EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

The owner and President of our firm is Bruce A. Bieri, CAI, AARE and GPPG. The letters behind his name stand for CAI, Certified Auctioneer’s Institute, a three-year program held at the University of Indiana, Bloomington. Bruce is a 1986 graduate. In 1999 Bruce attended a week-long course offered to members of the National Auctioneer’s Association entitled “Accredited Auctioneers of Real Estate”, hence the AARE designation. In 1998 he attended a three-day course on appraising personal property and joined the Certified Appraiser’s Guild of America. In 1974 Bruce attended the Reisch World Wide College of Auctioneering. In 1984 Bruce became a licensed real estate broker.

THE BEGINNING

We conducted our first auction on Friday the 13th of June and have been in the auction business on a full time basis since then. In 1984 the FmHA (Farmers Home Administration) solicited auctioneers and real estate brokers to conduct a pilot program to liquidate properties which they had foreclosed on. Much to Bruce’s surprise he was awarded the first auction. Having never sold a property, let alone attempting to sell ten homes in one day, Bruce honestly did not feel he had much of a chance. After meeting the powers to be at the FmHA office and going over his proposal, he learned that he was selected mainly for one reason – that being that he was the only auctioneer who proposed selling all the properties at one location. The auction started at 1:00 pm and 45 minutes later all ten properties were confirmed and sold to the highest bidder.

In 1984, the FmHA had another 26 foreclosed properties to sell at auction. Now being the only auctioneer with experience, he was awarded the contract and again sold all 26 properties, with the exception that it was done in two locations in one day. A huge success!

In 1985 the FmHA had 14 more properties to liquidate in central Wisconsin and again, we were the top qualifier and successfully sold all 14 in one day at Westfield, Wisconsin. Because of the success of the Wisconsin real estate auction method, other states began turning to the auction system to sell properties.

Since 1984 we have sold hundreds of properties at auction including residential, commercial, agricultural, vacant land, subdivisions and condominiums.

AWARDS

In 1984 Bruce received the first ever advertising award to a Wisconsin auctioneer by the National Auctioneer’s Association. The first place was for real estate at auction. We have received more combinations of advertising awards from the Wisconsin and National Auctioneer’s Association than any other firm. These awards range from business card, full color, video, radio and newspapers. We just completed our first television commercial for a real estate auction and look forward to using that tool a great deal in the future.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Wisconsin Auctioneer’s Association holds an annual bid-calling contest at the Wisconsin State Fair. In the first eight contests Bruce finished in the top five and finally, in 2000 won 1st place. Having trained several auctioneers in his 32 years, he is most proud to have one of his past employees finish 2nd in 2005 in the National Auctioneer’s Contest held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

HISTORY-FUTURE

Because of Bruce’s bid-calling success, he has been hired by several different auction companies to share the stage, so to speak. These opportunities have helped in the success of the Wild Rose Auction & Real Estate Company. Having traveled in 17 different States auctioneering primarily cars, antique coins and real estate, Bruce has been able to get some great experience from some of the largest auction companies in the United States.

Bruce along with his wife Donna, reside in Waunakee, Wisconsin with their two sons, Blake and Bryce. In 2003 they started another company, Wisconsin Real Estate Auctioneers.

After 32 years in the auction business, Bruce and his Broker Associate/Office Manager, Judy Maple, specialize now in mostly real estate and estate auctions. They have conducted some of the largest personal property, real estate, firearms and antique auctions in the State.