Leadership

Kurt Aumann, CAI, ATS

President

Kurt Aumann is our President and the Chairman of our Board of Directors, positions he has held since our inception. He grew up in the auction industry and graduated from auction school in 1982. After graduation, Kurt joined Aumann Auction Inc., located in Nokomis, Illinois. In 1995, Aumann Auction, Inc. promoted Kurt to Vice President and CEO.

Kurt Aumann has an impressive depth of professional experience. He has been a member of the National Auctioneers Association for more than 16 years and has served on the board for the National Auctioneer Association Education Institute. On a local level, Kurt is a member of the Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana Auctioneers. He has also served as the President of the Illinois State Auctioneers Association. He has instructed at Lincoln Land Community College, the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) as well as numerous seminars and workshops across the country. Kurt is actively involved in consulting with other industries about the auction profession. He has also worked with several online auction companies as a software development and performance consultant.

Kurt is involved in several community efforts including serving on the Hillsboro Area Hospital Board and the Fusion Health & Fitness Board, a non-profit community fitness center. He is an avid reader and has written two books. He is married to Kelly and has three sons, Tucker, Quinton, and Elijah.

J.J. Dower, CAI, AARE, ATS

Director/Treasurer

J. J. Dower is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on our Board of Directors. J. J. became a professional auctioneer and real estate agent in 1986. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Leadership studies from Lincoln Memorial University. In 1988 he received his real estate brokers license and he became a Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) auctioneer in 1991. J.J. earned the Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate (AARE) designation and has been active in the real estate and auction business for 25 years. He is presently a partner in Ayers Auction and Real Estate, which has been in continuing operation for more than 57 years. J. J.'s specialty is real estate development with an emphasis on subdividing raw land to sell at auction.

J. J. is a past president of the Tennessee Auctioneers Association and also the past president of the National Auctioneers Association. He is currently serving on the board of the National Auctioneers Foundation. J. J. has also been a presenter at a CAI continuing education seminar, the NAA Conference and Show, and at over 30 state conventions.

J. J.'s business ventures also include a Hampton Inn franchises and commercial and residential investment properties. J. J. is married to Traci Dower and has two daughters, Addison (husband Matt ) and Alissa (husband Nathaniel).

J. Christopher Pracht, CAI, AARE, CES

Director/Secretary

J. Chris Pracht, IV is, and has been, a Professional Real Estate Auctioneer and Estate Specialist for over 35 years. He is the owner of Chris Pracht Auctioneers, Realty & Auction, LLC, with his main offices in Anderson and contact offices in Camden and Charleston, South Carolina with a professional team of associates nationwide. Chris is a Director/Stockholder and Co-founder of International Auction Marketing Inc,., DBA MarkNet Alliance.

Chris has served as President of the South Carolina Auctioneers Association and was inducted into the SOUTH CAROLINA AUCTIONEERS HALL OF FAME in 2007. Chris Pracht was named the South Carolina Grand Champion Auctioneer winning the State title at the 40th Anniversary State Convention in Columbia, South Carolina, 2014.
He served on the National Auctioneers Association Board of Directors, has served as Treasurer of the National Auctioneers Association, and was the first Chairman of the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute Board of Trustees. Chris was awarded THE NAA PRESIDENT AWARD OF DISTINCTION in 2004 and 2015. In 2009 he received the CAI-Distinguished Faculty Award at Indiana University.

He is a graduate of Missouri Auction School. Chris is a lifelong member of the NAA and holds the CAI, AARE, and CES designations. Chris Pracht has spoken Nationwide for the NAA and travels and consults on multi-parcel method of sale.

Chris Pracht is a current CAI instructor and has taught the CES (Certified Estate Specialist) and AARE (Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate) designation courses and has presented The Expert Witness & Courts in Federal Court in Charleston, South Carolina. Chris is an approved instructor by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission and South Carolina Auctioneers Association.

Chris has worked for over a decade with children with cancer and blood disorders. He was elected the youngest member of the South Carolina House of Representatives at the age of 21 in 1976, where he served eight years. Chris has a BA degree in Government from Wofford College. Chris is a Rotarian and Paul Harris fellow.

Chris Pracht has one son, Christopher, who is a lawyer and is general counsel for International Auction Marketing Inc., DBA MarkNet Alliance. Chris raises and works American Brittany Spaniels in the field.

Matt Corso, CAI

Chief Executive Officer

Matt Corso has served as Chief Executive Officer for MarkNet Alliance since 2015. Previously he was the Chief Operating Officer for MarkNet Alliance since the company’s inception in 2007. Prior to his employment with MarkNet Alliance, Matt served as the Chief Operating Officer of Aumann Auctions Inc., a nationwide auction firm specializing in several niche markets as well as real estate. Matt has completed the Certified Auctioneers Institute program held at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, IN and earned the CAI designation. He is a licensed auctioneer in the state of Illinois and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Auctioneers Association. As a NAA Director Matt speaks around the country at state auction association conferences on topics such as business development, productivity and mobile technology.

Matt served on the Board of Directors and as the managing editor for the Breeze-Courier Newspaper in Taylorville, Illinois for seven years prior to his work at Aumann Auctions. He has mentored grade-school children through the Taylorville Mentoring Program and taught youth classes in his local church. He currently serves on the school board for VisionWay Christian School and leads the praise band for his church. Matt has three children, Gracie, Mylie and Isaac.

Jeremy Piatt

Chief Operating Officer

Jeremy Piatt is the Chief Operating Officer and leads the technology support team for MarkNet Alliance. Jeremy’s experience includes 15 years in the business world, including project management, information technology, negotiations and retail management.
Jeremy is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and is pursuing his CAI designation. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield and is currently working on his Masters in Business Administration through Southern New Hampshire University.

Jeremy enjoys hunting, fishing and playing basketball and has served on the Vision Way School Board as well as Taylorville Christian Church Elder Board. Jeremy is married to Beth and they have 3 children, Liam, Amos, and Emilia.

Claire Eskew

Marketing Director

Claire is the Marketing Director for MarkNet Alliance. She has extensive experience in marketing and communications.  
Claire has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she studied communications and journalism. Claire has worked in corporate communications, marketing and advertising.

Claire is a dedicated animal rescuer and advocate, volunteering for local groups who transport dogs from high-kill shelters to rescues who help find them new homes.
Claire is married to Thomas.

Austyn Niccolls

Lead Programmer

Austyn Niccolls is the Lead Programmer for MarkNet Alliance. Austyn previously did computer programming for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and worked for AT&T and Best Buy. He is pursuing his Bachelor’s in computer programming for the University of Illinois at Springfield. Austyn enjoys playing basketball and computer games in his spare time.

Kelsey Goldsmith

Senior Tech Support Specialist

Kelsey Goldsmith is the Senior Tech Support Specialist for MarkNet Alliance. Kelsey received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer & Information Systems with a minor in Digital Media from Greenville College. Kelsey has worked for the Greenville College IT Support Center and served as the Digital Media Department Assistant.

Kelsey is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Nokomis where she has taken on many different roles over the years, such as youth leader and website manager. When not at work or school, Kelsey likes to spend time with family and friends. Kelsey is married to Dylan.

Tucker Aumann

Tech Support Specialist

Tucker Aumann is a Tech Support Specialist for MarkNet Alliance. Tucker is a graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering and has been involved in the auction industry since he was a young boy.

Tucker previously worked at Best Buy in the computer and technology department, specializing in Microsoft products. Tucker has his Associate’s degree from Lincoln Land Community College and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He has a strong interest in computers and testing new tech products. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing computer games and driving anything with an engine.