Vinnie Zaffarano of Chicago is a first generation Auctioneer. He attended his first auction in May 1997 while working for a national automotive dealer. He immediately fell in love with the auction business and its atmosphere. When he turned 29 in February 1999, he decided to make a career change. He quit his job and took a vacation to attend auction school. He graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City Iowa in May of that year and immediately began working as a ringman at Greater Auto Auction in Alsip, Ill. International Champions Shane Ratliff (1992) and Mike Espe (2000), became his mentors and helped him with constructive criticism and daily support. Vinnie presently sells three auto auctions a week for Mannheim Auctions.
In February 2004, Vinnie formed Zaffarano Auctioneers and began expanding his business. He conducted his first charity auction in June 2004 for a small organization in Worth, Ill. He then realized how much he loved raising money for individuals in need. Vinnie quickly became known for his ability to produce positive results for organization fundraisers.
As a strong believer in customer service, Vinnie realized the importance of continuing education and in July 2008, he attended the Benefit Auction Specialist course at the National Auctioneers Education Institute (NAI). Vinnie received his BAS designation in November 2008 and continues to serve his clients in a manner consistent with those teachings. He’s developed a very loyal clientele and presently conducts between 25-35 benefit auctions per year throughout the Midwest.
Always looking to expanding his business, Vinnie realized that Real Estate Auctions were the fastest growing segment in the auction business. In March of 2006, he received his real estate license and began working for a recognized real estate auction firm in Oakbrook. In less than two years, Vinnie sold close to $9 million of real estate at auction. In February 2009, he formed Global Real Estate Auctions, Inc with his partner in Westmont, Ill. He attended the NAI and is working towards his designation as an AARE (Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate). Zaffarano says, “Auctions should be Sellers' first choice, not a last resort, as there is no better way to bring buyers to the market place or draw attention to their property.” He educates and consults both buyers and sellers through seminars on auction procedures and gives bidders personal attention to help them through the auction process.
Zaffarano continues to compete in various venues to keep his Auctioneer skills sharp and concise, whether calling the bid for a piece of real estate, an automobile, or a benefit prize. It’s this continued dedication to honing his craft that helped him win the competition at the Illinois State Fair. “It was great competing and a lot of fun calling the bid for the champion steer. It’s a day I’ll always remember and be proud to include it in my list of achievements during my auction career,” Vinnie remarked, “Thanks ISAA for the opportunity.”
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