Meet the Staff

Wendell Hanson   -  CAI, AARE

Tullahoma, TN

Wendell Hanson is 1991 graduate and owns Hanson Realty & Auction Co. in Tullahoma, TN.  After instructing in Real Estate for several years, he purchased the school and became Director of Curriculum.  He is a graduate of the Certified Auction Institute and holds his Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) and General Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) designations as well as USPAP certification.  Hanson instructs on professionalism, state-specific law, bid calling, ethics, math, commercial/industrial auctions, and environmental issues.  He also conducts specialized training seminars and forums for private companies, professional associations and licensing boards around the country

Rhessa Orr   -  Executive Director

Tullahoma, TN

Rhessa Orr holds a BS in Education from the University of Tennessee and brings to the school a background in both business and education.  She grew up in the auction business and has years of experience clerking and cashiering.   In addition, she is a USPAP certified personal property appraiser.  Orr instructs on antiques, clerking and cashiering, fundamentals of accounting, insurance/liability and advertising; and conducts specialized business programs for individuals and auction companies engaging in traditional and electronic auctions.   Orr joined Nashville Auction School in 2001 as the Executive Director and is actively involved with state licensing boards to insure our graduates are well prepared to operate in their home state after completion of school.

Lisa Plaisted  -  Online Education Coordinator	Tullahoma, TN
Lisa Plaisted joined Nashville Auction School in 2007 as the Online Education Coordinator. In addition to managing the NAS Online Education programs, Lisa also maintains the student databases and also assists in the registration and processing of students for our basic auctioneering programs.

Pam Tipps  -  Office Manager	Tullahoma, TN
Pam Tipps is the Nashville Auction School office manager and she is likely the first person students talk with when calling Nashville Auction School.  Pam oversees student registrations and processing.   She is also the head cashier for Hanson Realty and Auction Co. and has been working in the auction business for over ten years.

Bob Brown

Hodgenville, KY

Bob Brown is a graduate of Nashville Auction School and has been an       instructor at the school since 1981.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Middle   Tennessee State University and a Master’s Degree from Western KY University.  Bob Brown is a former high school principal and assistant superintendent of schools.  He holds a Kentucky auctioneer and real estate license and works for Lewis Auction Co. in Elizabethtown, KY.

Kenny Lewis

Elizabethtown, KY

Kenny Lewis is a graduate of Nashville Auction School and instructs on personal property, personal property appraisals, and chant rhythm.  Kenny Lewis is the owner of Lewis Auction Co. in Elizabethtown, KY.  He holds an auctioneer license, a real estate broker license and an appraiser license.  Kenny Lewis joined the Nashville Auction School staff in 1999 and brings over 15 years of auction experience to the classroom.

Bryan Knox

Gardendale, AL

Bryan Knox is a 1999 graduate of Nashville Auction School.  He began his auction career working in auto auctions, later expanding his focus include real estate auction sales.  He was the 2001 Alabama Bid Calling Champion and the 2007 National Auctioneers Association International Auctioneer Champion.  Bryan is the lead auctioneer for Amerisouth Auctions in Decatur, Alabama and continues to sell autos at the Cullman Auto Auction in Cullman, Alabama.  In December 2008, Bryan Knox was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Alabama State Board of Auctioneers. Bryan instructs on bid-calling and personal presentation.

James D. Lane, II, JD

Tullahoma, TN

Jim Lane received his JD in 1984 from Nashville School of Law and is a partner is the firm of Ray, Jackson and Lane in Tullahoma, Tennessee.  Jim Lane served as a Chapter 7 Trustee in the US Bankruptcy Court, Middle Tennessee District and for the US Small Business Administration.  Jim is an active sports rifleman and serves on the Crime Stoppers Board.  He joined Nashville Auction School in 2001 to instruct on Bankruptcy, Contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code.

David Hart - CAI, AARE	Moultrie, GA
David Hart is a graduate of Missouri Auction School and is the COO of Rowell Realty and Auction Co. in Moultrie, Georgia.  David Hart is a graduate of the Certified Auction Institute and holds the Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) designation.   Hart instructs Real Estate for Nashville Auction School and is an NAA Education Institute trainer in the AARE designation program.

Rex Bicknell	Shelbyville, TN
Rex Bicknell is a principal partner in ERA Bicknell & Parker in Shelbyville, Tennessee.  He holds a real estate broker license and an auctioneer license.  Bicknell joined the NAS instructional staff in 2005 to instruct on livestock and cattle auctions and farm machinery.  Bicknell has over 17 years of agricultural and real estate auction experience.

Judd Matheny	Tullahoma, TN
Judd Matheny joined the NAS team in 2007 to instruct on auction law.       A  2007  graduate  of  Nashville  Auction  School,  Matheny  holds  a BS in Criminal Justice and Political Science from the University of the State New York, and  has  served  in both the U. S. Army and the Tennessee   National Guard, and  currently  serves as  a State  Representative   in the  Tennessee General Assembly.

Department of ATF	Nashville, TN
A Senior Inspector or Trainer with the US Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms instructs at Nashville Auction School covering Federal regulations, civil liability and national resources pertaining to the sale of alcoholic spirits, home-breweries, firearms, tobacco products, and collections of any of these items at estate or consignment auctions.

Nashville Auction School (NAS)
112 W. Lauderdale St., Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388
1-800-543-7061   Fax: 1-931-393-3241
e-mail: nas@learntoauction.com