Championship at the 57th International Auctioneers Conference and Show in Orlando, FL on Friday, July 14.

The auctioneers each won a $10,000 cash prize and trophy, and become the spokespersons for the National Auctioneers Association in media appearances and travel to state auctioneer associations over the next year. They won from among 91 contestants.

"To be honored with this award is the highlight of my life," said Nicholls, who specializes in automobiles and real estate. He competed in the IAC in 2000 and has been in the industry for 16 year.

Bonnette said "I am truly honored and will uphold this with the utmost integrity." She specializes in real estate and business liquidations, and has been in the industry 19 years. Bonnette has competed in the IAC each year since 1998.


The men's runners up were: First runner up C.D. "Butch" booker of Colfax, WA; second runner up was Troy Orr, of Ypsilanti, ND.

The women's runners up were: First runner up Terri Walker, CES, of Memphis, TN; second runner up JoEllen Taylor, CAI, of Orlando, FL.

Seven women finalists were chosen from among 24 contestants in the women's division. Fifteen men finalists were chosen from among 67 in the men's division.

Among the finalists were the husband-and-wife team of Rose Backs and Matthew Backs are from Post Falls, ID; brothers Matt Moravec, of Lincoln, NE, and Trev Moravec, of David City, NE; the brother-sister duo of Mark Younger and Anita Espy were finalists, and the uncle-niece set of C.D. "Butch" Booker and Camille Booker of Washington State.

The women finalists were: Rose Backs of Post Falls, ID; Barbara Bonnette, CAI, AARE, GPPA, of Alexandria, LA; Camille Booker, of Eltopia, WA; Anita Espy, of Maryville, Mo; Denise Shearin, of Brandywine, MD; JoEllen Taylor, of Orlando, FL; and Terri Walker, of CES, of Memphis, TN.

The men's finalists were: Tim Assiter, of Floydada, TX; Matthew Backs, of Post Falls, ID; C.D. "Butch" Booker, of Colfax, WA; Eli Detweiler, of Eli Detweiler Jr., CAI, of Ruffin, NC; James Devin Ford, of London, KY; Bryce Hansen, of Prairie Farm, WI; Doug Heuker, of Lake City, MI; Monte Lowderman of Macomb, IL; Paul McCartan, of West Bend, IA; Matt Moravec, of Lincoln, NE; Trev Moravec, of David City, NE; John Nicholls, of Fredericksburg, VA; Troy Orr, of Ypsilanti, ND; Willis Yoder, of Shipshewana, IN; Mark Younger, of Maryville, MO.

Contestants are judged on presentation, chant and voice qualities, body language and other elements of effective auctioneering. Thirty-one of the 91 contestants this year were first-time contestants.