"We are only as good as the people around us and I am very fortunate to have a great team and a support staff." – Scott Mihalic
Scott Mihalic knows how to bid attention from a crowd.
The longtime auctioneer creates an excitement in a room that exudes charisma, presence and personality.
“Scott is someone who absolutely loves what he does and that is evident when he shows up to run each auction,” said Melanie Scanlon, Leadership Geauga executive director. “This year, Scott helped our amazing committee set a new record for our annual fundraiser, the Emerald Ball.”
Mihalic, of Chardon, is a first-generation skilled auctioneer going strong in an industry of which he has no intention of slowing down.
He works full time as owner and operator of Mihalic Associates & Auctioneers and Premier Assets LLC, with more than two decades of experience calling bids throughout the country, Canada and Mexico.
The company sells commercial and industrial equipment, benefit auctions, real estate, business liquidation and estate work. Mihalic is also a contract auctioneer involved heavily in real estate auctions and probate and estate auctions.
“I do thoroughly enjoy what I do,” he said. “I feel blessed that our company is able to support my family and others that work for us. We are only as good as the people around us and I am very fortunate to have a great team and a support staff. The auction business has taken me places that I would have never been and (I) have met people I would have not otherwise.”
One of those people is friend Howard Bates, owner of Arms Trucking.
“He’s all about Geauga County,” Bates said, calling Mihalic a talented and enthusiastic auctioneer. “He’s a good Geauga County resident.”
Mihalic is the familiar face of Geauga County Maple Festival’s popular Maple Syrup auction each year.
Both Mihalic and Bates demonstrated their county commitment and generosity by purchasing the 2016 Ceremonial Tap Bucket painted by Bob Kolcum for $2,200 in memory of the late Michael Rear, a longtime festival volunteer, and gave it to his parents, Blake and Joyce Rear.
“He has a great personality for sales, a great voice for an auctioneer, as well as a great sense of humor,” Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said.
Mihalic said he does not recall one “ah ha” moment when he knew he wanted to become an auctioneer, but credited his early participation in 4-H for sparking an interest.
“I was involved in the 4-H program since I was 9 years old,” Mihalic said. “Even though we sold our animals through the sale, I met an auctioneer when I was 11 years old when we purchased our 4-H projects.”
Over the years, Mihalic saw auctioneer Kevin Wendt at other sales and The Ohio State Fair, where he would show. Wendt judged The Great Geauga County Fair when Mihalic was 18 years old and just graduated from Chardon High School.
“I remember talking to him after the swine show at the Geauga fair and told him I wanted to be an auctioneer,” Mihalic said.
Wendt invited Mihalic to come and visit and see if that was something he wanted to do.
”I went and spent two weeks in Green Springs, Ohio, a week later and fell in love with the profession,” Mihalic said. “Two days after Thanksgiving in 1993 on that Saturday, I drove to Decatur, Indiana, and enrolled at the Reppert’s School of Auctioneering. I never looked back.”
Mihalic’s accolades include being named the 2010 Ohio State Auctioneer Champion, being recognized as one of the top five auctioneers at the International Auctioneers Championship since 2012, and the 2017 Ohio Auctioneers Association president.
“I really do feel that what we call the ‘auction chant’ is truly a God-given ability, but there is so much more to what an auctioneer does than their auction chant or calls bids,” Mihalic said.
However, his chant helped make a record-setting amount of money at this month’s Emerald Ball.
Scanlon said the money raised will go to support general operations, the adult and youth scholarship fund, and for the first time ever, they will be making a donation to the Geauga 4-H.
“We were humbled and amazed at how generous our community was that night and Scott helped to facilitate an amazing evening,” Scanlon said. “Scott puts a personal touch into the auctions, calling bidders by first name when possible, publicly thanking them for their support, and these actions create an electrifying atmosphere.”
Mihalic said he truly enjoys working all of his sales and feels blessed to be doing what he loves and have great people around him.
“With hard work and dedication, you can make anything possible,” he said.
Mihalic can be contacted at 440-285-SOLD or 440-796-4739.
