ServNet said Wednesday that Big Valley Auto Auction in Donna, Texas, and Oklahoma Auto Exchange in Oklahoma City have joined the group of independent auctions.

Big Valley, which serves Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, is owned by the father-daughter team of Bernard Waston and Lisa Franz. The auction was founded in 2008 and Franz is general manager.

“We are both honored and excited to count ourselves among the ServNet Auctions,” Franz said in a news release. “We admire the other auctions in the group and know them to be the best in the country. We are eager to learn from them, as well as to contribute our understanding of the market and our sense of hospitality and customer service.”

Oklahoma Auto Exchange launched in 2004 and is owned by Mike Clopton and son, Kyle Clopton, who serves as the auction’s GM.

“We’ve known ServNet to be the gold standard of independent auctions, and we’re thrilled to join their ranks,” Kyle Clopton said in a news release. “It’s an exciting move for us to grow our business in relationship with the other ServNet auction owners, who are among the most respected and knowledgeable people in the industry.”

ServNet president Ryan Clark added: “ServNet is happy to announce the addition of Oklahoma Auto Exchange and Big Valley Auto Auction to our roster of the country’s premier independent auctions. Both these auctions have established themselves as key forces in their market areas, offering top-quality auction services in outstanding auction facilities.

“We have long admired both of these family-owned and operated business for their dedication to the industry and their culture of customer service. Both auctions will be great assets to ServNet, and we are pleased to include them in the ServNet family.”

Auto Auction of Montgomery partners with AMS

Elsewhere in auction news, Auto Auction of Montgomery has teamed up with Auction Management Solutions for business development consulting.

The auction is located in Montgomery, Ala., and operates on more than 22 acres. Its four auction lanes offer 400 units each week.

“We are very excited to be partnering with AMS to help grow our auction and expand our services,” AAM owner Taylor Bragan said in a news release.

“I purchased the auction from the Ingram Family approximately five years ago, and put a large focus on growing the dealer business,” Bragan said. “Now that we have an established dealer base and some great commercial partners, such as Credit Acceptance Corporation, we believe partnering with AMS will give our auction the competitive advantage in our market to grow the commercial side of our business.”

AMS president and founder Tom Stewart said his company’s goal is “to empower our auction partners to grow and increase effectiveness in our industry. Not only do we help independent auctions increase the volume of cars they sell every week, we put an emphasis on ensuring they are providing the best service in the business while maintaining profitability.”