04/06/2026
Last Friday, I earned the CAI Designation — the highest professional credential in the auction industry.
CAI is a three-year program run through Indiana University and the National Auctioneers Association. Fewer than 2% of auctioneers worldwide hold it. The coursework covers business strategy, market trends, and leadership — but honestly, the parts that stuck with me most were the ones that had nothing to do with auctions. The program pushes you to look at yourself clearly and honestly, and that is not always a comfortable place to be. I'm grateful for every bit of it.
I was also honored to walk away with The Rose Award, presented to the candidate with the strongest business plan and final presentation. I did not see that coming, and it meant more than I expected.
The thing I really didn't anticipate was what would happen with the people. Forty-five strangers from across the country, thrown together over three years — and somewhere along the way, they stopped being colleagues and started feeling like family. That part of the experience is hard to put into words, but it was worth more than any credential.
Our class motto was Greater Than — a simple reminder to be better today than you were yesterday. I'm taking that with me.
To everyone who hired me, believed in me, or pushed me when I needed it — thank you. I don't take that lightly. Onward.
Big recognition for one of our own 👏
Jake Brown was honored this past week with the prestigious CAI Rose Award from the National Auctioneers Association—one of the highest distinctions given to graduates of the Certified Auctioneers Institute. This award recognizes leadership, professionalism, and meaningful contributions to the auction industry, and it’s a direct reflection of the standard we hold ourselves to every day.
At Trophy Properties and Auction, that same level of expertise is what allows us to step into complex real estate situations—family disputes, inherited property, tough valuations, or hard-to-sell tracts—and deliver clear, effective solutions. When the path forward isn’t obvious, we bring a process that creates clarity, competition, and results.
