Hall of Fame

In 2003 the MAA moved to establish the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association “HALL OF FAME” to forever recognize and honor those auctioneers whose continuous support of the MAA, outstanding leadership and labors have helped to shape and direct our auction industry and will have an everlasting influence upon us all.

Each year nominations for this prestigious award are accepted by the MAA Board of Directors. The Board then considers each nominee’s list of credentials and selects a candidate for induction.

2016 Hall Of Fame Inductee

Paul T. Zekos

“To remember and honor all of the auctioneers before us who have developed and maintained the structure of the MAA from its infancy, who gave us a positive path to follow in the auction industry and a guide to us to the future and to thank each and every one of them for their service and commitment to our industry, we will be forever grateful.”

Paul T. Zekos is the President of the Zekos Group Auctioneers located in Shrewsbury Massachusetts. His fascination with auctions started as a child and at age 13 Paul was called a “Whiz Kid” in a Boston feature article. It was not long before the public was coming to see the mini-auctioneer. At the age of 15, a cover story in a New England publication referred to Zekos as “one of the youngest and most effective auctioneers in the country”. Paul has since turned that fascination and passion into a profession.

He has committed his entire life to the profession of auctioneering and has been a great ambassador for the industry. During his 30 years as a licensed auctioneer, he has served as President of the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association and is currently a member of its Board of Directors. He was also honored to be chosen as a Massachusetts Auction Champion.

Interesting endeavors during the course of his career include the sales of Worcester City Hospital, Thom McCann Corporate Headquarters and the estate of famed businessman Anthony “Spag” Borgatti. Paul has worked alongside noted celebrities like Kelly Ripa, Bon Jovi, Ethan Hawke, Seth Meyers, Rachel Ray and Whoopi Goldberg where he has raised tens of millions of dollars for charity.

He continues to work enthusiastically as an auctioneer specializing in real estate auctions and charity events.

2015 Hall Of Fame Inductee

Paul L. Maglio, USPAP

Paul L. Maglio, USPAP, appraiser and president of Storage Auction Solutions, Inc., is celebrating his 13th year as an auctioneer, and currently holds Auction licenses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and New York. Mr. Maglio and his company have earned a reputation as one of the leaders in the Self Storage and Moving auctions industry throughout New England. They have performed more than 14,000 auctions and sold more than 200,000 storage units over the past ten years.

Mr. Maglio is currently a director on the board of the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association and is a past Vice President. His company has won awards for Advertising, and Paul was awarded the Massachusetts Bid Calling Championship in 2007. Paul is the senior Appraiser, Auctioneer and Director for Strategic Auction Alliance. He is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Doyle Real Estate, handling both residential and commercial properties throughout the North Shore of Boston, and he has been a guest instructor with the Draper Auction Academy.

Prior to becoming an auctioneer, Paul was an FAA licensed Aircraft Mechanic for Eastern Airlines for 12 years on the flight line, receiving several awards for his service. He was also privileged to assist and lead emergency repairs on Air Force One at Logan Airport several times throughout his career.

Mr. Maglio was the President and owner of USA Speedy Auto and Tire Center in Peabody, MA for 14 years. He was also involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America Troop 13 Ipswich for the past 12 years, and proudly saw his son Luke achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Presently Paul is a Flotilla Staff Officer for USCG Aux Flotilla 46 Gloucester MA, in charge of Vessel Exams, and he is certified for teaching the Safe Boating Class. Paul was also recently honored by the USCG Division 4 with a Distinguished Service Award for his accomplishments.

2014 Hall Of Fame Inductee

Dale Schaetzke, CAI, AARE

Dale W. Schaetzke, CAI, AARE, President of Auction Marketing Group, Inc., is celebrating his 17th year as an auctioneer, and currently holds auction licenses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Mr. Schaetzke and his company, “AMG”, have earned a reputation for excellence, having conducted many successful luxury, residential, commercial and foreclosure property auctions from Maine to Pennsylvania.

Mr. Schaetzke was MAA’s 2014 President serving his second consecutive term, and fourth total, as President. Over the past 14 years Dale has also served two terms as our Treasurer, as well as many terms as Director. His auction company has won many State Wide Auction Awards, including Best Newspaper Advertising (2011), Best Brochures or Direct Mail Marketing (2004, 2008 & 2010) and Auction Photography (2005). Also, Mr. Schaetzke is one of only four Massachusetts auctioneers that hold both the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) and Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate (AARE) designations from the National Auctioneers Association.

Dale is a licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker, Realtor®, Broker/Owner of AMG Properties, a Certified Massachusetts Real Estate Instructor, and regular guest lecturer with Draper Auction Academy.
Prior to becoming involved in the Auction Industry, Dale worked for the (FDIC) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation during the banking crisis of the early 1990’s and before that, as Office Sales Manager for Coldwell Banker Residential RE.

Mr. Schaetzke is an active member of his community and serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals in his hometown of Shrewsbury.

2013 Hall Of Fame Inductees

John P Economou, CAI

John Economou, CAI founder and CEO of LuJohn’s Enterprises, Inc. & Lujohns Auction Group, LLC. is celebrating his 19th year as an auctioneer and holds Auction licenses in Massachusetts and Florida.

Mr. Economou (51) is the youngest MAA member to date inducted into the HOF. He is a past 3 term president and has served on the board of the Massachusetts State Auctioneers Association for 12 years. He has won multiple Advertising / Media Awards and was the 2008 Massachusetts Bid Calling Champion.

John academic credentials include a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology with honors, from Northeastern University and holds the CAI certification from the Auction Marketing Institute. He is a USPAP certified appraiser and a licensed Realtor.
John has been a pioneer in Auction Technology Development. His leadership, vision, technology and knowledge of the Auction Industry has helped shape and will continue to evolve the Live and Online Auction industry. His company Lujohns Enterprises Inc is providing technology to Auction Companies conducting Auctions throughout the United States, England, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Australia, Switzerland and Hong Kong having produced Online Auction sales of many billions of dollars.

Prior to becoming involved in the Auction Industry John worked as a Computer Design Engineer and then as an Engineering Consultant to various industries.

As an active auctioneer and software developer, John truly enjoys the auction industry and is a dedicated proponent of the auction method, creating an original and professional outlook on the way the world experiences auctions.

Paul W. Scheer

Paul W. Scheer President of Aaron Posnik & Co., Springfield, Mass. Joined the firm in 1968 and received his first auction license in 1969.
Mr. Scheer currently holds Massachusetts Auctioneer’s License #202 and is also licensed in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont and Virginia.

Paul has conducted seminars on topics of “commercially reasonable” auction sales of real estate, machinery and equipment for banks, attorneys and The Asset Based Lending Institute. Has provided expert testimony in Bankruptcy and Superior Courts in numerous states.

Paul’s professional memberships include, in addition to the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association, National Auctioneers Association, Industrial Auctioneers Association, American Society of Appraisers, International Society of Appraisers, New England Appraisers Association, Machinery Dealers National Association, Turnaround Management Association, American Bankruptcy Institute and numerous state auctioneer’s associations.

Paul is involved with several charities and conducts benefit auctions for The Boomer Esaison Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, The Nat Moore Foundation, First Tee, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis and several more.

2011 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Paul E. Saperstein

Paul founded the Paul E Saperstein Co in 1962 and has been an industry icon for over 40 years. Paul has built a full service auction company based on his ethics and commitment to offer the finest auction services to financial institutions, law firms and state and government agencies. After three decades, the firm has maintained its legacy of leadership by maintaining its moral principles and integrity throughout the industry.

Paul was instrumental in the legislation of the Massachusetts Auctioneers Licensing Law and is a lifetime member of the Massachusetts State Auctioneers Association. Paul focuses his time by overseeing the company operations. Much of Paul’s time is dedicated to philanthropy work and charity events. Paul was most recently honored by HandiKids as the 2005 Man of the Year. Paul is a past President of the Massachusetts State Auctioneers Association and was on the Board of Directors of the Milton Hospital. Currently Paul is a committee member of the Central Artery Beautification Project for the City of Boston.

2010 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Paul J. Traverse

Paul J. Traverse is the president of Traverse Real Estate and the vice president of JW Traverse Insurance Agency, both in Milton, Massachusetts. Paul’s dedication to the board is almost unmatched; he is a former president, vice president and board member of the M.A.A., and is the son of former MAA member John W. Traverse. His son Michael Traverse currently serves as vice president of the M.A.A.

Paul is licensed as an auctioneer, insurance agent, real estate broker, and is an Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE). He is involved in several charities including the Hyde Park YMCA, the Milton Foundation for Education, Glastonberry Abby, Marion High School, and St. Agatha School.

A father of three and a grandfather of two young children, Paul is a third generation Real Estate broker in Mass. On top of running his families Insurance Agency, he continues to call over 300 auctions a year and excels at the valuation and sales of residential and commercial property.

2009 Hall Of Fame Inductees

David Mendel

David Mendel was a member of the M.A.A. during most of his career as an auctioneer. Sadly, David died in December 2008 of lung cancer at the age of 54. From 1998 until the time of his death, David was the executive vice president of Aaron Posnik & Co. in Springfield. Prior to that, he worked as the vice president of Posnik. David was responsible for auctioning real estate, machinery and equipment for financial institutions, the United States Government, and private industry. He also excelled at appraising and auctioning machinery and equipment in those arenas. A graduate of Western New England College, David was licensed in Massachsuetts, Vermont, and Georgia. Additionally, he was a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the American Society of Appraisers.

Joan F. Caddigan

Joan F. Caddigan is a past president of the MAA. She is a well-known antiques dealer with 35 years of experience, and an auctioneer appraiser with 30 years’ experience. She specializes in estate auctions and appraisals. Joan has completed many national seminars throughout the country sponsored by the National Auctioneers Association. She conducts over 30 auctions per year and is engaged by many banks, attorneys and insurance companies to conduct appraisals.

A graduate of C.A.I., Joan is also a member of the NAA, the South Shore Dealers Association, a past President Hanover Chamber of Commerce, and she received the Hanover Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award in 2005. She presently teaches a course at the Yankee School of Auctioneering in New Hampshire.

2008 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Stanley J. Paine

Auctioneer and businessman Stanley J. Paine was inducted into the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 18. Paine is the youngest person ever to be given such an honor. And while his colleagues were not surprised, mostly due to Paine’s status as a prominent foreclosure and estate auctioneer, Paine himself was completely unaware of the impending honor, as his immediate family members and fellow auctioneers had also managed to keep it a secret.

“I am thrilled and incredibly thankful,” Paine told friends and colleagues in the packed function room of the Cranwell Resort in Lenox. “I am shocked this happened as soon as it did. I always hoped to receive this type of honor, and to be selected from a group of such exceptionally talented people makes it especially nice."

Paine brings to the Hall of Fame a long list of accomplishments in the profession of auctioneering. He is one of the state’s foremost real estate foreclosure auctioneers, and has earned a reputation as a leader in the marketing and sale of real estate and personal property through the auction method of marketing. He was vice president of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce from 1991 – 2001, and has been a member of the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce since 2002. Additionally, Paine has successfully auctioned abandoned personal property for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the State House, and was recently selected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to auction state-owned Real Estate.

“I feel like I’m just getting started in this business,” said Paine, 59. “There is so much to do, and this honor gives me new energy.”

Paine owns Stanley J. Paine Co., Inc. in Newton, and is part owner of Sonia Paine Antiques on Boylston St. in Newton.

2007 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Abe “Honest Abe” Levin *

Abe Levin was one of the founders of the MAA. His name signature on the original association documents, as a founding director, on February 9th, 1962. Abe was an auctioneer in the years 1950 thru 1985. He joined the NAA in the 50’s. A graduate of Repperts Auction School, he held the first Farm Bureau Cattle Auction in New England and enjoyed an impeccable reputation as an honest, professional auctioneer his entire career. Abe Levin was affectionately known “Honest Abe”.

The “Hall of Fame” award was awarded posthumously and accepted by his son Harv Levin. Harv, an MAA member and owner of Harv Levin Incorporated in New Castle NH, continues his family’s tradition in the auction business.

James “Jim” Martin

Jim Martin has owned several businesses during his lifetime including: Martin Upholstery, Martin Real Estate, Martin Antiques, Martin Auctioneers and Martin Appraisals.

In the early 1970’s, Jim Martin found himself with a garage full of furniture he needed to sell. Jim sold that garage full of furniture and began a career that had lasted for more than 35 years. As an auctioneer, Jim Martin has sold everything from antiques to automobiles.

Through the years, countless meetings of the MAA were conducted at Martin Antiques in Newton, MA. During a difficult period in time, Jim and three other auctioneers reached into their pockets and put in $100 each to come up the $400 the association needed to remain solvent.

A graduate of the Missouri Auction School, Jim Martin holds Massachusetts Auctioneer license number 484 and remains active as an appraiser.

2006 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Edward F. Smith Sr.

Mr. Edward J. Smith Sr. of Avenue Auction Sales and resident of Quincy Massachusetts has been a full time auctioneer for 33 years. Mr. Smith has conducted numerous benefit auctions for charitable organizations as well as his everyday auction endeavors specializing in bankruptcy, business liquidations, and food service equipment. Ed, a well known and respected businessman served as an MAA Treasurer in 1985, 86 & 87, he also served as MAA President in 1988 & 1989, and was instrumental in creation of the current Massachusetts Auctioneer Licensing Law standards during these terms of his service to the association.

Ed, accompanied by his wife Joan, his son Ed Jr. daughter in law Joanne and several close friends accepted this award and was inducted into the MAA Hall of Fame May 7 th 2006, while attending the annual MAA convention held at the Chatham Bars Inn, on Cape Cod Massachusetts.

2005 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Joseph “Joe” Finn*

Joseph Finn was born in Worcester MA in 1924. He was part of the “GREATEST GENERATION, enlisting in World War 2 at age 18. He returned from his tour of duty 3-1/2 years later and entered Northeastern University , graduating as an industrial engineer.

One summer an attorney for an auctioneer asked five boys “hanging around” the beach if any of them wanted a job for two weeks. Joe and four of his friends accepted the job cleaning, lotting, working sale day and staying on for delivery. That two week job turned into a six year endeavor. In 1952 Joe married Harriet Maysles. Soon after his wedding Joe made the decision to start his own auction company.

June 1st, 1954 was day one and this company continues today enduring 51 years.

Joe Finn was a proud member of the Massachusetts Auctioneers Association, the MDNA (Machinery Dealers National Association), AMEA, and most other organizations for auctioneers. Joe dedicated his life to making the auction business the preferred way to buy and sell equipment. He had a reputation for being honest and fair. He was instrumental in assisting in legislative changes in Massachusetts involving the licensing and bonding of auctioneers. Joseph died on June 7th, 1992 , but lived to proudly observe his four sons join him in the business.

This award was presented to Joseph’s family at the 2005 MAA Spring Convention in Lenox Massachusetts . Joe’s wife Harriet and son, Ross Finn accepted the award on his behalf.

2004 Hall Of Fame Inductees

William “Colonel Bill” Moon

Bill Moon’s signature appears on the 1962 MAA “Articles of Organization” documents making him a founding father and charter member. For many years Bill’s residence was located in the Attleboro Massachusetts area where his active auction business was headquartered. Bill recently moved to Essex Junction, Vermont. Col. Bill however has not retired. Bill still calls auctions, is active in the MAA and attends business meetings regularly.

Bill was presented this award following his participation in our annual fun auction as he attended the 2004 MAA spring convention which was held on Cape Cod Massachusetts.

2003 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Myron “Mike” Berman *

“Mike” was a MAA founding member. His continued participation, support and involvement in the MAA thorough his career makes him a true “life” member. Mike passed on in 2002. Berman Auctioneers & Appraisers , managed by his widow Ruth Berman and Mark Shear is still a very active auction company in Worcester , Massachusetts . His memory and his business lives on. Mike will be missed by all. The award was presented to Myron’s family at the 2003 Spring Convention held in Wakefield Massachusetts . “Mike’s” wife Ruth and Son in law, Mark Shear accepted the award on his behalf.

* indicates deceased

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