Executive Biographies
Nellie Jackson - August 7, 1919 – February 10, 2010.
Executive Director
Matriarch of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Nellie Jackson served as Executive Director. Her passion for automobiles and business acumen were a driving force behind Barrett-Jackson's evolution into the world's leading collector car auction company. Along with her husband, Russ, and Tom Barrett, Nellie co-founded Barrett-Jackson and held an executive position with the company since the doors opened in 1971.
Born in the automotive town of Pontiac, Mich., Nellie's first office job was in the cost accounting department at Fisher Body, a division of General Motors. Her affinity with classic autos began when she and Russ purchased a 1934 V-12 Cadillac Opera Coupe from a junkyard they passed while on vacation. The car moved with them from Pontiac to Scottsdale, where they became very active in the Classic Car Club of America. Nellie served as treasurer and was later elected as the first female Regional Director of the club.
Nellie and Russ met Tom Barrett in September of 1960. They became family friends and in 1971 held the inaugural auction, which later became known as the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.
During the mid-1960s, Nellie's everyday car was a 1937 Cadillac V-16 limousine, the first of many collector cars she owned and drove daily. She received the prestigious Meguiar's Treasure of the Collector Car Hobby Award at the Hollywood Kodak Theatre in June 2004.
Craig Jackson
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Craig Jackson has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most respected car collector and restoration experts. Since his first day with Barrett-Jackson, Craig has developed the expertise that has helped propel Barrett-Jackson’s evolution into the world’s leading collector car auction and automotive lifestyle event.
During his tenure, Jackson has taken the original Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale to three unforgettable and popular destinations in Palm Beach, Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe. He is responsible for managing all aspects of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company’s multi-media empire that serves the collector car industry.
Born and raised into the automotive lifestyle, Jackson has grown to be an integral part of the car collecting industry for over 40 years. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jackson has shared his family’s passion and devotion to the automobile market. After his father Russ, and business partner Tom Barrett, founded the company in 1971, which included an automotive repair shop, Jackson climbed the corporate ladder. The result has been numerous Best of Show and First Place trophies, as well as an extensive education on classic car restoration.
Jackson assumed the leadership position in 1995, after the untimely death of his brother, Brian. Since then, he has constantly worked to grow the company. Not only has he helped Barrett-Jackson garner a reputation as being one of the best collector car auctions events in the world, he has also molded the Barrett-Jackson auction week into an entertainment lifestyle event filled with hundreds of exotic and unique automobiles from across the globe.
Through his impeccable attention to detail and with a reputation as a “rare visionary” in the car collector market, Jackson has been able to provide first-class information about the automotive business. Jackson not only serves as an advisor to many notable collectors and celebrities, most of whom attend Barrett-Jackson’s events each year, but has also garnered international attention.
Through Jackson’s role as CEO, Barrett-Jackson events has been covered by notable media outlets, such as Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NBC Nightly News, Motor Trend and AutoWeek. He has also appeared as an automotive expert and correspondent on Bloomberg Television, CNN and SPEED.
Jackson’s strong commitment to philanthropy has resulted in raising over $45 million since Barrett-Jackson’s first car auction, with nearly $7 million generated in 2011 alone. He has received numerous awards for his contributions, which include the Innovation Techanthropic Award, presented to him by The Arizona Technology Council and NPower and the prestigious Men of Character award by the Phoenix Theatre in October of 2007. Jackson’s generosity has also earned the company numerous accolades including the Sterling Award for Small Business from the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, which honors excellence, innovation and local stewardship within the business community. In 2009, Craig launched the Barrett-Jackson Cancer Research Fund in Memory of Russ and Brian Jackson.
Jackson has been named twice to Motor Trend’s Top 50 Power List in the automotive industry. He has also captured the coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Business Services category in the Arizona/Orange County region. This award is presented annually to business leaders whose integrity, hard work and perseverance create and sustain successful, growing enterprises.
In September 2007 Jackson sold a significant minority share of the company to Portland-based private equity firm, Endeavour Capital. The partnership allows Barrett-Jackson to pursue even greater business opportunities and with new capital for continued growth.
Craig Jackson’s dedication to the success and traditions of his family-owned company illustrates true loyalty to family values, hobbyists and the collector car enthusiasts around the globe that have made Barrett-Jackson a world-class automotive lifestyle event.
Steve Davis
President
Steve Davis is President at Barrett-Jackson and serves as the driving force behind the company’s tremendous success in attracting the industry’s most desirable collector car inventory and retaining the industry’s largest and most loyal customer base. Steve’s responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day management of the business, with particular emphasis on the Consignment department and managing all operations related to auction sales. In this role, Steve regularly interacts with the company’s customers (both consignors/sellers and bidders/buyers) to ensure that the “Barrett-Jackson experience” is always first-rate. Steve first came to know Barrett-Jackson as a customer himself in the late 1970’s. As the owner of Valley Oak Auto in California, Steve has long been one of the top purchasers and sellers of noteworthy collector cars in the country. He has been a member of the senior management team at Barrett-Jackson since 1996.
Steve is a lifelong collector car enthusiast and has served in roles including a founding director and General Manager for the Visalia Motorsports Festival in California, which was one of the largest and most unique motorsports festivals in the world. He remains an influential member of the collector car industry, serving over the years as a special advisor to Carroll Shelby for the Carroll Shelby Foundations and Shelby American, Inc. His many personal accolades include being the recipient of the California State Senate Recognition award for “promoting the appreciation of classic automobiles through the Valley Oak Auto Collector Car Auction and Exposition,” and recipient of the “Legislative Excellence Award” from the National Specialty Car Dealer Association for his successful work in originating and promoting the 1997 grass-roots petition drive to exempt 1973 and older autos from stringent new smog restrictions in California. This effort became known as SB 42, and if it had not passed, the collector car business as we know it could have been eliminated in California. More recently, Steve received the prestigious Lee Iacocca Award in 2011, an award presented to people who exhibit “Dedication to Excellence in Perpetuating an American Automotive Tradition." In 2012, the Armed Forces Foundation presented Steve with a Humanitarian of the Year award in recognition of his commitment to raising funds to support charitable causes benefitting members of America's armed forces and their families.
A well known collector car industry expert, Steve is frequently quoted in leading publications including the New York Times, USA Today, Auto Week and Motor Trend. He also frequently appears in programming on SPEED Channel and is a regular contributor to a multitude of automotive publications with emphasis on market trends and the overall status of the collector car hobby.
Steve graduated from College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, attended California State University in Fresno, completed additional coursework in Management, and is a graduate of the T.C.P.O.A. Law Enforcement Academy.
Gary Bennett
Vice President of Consignment
Gary Bennett is the Vice President of Consignment at Barrett-Jackson, however he also oversees the Bidders Department, Guest Services Department, as well as the Insurance divisions within the company.
Gary has been a participant as both buyer and seller in all Barrett-Jackson auctions since his introduction to Russ and Nellie Jackson at their inaugural event in 1971. Gary joined the company in 2002, and he puts his many years of collector car expertise to work in the day-to-day operations of the company, as well as assisting on the sponsorship sides in connection with Ford and General Motors.
Involved in the automotive industry throughout his professional career, Gary has worked in many different aspects of the industry - including the restoration, aftermarket, and design fields. He started out as a founding general partner for BSW International, which became one of the largest architectural firms in the United States, with nationwide clients such as Wal-Mart, Texaco, Office Depot, and Applebee's.
In 1989, Gary sold his interest in BSW International and began pursuing his automotive passion on a full-time basis. He started Bennett Investor Auto Auctions, which specialized in classic and special-interest cars, and also established Auto Connection - a highline automobile dealership with annual sales in excess of $10M per annum.
Broadening his automotive horizon, Gary began a venture with Lister - a European company - and became the President of Lister North America, a Jaguar/Corvette aftermarket tuner company which specialized in performance upgrades for those two marks. Simultaneously, he was the President of Lister Restoration, a premier restoration company which specialized in muscle cars, European sports cars and Shelby Cobras, which served distinguished clients such as Roger Penske, Prince Abdul Azziz of Saudi Arabia and Nubo Sawama of Japan. In addition, Gary also acted as the President of Coach Connection - an upscale motorcoach accessory company.
Among his many design accomplishments, Gary designed and was awarded two separate patents for the conversion of Chrysler and Ford minivans to be utilized as motorcycle carriers. He subsequently sold the patents for the benefit of manufacturing rear-ramp handicap-accessible vans. Aside from his love of automobiles, Gary also established a passion for motorcycling, and designed and built custom V-8 motorcycles which utilized the engine as the stress-bearing member in place of an actual frame.
Throughout his long and varied automotive career, Gary became an avid racecar driver, and has won many awards racing vintage NASCAR, Trans-Am and open wheel racecars at racetracks throughout the United States.
Gary is quoted often in noteworthy publications such as the New York Times, and has had various automotive-related accomplishments which have been featured in Motor Trend, Autoweek and Corvette Fever, as well as countless other print and online publications.
Phil Neri
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
As Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Barrett-Jackson, Phil Neri manages the company's sponsorship and business development programs as well as the company's marketing and merchandising endeavors. In addition, he is responsible for sponsorship and vendor activities during the company's events in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Orange County and Las Vegas.
Retained by Barrett-Jackson in 2006 as Director of Sponsorships and Business Development, Phil has been instrumental in the company's evolution into one of the most celebrated automotive lifestyle events in the world. He has helped develop strategic partnerships with automotive giants Ford and General Motors, as well as key relationships with top-notch brands like Meguiars and Shelby Automobiles; these have been imperative to Barrett-Jackson's success.
Prior to joining Barrett-Jackson, Phil was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Home Fragrance Holdings, the largest private label candle manufacturer in the United States. His guidance and innovation at HFH led to the revitalization of the company's sales and marketing program. Phil is credited with identifying new markets and expansion opportunities for HFH and spearheading a premium licensing agreement with a leading crystal/china company.
Phil also served as Senior Vice President of Sales for The Dial Corporation, a leading manufacturer of consumer products. He was responsible for all Dial Corp. products targeting grocery, drug, military and convenience store channels throughout the United States. An 18-year veteran of the company, Phil held numerous sales and management positions, implemented a Sales Force Automation project and oversaw the design of a third party service organization.
Phil gained additional experience as marketing executive for a real estate development firm in Scottsdale, where he developed a key partnership with a major cable provider and created the company's Web site.
He earned a B.S. in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a MBA from Arizona State University through the Executive MBA program. He is a member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds organization and has been active in the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America.
Mark Swisher
Vice President of Information Technology
Mark Swisher joined Barrett-Jackson in March 2013 as the Vice President of Information Technology. In his role at Barrett-Jackson, Mark is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the company in efforts to grow the company through the use of technological resources. Using an active and practical approach, Mark directs all employees in IT and IO departments to attain Barrett-Jackson’s strategic goals established in the company’s strategic plan.
Mark has 29 years of IT experience and has managed IT systems for a wide-range of industries. Mark’s background in application development and infrastructure optimization have been key contributors in his ability to develop and lead high performance IT organizations, as well as deploy and manage IT systems to improve business processes and reduce operating costs. During his career, Mark has served in multiple IT disciplines ranging from programmer to Chief Information Officer. He has successfully developed and launched commercial applications designed for accountants, small businesses, stock investors, golf course management and timekeeping.
Before joining the Barrett-Jackson Executive Team, Mark previously worked at the Rockford Corporation, serving as their Director of IT from 2004 – 2013 and was responsible for leading the company’s Information Technology functions, along with facilities management. Mark built a responsive IT organization that consistently delivered results by aligning technology with business goals. In 2007, he assumed all facilities operations, along with his IT responsibilities. His management of facilities aided in the improvement of business continuity between departments resulting in substantial savings in overall operation costs. In 2008 Mark was recognized by the CFO as having assembled the best IT team that Rockford has ever had.
Prior to his arrival at Rockford Corporation, Mark held executive-level IT positions at Southwall Technologies, Orbital Sciences, OrthoLogic, and Continental Circuits. Mark is a graduate of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems with minor studies in Accounting and is a member of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Network.
Mark has served as President of the Higley Education Foundation (HEF) since 2006. HEF works in partnership with the Higley Unified School District to support the development and implementation of programs, projects, and learning opportunities which benefit Higley students and enhance the educational experience offered at each school within the district. During Mark’s tenure on the board, HEF has raised over $150,000 for teacher mini-grants and student scholarships. Over the past ten years, Mark has given over 8000 hours of volunteer time to help support the youth in the Gilbert area.