I’ve been in the auction industry for more than three decades.

Today I serve as Partner and Chief Marketing & Technology Officer at Grafe Auction Company, a nationally recognized leader conducting nearly 300 commercial and industrial online auctions annually across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing.

I served as the 76th President of the National Auction Association (2024–2025) and currently serve as Board Chair. Before that, I served as the 60th President of the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association. I hold the CAI (Certified Auctioneers Institute) and AMM (Auction Marketing Management) designations.

I live in southern Minnesota with my wife Billie Jo and our daughter Anna Claire.

What I Write About

Most of my writing circles a few recurring themes:

  • Leadership and decision-making in small, high-trust organizations
  • Authenticity and vulnerability as competitive advantages (not just soft skills)
  • Pattern recognition across history, business, and everyday life
  • Technology and AI applied practically to traditional industries
  • The gap between knowing and doing, and what it takes to close it

The essays here started as handwritten thought cards, index-card-sized observations I jot down after conversations, books, or long drives. Some stay as thought cards. Others grow into longer pieces when the ideas connect in ways I didn’t expect.

Speaking

I speak regularly at auction conferences, auction schools, and industry events on AI adoption, digital marketing, ethics, and leadership. Occasionally I get invited outside the auction world to talk about AI for other traditional industries. See the full list of recent engagements.

Connect