August 30, 2024
Meet Kelley!
My life story, in short...
My name is Kelley and I’m one of the offsite team leads for the Schur Success Group. I began my career straight out of high school and went into banking. I realized working with money was a lot of fun, and next worked my way up the corporate ladder at Merrill Lynch as a supervisor. Then came marriage and 4 babies which took me out of the working world for quite a while while I concentrated on keeping tiny humans (and a husband!) alive.
I dipped my toes back into the working world with commercial property management, then the mortgage industry. I’ve always been an “office gal”, but something changed in me and I wanted to feel more fulfilled. Enter Schur Success Group. I’d been training for this job my entire life by helping my family every summer with the biggest annual estate sale Nebraska has ever seen. Really. I LOVE the feeling of accomplishment of turning boxes and bags of “stuff” into cash for our clients. Every day is different and I love hearing the stories of where the items have come from and where they’re going next.
When I’m not working, you can find me at the rink cheering on my 3 sons at their hockey games, thrifting with my daughter, or just taking a moment to appreciate all the blessings of my life with my husband.
June 19, 2024
Meet Tristen!
Tristen is one of our newer team members and already serves as a team lead on our off-site estate and commercial projects. A veteran of the US Army, Tristen served in the infantry during Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan in 2015. We greatly appreciate Tristen and all the veterans who have served our nation.
When he’s not working, Tristen enjoys spending time in his "zoo", with a dog and four cats. He is also an avid player of Dungeons and Dragons, having even built a shed to be his dedicated game room.
Handy with tools and passionate about fixing and creating things, Tristen works with wood and metal and can repair just about anything that's broken.
Tristen excels in customer service and particularly enjoys the interactions he has with our customers, both buyers and sellers.
June 07, 2024
Meet Ann!
My name is Ann Nyberg, and I've been on the Schur Success Team for several years, on both the auction side and the personal property appraisal side.
I am a Colorado Native enjoying life on the prairie. My greatest accomplishments will always be my two children. I love the water and because we are landlocked, I spend a lot of time at the lake on my paddle board. I love summer and the sun. I have a small business selling vintage and hard-to-find items. I love making handcrafted soaps that I sometimes sell, but mostly just love having for myself and my family.
I have been in the auction industry for a long time and I like helping people move on from their transitions in life. Working in the auction and appraisal industry is never boring. You literally never know what will happen next and I am here for the ride.
When my kids both became adults, I decided to advance my career and become a personal property appraiser. A couple of years ago, I completed the Graduate Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) program offered by the National Auction Association and passed my USPAP examinations. I am now one of three experienced appraisers on the Schur Success team. I have to say I absolutely LOVE it. I get to see amazing things and I spend a ton of time deep in rabbit holes of knowledge. I fall in and happily devour history and knowledge. This job is so perfect for me and how my brain works. I look forward to each new item I get to research. Modern things are boring. Vintage items have history, life, and a story.
May 31, 2024
Meet Missy!
Missy is one of our lovely part-timers here at Schur Success, going on three years with the company. A Brooklyn native, Missy has lived on the East Coast, in Virginia, and Southern California before taking a gamble on Colorado 25 years ago. She moved here on the recommendation of a friend, left for a short time and has now been back in Monument for 13 years.
Missy's dogs have been her kids and her current pack includes Jack, a Great Pyrenees and Vanna, a feisty Chihuahua. She loves other people's dogs, too, and has volunteered at the Mill Dog Rescue and has been known to help out a co-worker or two when their pups need a place to stay for a bit. Her other hobbies include hanging out at the Senior Center here in Monument, exercising, and playing Bunko (sometimes Shannon joins her!)
Missy loves working at SSG, enjoys the variety of work, that it's close to home, and thinks the bosses are pretty nice. We're pretty fond of Missy, too!
April 26, 2024
Meet Alex!
Celebrating Alex Beasley: Ranger of The Year!
Today, we proudly recognize one of our own, Alex Beasley, for his outstanding achievement as he is named "Ranger of The Year" at Lewis Palmer High School. Alex, a junior, has not only excelled academically, but has also demonstrated exceptional character, leadership, and service to the community. Throughout his time with us, Alex has proven himself to be a dedicated team member, always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. His positive attitude and kindness towards others have made him a respected figure within our community, brightening the room wherever he goes. In addition to his academic pursuits, Alex is actively involved in extracurricular activities such as varsity football, where he serves as a Nose Guard, demonstrating his commitment to teamwork and excellence on the field. He is also a leader in RAD (Rise Above Drugs), a program aimed at providing safe alternatives for students on Friday nights, and participates in the Sources of Strength program, promoting mental wellness and support within the LPHS community. Outside of school, Alex's dedication to service is evident in his involvement with the Tri- Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club, where he frequently volunteers at community events and programs.
We could not be prouder of Alex and his well-deserved recognition as "Ranger of The Year". His achievements not only reflect his individual efforts but also serve as an inspiration to us all. Congratulations, Alex, on this remarkable accomplishment—we look forward to witnessing your continued success and positive impact on those around you.
RAD, WHAT IS RAD?
RAD events are put on by students, for students, and are a way for high school students to have fun on Friday nights. By offering an alternative to parties, RAD keeps students safe while still providing them with the social events they enjoy. RAD is a program that was started by Palmer Ridge student Brandon Pappas to change the culture of drugs and drinking that is pervasive in many high schools across the country. The program currently has chapters at Palmer Ridge High School and Lewis-Palmer High School. https://ppymca.org/programs/youth/teens/rad-program
Sources of Strength - The mission of Sources of Strength is to empower whole-student wellness and prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. The program uses fun-filled meetings to connect in open discussions about the very real problems that youth face, and then design and implement campaigns that spread hope, help, and strength to the LPHS community. https://www.lewispalmer.org/o/lphs/page/sources-of-strength
April 18, 2024
Meet Rich!
Meet Rich Schur, our Chief Operating Officer, whose journey into the world of auctions is as interesting as it is diverse.
Before joining our team, Rich had a varied career, from running an HR Consulting Company to teaching as the Dean of Criminal Justice at a local college. Originally from northern Illinois, Rich has a background in law enforcement and higher education.
About two decades ago, Rich made the move to Colorado, where he met Shannon, our CEO and owner. Despite initially knowing little about auctions, Rich dove into the business with Shannon's guidance, eventually closing his HR business to focus full-time on auctions.
In 2005, Rich graduated from the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, and the following year, he became the Colorado Rookie Champion auctioneer. With Shannon's support, he took on leadership roles within the Colorado Auctioneers Association, eventually becoming the Colorado State Champion Auctioneer in 2010.
Rich's commitment to learning led him to earn various industry designations and serve on the Board of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). Shannon encouraged Rich to become an appraiser and despite some hesitation, he compromised (wink wink) and embraced the role of appraiser, earning certifications such as the Graduate Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) and Master Personal Property Appraiser (MPPA). He’s now a primary instructor for the GPPA program.
Outside of work, Rich enjoys amateur woodworking in his spare time, turning big pieces of wood into toothpicks. He also serves as the Board President for Tri-Lakes Cares, a local Human Services organization. He is also a staff instructor for America’s Auction Academy in Texas, and for Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Iowa. Rich Schur is more than just our Chief Operating Officer; he's a dedicated professional with a passion for auctions and community service.
March 15, 2024
Meet Andrea!
Andrea is the smiling voice you'll hear when you call our office (or smiling face when you stop in). She's recently taken over as our Front Office Manager, though we don't really have a good title for her. But she pretty much does whatever we need done. She's an integral part of our team.
In her words:
"I have a love for theater and all things creative and love to spend my free time with my family (human and furry). I’ve been at Schur Success for about 3 years and have filled many different jobs since I’ve been here. I typically occupy my days with marketing and administrative tasks, but have earned the title of "That Girl" and fill in wherever needed! … But the jewelry is my favorite."
Be "Schur" to say hi when you stop in!
February 15, 2024
Meet Mina!
Mina (Aminah) has been part of the Schur Success Team for over 3 years and serves as our consignment and drop-off team lead. She is based in our Monument office and takes charge of all of the items dropped off that we sell.
Mina is one of the friendly faces you’ll see when you stop in to pick up your winnings or drop off the items you’re consigning to our auctions. She is our first set of eyes on everything we post to our auction websites.
She is part of the team that trains our new members and ensures control over all the items in our catalogs. At Schur Success, we pride ourselves on accuracy and quality, and Mina takes great pride in our finished product.
Our team processed over 250,000 photographs last year, and Mina, at some point, saw them all.
When she’s not taking care of business here (with a smile I might add), she’s committed to her family and friends.
Make it a point to say hello the next time you stop by!
February 02, 2024
Meet Shannon Schur!
As part of our 40th Anniversary celebration, we’re sharing stories about our company and our team. Just as we wouldn’t have a company without Ray Fenter, our founder whom we featured in the last article, we wouldn’t be where we are today without our current leader, Shannon Schur, CAI, BAS, CES, GPPA.
Shannon is not only our CEO, she’s Ray’s daughter and a second-generation auctioneer. Shannon joined Ray in the company in the fall of ’95 and worked with both Ray and her mom, Kelly, in the office and helping out at auctions.
At Ray’s urging, in June of 1996, Shannon attended Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, MT, and was the only woman in the class. She says she learned a lot about auctions, cowboys, and cattle in that time. After returning from school, she took on more and more responsibilities within the company.
After Ray and Kelly retired, Shannon took over the company and was later joined by her husband Rich (more on him later).
Shannon also became involved with the Colorado Auctioneers Association as a Director, and eventually became President and Chair of the Board. After leaving the board for a few years she later returned as Treasurer, has served as an instructor for the association, as well as volunteered for many committees, projects, and events over the years.
In 2012, Shannon was recognized by her peers in the Association with an honor only bestowed upon one other woman in the Association’s history and was inducted into the Auctioneer’s Hall of Fame.
As a Master Auctioneer, Shannon is known throughout the industry as a leader and an advocate for female auctioneers, which though improving, is still predominantly a male occupation. For years, she has served as a coach, mentor, and instructor to auctioneers across the country.
Shannon has earned several designations from the auction industry including Certified Estate Specialist (CES), Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (BAS), Graduate Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA), and one of the most prestigious designations as a graduate of the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI).
For Shannon, it is not all about the work, though she still loves it after all these years. She is a Charter Member of the Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club, where she serves as the Chair of the Fundraising Committee. She loves supporting local organizations and volunteers at Tri-Lakes Cares. She has served as Director and an advisory board member for the Youth Transformation Center for well over a decade.
When she’s not working or volunteering, she loves to paint, and enjoys spending time with her dog Kota Bacon, hiking, and traveling to new destinations.
For more information:
Colorado Auctioneer’s Association www.coauctioneers.com
National Auction Association www.auctioneers.org
Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club tlrotary.com
The Youth Transformation Center youthtransformationcenter.org
