National Residential Auctioneers provides customized auction services to sellers of quality residential real estate offering solutions designed for each individual property. We understand that every real estate asset enjoys its own unique physical and economic characteristics. Therefore, the ultimate success of selling your property calls for a selling strategy thoughtfully designed, carefully implemented, and thoroughly executed.
Our company is comprised of a team of real estate auction professionals with decades of experience and a proven history of successful selling real estate on behalf of clients representing all asset classes.
Stephen Karbelk, CAI, AARE, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Stephen is an auction industry leader. Having started his real estate career in 1990, Stephen has sold commercial and residential real estate for many regional and national banks as well as over a dozen US Bankruptcy Courts. In addition to his real estate experience, Stephen has sold intellectual property, commercial leases, receivables and commercial equipment at auction. Stephen is an active member of the National Auctioneers Association. In 2010, he was appointed to the Council on Future Practices, the industry think-tank group that was responsible for publishing the white paper predicting the future of the auction industry. Stephen is a frequent speaker at conferences, including being a featured speaker at the July 2011 National Auctioneers Association Conference & Show in Orlando, FL. Stephen is an instructor at the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, Mason City, Iowa. He holds multiple broker and auctioneering licenses.
Meg Vavrick, Chief Operating Officer, Auctioneer
Meg, a principal in the company, is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of auction activities for each sale. Having been in the real estate auction industry since 2004, she has played an integral role in the sale of various types of commercial real estate including office buildings, hotels, multi-family buildings, shopping centers, assisted living facilities, land and other special-purpose properties with an aggregate value of over $75 million. Meg is a graduate of Worldwide College of Auctioneering and holds multiple real estate licenses.
John Pellow, Chief Marketing Officer
John joined the company in 2009. He is responsible for corporate brand management and all aspects of marketing from strategy to implementation. Having spent over 20 years of his professional career in various aspects of auction, corporate and retail marketing, he is an expert in his field. Prior to joining the company, John was the Director of Marketing for the real estate auction and brokerage services firm, Williams & Williams, where he was responsible for all marketing aspects of the Commercial Real Estate, Farms and Ranches, and Premiere Properties divisions.
Stephanie Butler, Director of Marketing
Stephanie is responsible for implementing all auction marketing campaigns. She is also responsible for maintaining the company’s website & online bidding. She is an expert in our live auction software including registration, clerking, and multi-par auction system. Prior to working for the company, Stephanie worked as a Legal Assistant for over ten years, with a focus in the area of litigation, and transactional law. In addition to her legal experience, Stephanie has also taught legal assistant classes at a local business school. Stephanie graduated from Northeastern State University and holds her Oklahoma real estate license.
Rob Hart, Director of Business Development
Rob has been involved in the auction business for the past 6 years in many different capacities. Most recently he was at Williams & Williams, where he held multiple operational and sales positions. He has also been a member of the Barrett-Jackson auction staff for the past 3 years. He has a logistics and systems management background with an MBA from the University of Tulsa. Rob manages all aspects of our sales department by supporting the sales team and assisting them in growing their sales and by establishing the company training and on-boarding process.
Steve Sorrell, Director of National Sales
Steve is currently responsible for client relations and new business development. He helps manage our large auction projects and auction day implementation. He is a 17-year veteran of transportation equipment sales and was responsible for two different organizations being recognized as top-tier performers. His focus is to continue building valuable company-wide partnerships and implementation of large-portfolio auctions. Steve is a graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering and holds a real estate license in Oklahoma and an auction license in Louisiana. He attended Oklahoma State University.
Cort Lenz, Senior Project Manager
Cort is responsible for the operational management and implementation of the companies valuation department. He also assists with client movement and manages the operational process of several of our auctions. He joins the company team with more than six years of real estate auction and auction valuation experience. Previously, at the real estate auction and brokerage firm, Williams & Williams, Cort created and managed the Property Evaluation Department. He has held positions in the Tax Department of The Money Store, in the Valuation Department of Horizon Management Services/First Union, and provided Asset Management and Valuation Expertise to Aurora Loan Services and Lehman Brothers during a Real Estate Portfolio Purchase with HUD. Cort is a graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, MO and holds his Oklahoma real estate license.
Jan Dunham, Accounting Manager
Jan is responsible for the day-to-day finances, coordination and monitoring of various projects throughout the auction cycle. She manages the logistics of corporate travel, provides management reporting and maintains statistics and cost analysis. In addition, she assists in the development of operational processes, software enhancements, and marketing production activities. Jan’s career, prior to making the move to real estate five years ago, was focused in accounting, administrative management, and human resources for public and private oil and gas entities, accounting firms, and a major airline reservations center.
Max Vavrick, Auction Field Services
Max assists with auction coordination, prior to and throughout the auction. He researches target markets and is responsible for the distribution of marketing materials to property managers, brokers, realtors and bankers, as well as to the general public. He also hosts property inspections. Max handles general property management and is responsible for local sign installation. Max has previous experience in property management, owner-operator contractor work including signage and marketing, field service, and auction coordination work in the real estate industry.
Alanna James, Marketing Coordinator
Alanna joined the company in 2011. She provides new auction implementation services including direct mail, e-mail campaigns, press releases, property information packets, marketing reports, and the digital dataroom. Alanna holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from Baylor University and recently moved to Tulsa in 2010.
Calista Firor, Marketing Coordinator
Calista joined the company in 2011 and is responsible for new auction implementation services. This includes copywriting responsibilities, production and approval of digital & print media marketing, maintenance of property listings on key websites, and reporting marketing statistics. Prior to joining the company, Calista spent 6 years in community and church development at Crossroads Christian Church in Brooklyn, NY. Calista has extended experience in office management, collections, and hospitality. Calista graduated from Ozark Christian College in 2004.
Rachelle Murphy, MCAS, Marketing Coordinator
Rachelle joined the company in 2011 and focuses on the creation of signage and new business development materials, branding and photo editing. Rachelle is a member of The National Association of Photoshop Professionals and studied Web Design and New Media at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is a graduate of Tulsa Community College. Prior to joining the company, Rachelle spent 13 years assisting the leadership and sales teams at U.S. Cellular and John L. Scott Real Estate. Rachelle previously held an Oregon real estate license.
Paul Lynn, CCIM, Senior Vice President, Broker
Paul is based in Houston, TX and focuses on new business development, with a primary focus on Texas properties. Throughout his 20 year real estate career Paul has focused his expertise in real estate investment sales and leasing of all types of commercial, residential, and special purpose properties, with aggregate value totaling over $1 Billion. Paul is a frequent speaker, has had multiple articles published, and is widely quoted as an expert regarding the benefits of accelerated marketing via real estate auction methods. Paul received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Drake University. He is a licensed real estate broker in Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Florida, and Louisiana and a licensed auctioneer in Texas.
Fernando Palacios, Regional Vice President, Broker
Fernando manages the Mid-Atlantic office. Having been in the real estate industry since 1992, he has been involved in many types of real estate transactions including land development parcels and complex development transactions. Fernando’s responsibilities include project management, sale preparation and closing coordination. He is also responsible for new business development relationships in the Mid-Atlantic marketplace. Fernando holds a Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania broker’s license.
Christopher “Chris” Vaughan, Regional Vice President, Broker
Chris manages the California office. His experience includes 20 years as an executive a residential and commercial developer. Chris contracted and sold over 9,000 properties including multi-family rental, multi-family for-sale and single family for-sale homes across 9 western states. Chris also brings to National Commercial Auctioneers 12 years of general management, marketing & sales experience in the airline, hospitality and non-profit sectors. He earned a B.S. Degree in Finance at California State University, Long Beach, and an M.B.A. Degree in Real Estate & Urban Development from Golden Gate University, San Francisco. Chris is an alumnus of the World Wide College of Auctioneering and holds a California Real Estate Broker’s License.
Ken “Whitey” Mason, Vice President, Auctioneer, 2011 Oklahoma State Champion Auctioneer
Whitey has conducted over 6,500 auctions. Among his most recent accomplishments, Whitey was the lead auctioneer on several auction campaigns that sold for over $5,000,000 each. His mission is to understand and serve each client; bringing fresh insight, a comprehensive and strategic approach, and the utmost dedication to every auction from start to finish. Whitey is a longtime member of the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association, serving two years as President and three years on the Board of Directors. He also works at several automobile auctions in Texas and Oklahoma, and is a member of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction team in Scottsdale, AZ. Whitey graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1989.
Brent Wellings, Sales, Auctioneer, 2011 Oklahoma State Rookie Champion Auctioneer
Brent joined the company in March 2011 to manage buyer relations and assist in new business development. He is responsible for pursuing new business leads, managing auction projects, and auction-day strategic implementation. Brent is also a licensed auctioneer in Texas, and a real estate salesperson in Oklahoma. Prior to joining the company, Brent coached the Livestock Judging Team at Oklahoma State University and worked part-time as an auctioneer for Pickens Auctions. Brent graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2011 with a Masters Degree.
Steven Mathis, Vice President, Broker
Since 1997, Steven Mathis has been involved in both real estate and real estate auction industries. He has conducted managed highly structured and intricate transactions across the Southeastern United States representing both buyers and sellers. Mathis is a graduate of The University of Georgia and The Missouri Auction School. He is a licensed real estate broker and auctioneer in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
Rick Miller, Sales, Auctioneer
Rick is a graduate of Iowa State University and the Texas Auction Academy and has extensive experience in the auction business. His goal is to provide clients with solutions that meet their specific needs. Rick serves various clients ranging from community and regional banks, bankruptcy trustees, trust & estate attorneys, and individual sellers. His most notable auction to date is the liquidation of Arrow Trucking Company’s bankruptcy estate in Tulsa, OK. He holds an Oklahoma Real Estate License and is also an active member of the National Auctioneers Association and Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association.
Don Gabriel, CCIM, Sales, Broker
Don has 30+ years of real estate experience with a special emphasis in the area of institutional investment properties and portfolios. Don graduated from the University of California, is a licensed broker in the states of Kansas and Missouri, and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). Don’s professional career includes over 15 years as an executive/broker at the national level with CB Richard Ellis. He was responsible for implementation, marketing and disposition for assets contained in institutional portfolios.
David W. Taylor, Sales, Auctioneer
David is a Licensed Auctioneer in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. He is also a Licensed Real Estate Agent in South Carolina. David is a Graduate of Wyatt Real Estate School, Southeastern School of Auctioneering, and The Professional Ringman Institute. David retired from a 25-year career in law enforcement and is pursuing his second career in the real estate business. David is an active member of the National Real Estate Association, Spartanburg Board of Realtors, South Carolina Auctioneer Association and The National Auctioneers Association (NAA).
Stephen Kaler, CPA, Broker
Stephen brings more than 20 years of experience in distressed commercial loan and real estate portfolio management, valuation and sales to National Commercial Auctioneers. He started his career as a commercial real estate appraiser in the early 1990's appraising bank and RTC owned commercial real estate. He also spent more than 11 years as Sr. Mgr. & Director of nonperforming commercial loans, CREO, capital markets and whole-loan trading. With more than $1 billion of distressed debt and real estate transaction experience, he works closely with banks, special loan servicers and real estate funds throughout the country. Stephen is a Certified Public Accountant, a Florida Real Estate Broker of more than 14 years and an alumnus of Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University with majors in Real Estate, Finance and Accounting.
T. Randolph “Randy” Ligon, CAI, CES, BAS, Broker, Auctioneer
Randy has over 20 years of experience as a Commercial Realtor and Auctioneer and has lived in the Charlotte, NC area most of his life. Randy is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School and Clemson University and is a candidate for his CCIM designation. His professional career also includes working for the South Carolina National Bank and First Union National Bank as a trust officer and city executive. Randy is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Auctioneers Association. As an accomplished professional benefit auctioneer, Randy enjoys raising millions of dollars for worthy causes.
David A. Fiegel, CAI, CES, Broker, Auctioneer
David is the President of Blackbird Asset Services, LLC, a valuation and auction company providing asset recovery solutions to asset based lenders and distressed asset professionals. In 2010 he left a 14 ½ year relationship with GoIndustry DoveBid, and was most recently Vice President of Sales. In his twenty four years in the auction/appraisal business he has conducted or been involved in the coordination of numerous machinery and equipment and real estate sales, both private and public; involving the sale of commercial and industrial property and equipment. David is past Chapter President for the Upstate New York Turnaround Management Association (TMA), a member of the UNY TMA Board of Directors, a member of TMA International Board of Trustees, Past Chairman of the President’s Council for TMA International. David holds auctioneer and real estate broker licenses in various jurisdictions around the United States.
When we are assembling our team for auction day, we have some of the best bid assistants and auction day staff in the country. Your auction company is an extension of who you are and your property. Who you hire to represent you to facilitate a timely sale of your property is an important decision, and we are proud to know that you considering National Residential Auctioneers.
