The Wanna Family fulfills key roles at the integral industry firm, TPC Management: (Clockwise from upper L): Jiles, vice president of client services and a senior administrator for Auction Academy; Penny, vice president of administration and president of Auction Academy; and Ray, business development coordinator for commercial sales.
Photo: TPC Management / Graphic: Bobit
Penny and Jiles Wanna, two leaders at widely known and influential TPC Management Company, recently marked their 20-year anniversaries at the company where they have ascended to larger roles over the last two decades.
Meanwhile, their son, Ray Wanna, joined the firm’s commercial sales division as a business development coordinator in mid-August. He is also the nephew of Pierre and Pauline Pons, the company’s founders.
Penny Wanna serves dual roles as TPC’s vice president of administration and president of Auction Academy. Jiles Wanna is the vice president of client services for TPC Management as well as a senior administrator for Auction Academy.
“Penny and Jiles are invaluable members of the team, and both have been instrumental to the growth of our firm in all aspects,” said Pierre Pons, CEO of TPC Management, in a Sept. 13 news release. Pons and his wife, Pauline, founded the company in 1996.
“Their talents and effectiveness are felt industry wide.”
Penny Wanna’s responsibilities at TPC include overseeing an administrative staff that implements due diligence management in acquisitions/divestitures, accounting, administrative and project management, along with conference and event strategies for its many clients and associated companies.
Separately, as President of Auction Academy, she sets the strategic direction for the automotive remarketing industry-leading executive development program now starting its 13th year of operation and inaugurating its ninth class group. She holds several Industry Certifications: ARA Certified Automotive Remarketer, ARA Audit & Compliance, NAAA Safety, NAAA Data Security and NAAA Condition Report Writing. She also serves as one of the directors on the ARA executive board, as co-chair of the ARA Education Committee, and holds committee positions for IAG Education, NAAA Education, and NAAA New Members Ambassadors.
Penny was honored in 2018 as a member of the Women in Remarketing class group and received the prestigious NAAA Warren Young Fellowship award in 2021 for her countless hours of volunteer work and commitment to the Remarketing Industry.
“This is an exciting and dynamic business, and I have the good fortune to work with a tremendous group of people at TPC Management, including my husband Jiles, and sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Pierre Pons,” Wanna said. “I have learned a great deal from them all over the last 20 years and look forward to working with them to continue building TPC’s influence on the industry.”
Jiles Wanna has focused on business development, both for the firm specifically as well as for its auction services division on behalf of the company’s independent auto auction clients. He assists with TPC’s acquisition and divestiture activities and is involved with conference and event strategies for TPC’s many clients and associated companies. Jiles’ industry certifications include NAAA Safety and NAAA Data Security. He is “Lifetime” CAR Certified, having completed the Vehicle Remarketing Industry Certification through the ARA/ Northwood University program, is ARA Audit and Compliance Certified, and has completed Manheim’s Condition Report Writer Certification.
Said Jiles: “Pierre says often, ‘We are a family business, working primarily for other family businesses.’ It is a privilege and an honor to work with my family, along with our associates at TPC Management and Auction Academy, all people of outstanding caliber who make a tremendous impact on the industry.”
Meanwhile, Ray Wanna will follow in father Jiles’ footsteps by focusing on account prospecting for TPC’s auction clients. He will call on credit unions, finance companies and municipalities with an eye toward matching their remarketing needs with TPC’s independent auctions clients around the country.
Wanna joins the TPC team with a background in sales, marketing, and communications. He attended Columbia State College and will continue his industry education at the Auction Academy. He has completed NAAA Safety and Data Security programs, and ARA’s Audit and Compliance Training. He is pursuing his ARA CAR credential.
“For many years I’ve had the privilege of working with Pierre and Pauline Pons (my uncle and aunt) in some of their ancillary ventures and appreciate this opportunity to learn the remarketing industry as I move into work directly with TPC.”
“I’m profoundly grateful for the influence of my parents as I join them in this business,” he said. “My mother, Penny, has been instrumental in mentoring me and urging me to pursue this career path. She casts a big shadow in this industry, and I am grateful to follow her leadership.”
