Texas Auctioneer is Breaking Down Barriers and Changing the Face of the Industry
Austin, TX — (February 26, 2018)
When TiWanna Kenney tells people she is an auctioneer, she often is met with a look of surprise. As an African-American female, she makes up a very small percentage of the demographics of auctioneers nationwide. She is a member of the Texas Auctioneers Association (TAA) and the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). The NAA tracks some demographic information and in 2017, the total makeup of the membership was 14% female and less than 1% African American.
Breaking Into the Auction Industry
Kenney grew up in a military family and served in the US Army. Throughout her life, she has seen the amount of need in the world. In 2013, she attended Leadership Austin and did an impromptu live auction for the talent show, which turned into a successful fundraiser for Leadership Austin scholarships. She was hooked and realized as an auctioneer she would be able to impact countless lives. She founded Astounding Auctions and has been taking the auction industry by storm ever since.
Changing Perceptions and Making an Impact
“When people picture an auctioneer, I am not the image they see,” Kenney said. “Part of my mission is to change the face of auctioneering. I want people to look at me and my company and see someone with whom they can identify.”
Bringing Proven Fundraising Strategies
While auctioneers are known for fast-talking, TK offers a plethora of resources to her company’s client base. “We bring proven fundraising strategies to our clients using the auction method of fundraising. Our passion is to bring this to clients who would not normally look at this method because they haven’t been able to previously identify with an auctioneer. When people see the team of Astounding Auctioneers, I want them to see a face anyone can relate to.”
Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion
TK is an advocate for discussing the importance of diversity and inclusion throughout the entire auction industry. She is an active member within the Texas and National Auctioneer Associations and is a speaker at both Annual conferences. She is taking her experience to new heights as an Auction School instructor at McLennan Community College in Waco, TX.
Update 2019: Celebrating More Women of Color in the Industry
We are happy to share that Naomi Lewis and Nominee Smith have also attained the BAS designation! This is phenomenal. More women of color are learning about the opportunities in the auction industry. Come on sis! 🙂
