As Chairman and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Craig Jackson has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most respected collector car and restoration experts. Growing up in the family business gave Craig the opportunity to develop 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 other popular destinations across the United States. 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. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jackson has shared his family’s passion and devotion to the automobile market. In 1971, his father Russ and business partner Tom Barrett founded Barrett-Jackson, which included an automotive repair shop. Craig soon became involved, and his extensive education on classic car restoration resulted in numerous Best of Show and First Place trophies.
Jackson climbed the corporate ladder and 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 one of the best collector car auction events in the world, he has also molded the Barrett-Jackson auction week into an automotive lifestyle event filled with hundreds of exotic and unique collectible vehicles from across the globe.
When Jackson took over the reins of the company, he had a vision to broadcast collector car auction on national television. He reached out to Speedvision and a deal was struck in 1996. For the first time, enthusiasts experienced the thrill of a Barrett-Jackson auction from the comfort of their living rooms. From that moment on, it was full speed ahead as coverage continued on SPEED Channel, which later became FOX Sports. The launch of Barrett-Jackson’s television partnership with the television networks of Discovery Communications, Inc., at the 2015 Scottsdale Auction in January marked another milestone in the auction company’s history, with coverage on Discovery and Velocity setting several ratings records. For the first time ever in collector car auction history, live coverage of Barrett-Jackson was broadcast in Spanish on Discovery Channel and Discovery Turbo throughout Latin America, and on Discovery en Español to Spanish-speaking viewers in the United States. In 2020, Barrett-Jackson announced a new partnership with A+E Networks for “Barrett-Jackson Live,” which airs live Barrett-Jackson auction coverage to an international audience on FYI and The HISTORY Channel.
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 collector car hobby. 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.
As a pioneer in the Resto-Mod movement, Craig Jackson and Barrett-Jackson have helped lead the charge in growing what has become one of the most popular segments of the collector car market today. Many of the world’s finest examples from this genre can be found crossing the Barrett-Jackson auction block every year. To further grow the hobby and celebrate today’s greats in automotive craftsmanship, Barrett-Jackson hosts the renowned Barrett-Jackson Cup competition during its annual flagship Scottsdale Auction to recognize the talent from today’s top custom car and truck builders.
Through Jackson’s role as CEO, Barrett-Jackson events have 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 $155 million since Barrett-Jackson’s first car auction. 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 2007. In 2010 he, along with Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis, were named as recipients of the Lee Iacocca Award “for their dedication to excellence in perpetuation an American Automotive tradition.” Carolyn and Craig Jackson also were grateful to receive the Pope Humanitarian Award from the Phoenix Theatre in 2016, as well as the Childhelp Spirit of the Children Award in 2018. In addition, Jackson was named the #4 Most Influential Person in the Collector Car World by Magneto Magazine in their Spring 2019 issue.
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 at TGen in Memory of Russ and Brian Jackson, which to date has brought in more than $2 million.
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.
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 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 1970s. 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 that include being 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 grassroots 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, Autoweek and MotorTrend. He has also frequently appeared in programming on SPEED Channel, Velocity/MotorTrend and Discovery, 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.
In her role as Chief Brand Officer, Carolyn oversees the company’s image as The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions. She works diligently to elevate not only the Barrett-Jackson brand, but also the entire guest experience at the unique automotive lifestyle events – particularly at the company’s renowned Opening Night Galas. Carolyn is also actively engaged in Barrett-Jackson’s role in the community and its charitable fundraising efforts, an important component of the company since it began nearly five decades ago.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Carolyn became a licensed stockbroker and commodities trader, and began a career in the financial services industry. During the real estate boom, she transitioned careers and became a luxury real estate agent. She most notably represented the estates of Michael Jackson and Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans, which led her to cross paths with Barrett-Jackson and its CEO, Craig Jackson. Carolyn partnered with the auction company to successfully consign the Gans Collections at the 2010 Las Vegas Auction, the sale of which provided tremendous closure to the Gans family.
Carolyn has lived in Arizona since 2010, and has become actively involved in the community, particularly the American Heart Association through the Phoenix Heart Ball. She was honored to serve as Chairman of the 59th Annual Phoenix Heart Ball in 2018 – one of the top Heart Balls in the nation benefiting the American Heart Association. With a theme of “Driven Hearts,” the yearlong effort reached millions and raised millions, culminating in Carolyn receiving the AHA’s 2019 Award of Meritorious Achievement.
In 2014 and 2015, Carolyn co-chaired the unique “Sound of Speed” event, where the worlds of racing, cars and music collided to benefit The Phoenix Symphony’s Education & Community Engagement programs. Carolyn was also honored to be chosen as a 2015 Trendsetter by the Board of Directors of the Trends Charitable Fund and serves on the Board of the Jackson Family Foundation. Carolyn and Craig Jackson also were grateful to receive the Pope Humanitarian Award from the Phoenix Theatre in 2016, as well as the Childhelp Spirit of the Children Award in 2018.
Carolyn feels privileged to continue working with charities that were important to Craig Jackson’s mother, Nellie Jackson, such as Childhelp and TGen. Through its innovative approach of auctioning vehicles for charity – many of them first-production cars donated by manufacturers – Barrett-Jackson has raised more than $148 million to date for local and national organizations. There has been a particular focus on charities benefiting medical research, children and veterans, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, country music artist Zac Brown’s passion project Camp Southern Ground and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Carolyn earned Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and marketing from Manhattan College.
Lowell Heit joined Barrett-Jackson as Chief Financial Officer in March 2023. Heit brings to Barrett-Jackson over 25 years of experience in the professional sports and entertainment industry.
Heit previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Arizona Coyotes and, prior to that, was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Florida Panthers and BB&T Center. Before joining SSE, Heit spent five years with the National Football League and eight years with the National Hockey League.
Heit served as Director of Finance for the NFL, directing the overall accounting, financial management and strategic planning for NFL Business Ventures, including the Corporate Sponsorship, Consumer Products, Marketing, International, NFL Network and Digital Media Sales and E-Commerce divisions.
During his time as Director of Finance for the NHL, Heit oversaw all member club financial reporting for League Operations, including budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning and special long-term projects.
Heit also spent seven years working as a partner with Genesis Management Group, where he advised licensing and marketing clients in various areas, including strategic direction, financial planning and controls, contract negotiations and renewals.
Heit, a native of New Jersey, is a graduate of the George Washington University, where he was a member of the Colonials’ tennis team. Heit and his partner, Rhiannon, reside in Scottsdale.
An integral part of the Barrett-Jackson team since 2017, Mike is the Vice President of Consignment, responsible for serving the individual needs of Barrett-Jackson’s vehicle sellers, known in the auction business as consignors. Expanding on his deep understanding of the collector-car business in his role at Barrett-Jackson, Mike’s lifelong passion for collector vehicles, particularly Ford Mustangs and all things Shelby, has prepared him well to be a leader on the consignment team.
Growing up the son of a construction company owner, Mike was naturally drawn to engineering studies at university, but he never lost his passion for direct involvement in the automobile business. Mike entered the auto industry in 1994 in the retail sales division at a BMW dealership in Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, he merged his two passions and entered into a partnership with his stepfather.
In the mid-1990s, Mike and his stepfather began a collector car dealership that focused mainly on Shelby Mustangs of the ’60s. During this time, Mike was responsible for the inspection, negotiations and sales of all cars. In 2001, Mike moved to Oklahoma City and founded a new collector car dealership. This new dealership also focused on the muscle cars of the 1960s, as well as some late-model high-end exotics. Mike oversaw all day-to-day activities, including purchasing and sales, and also headed up a new restoration facility. During this time, the company put out many award-winning restorations.
While Ford’s Mustang literally spurred Mike’s full-scale entry into his collector car vocation, his overall automotive knowledge is wide and varied. He has owned and/or sold ZL1 Camaros, LS6 Chevelle convertibles, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs, as well as many Mopars, including Road Runners, Six-Packs, NASCAR-inspired wing cars and HEMIs.
Interestingly, Mike’s connection to Barrett-Jackson goes back two decades to 2002, when he was the high bidder on Craig Jackson’s personal 1970 Chevelle LS6 convertible. Mike has been participating in collector car auctions since the mid-90s both as a bidder and consignor and has a true understanding of the process from both sides.
Mike is married and has two adult children. He was active in youth baseball coaching; his son played Division 1 baseball before recently signing a professional baseball contract.
Peter Lubell is Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Barrett-Jackson. In his role, Peter oversees national and local sponsorship sales and business development programs, as well as Barrett-Jackson’s licensed products. Peter has over 16 years of diverse sports and entertainment marketing, sales and sales management experience. Throughout his career, Peter has specifically concentrated his efforts within the sponsorship sales, team sports and motor sports disciplines.
Most recently, he was the Director of Sponsorship Sales at Live Nation, where he oversaw sponsorship sales for Phoenix’s premier concert venues, Ak-Chin Pavilion and Comerica Theatre, working with partners such as the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Comerica Bank, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Chrysler, Heineken and Diageo.
Before joining Live Nation, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the Austin Toros, the NBA D-League team owned by the San Antonio Spurs. As COO, Peter oversaw the team’s business operations, including profit and loss, ticket and sponsorship sales, marketing, advertising, finance, game operations, public relations, community relations and employee recruitment, development and training. While in Austin, Peter sat on the regional board of directors for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central Texas.
Prior to the Austin Toros, Peter served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for CFW Creative Sports, a national sports publishing company. While at CFW, he developed and managed the national sales strategy and sold advertising in the official game day programs and souvenir yearbooks for 90% of all professional and college sports teams in the country.
Peter also did a brief stint as Sports Marketing Manager at Clear Channel Katz Sports Advantage, selling radio and multi-media sponsorships for the flagship radio stations of 45 professional franchises and 20 NCAA Division I properties. He also worked for CBS Sports Properties as General Manager of Wildcat Sports Marketing at Northwestern University, overseeing and selling all sponsorship rights for the property.
A significant part of Peter’s career was spent at Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports as Director of National Sales. While there, he closed and implemented promotional sponsorships on- and off-site for the following corporate clients: Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Bridgestone-Firestone, Pennzoil, Kawasaki, MCI and NAPA Auto Parts.
Peter received his master’s in marketing from DePaul University in Chicago and his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Boston University. He and his wife Kimberly reside in Cave Creek, Arizona, with their three sons, Charlie, Dylan and Connor.
Matt Ohre has been General Counsel since joining Barrett-Jackson in 2014. As General Counsel, he is responsible for managing the company’s legal strategy and affairs related to live event and corporate operations, digital media, intellectual property, litigation and employment matters. Matt also works closely with members of the executive team on establishing and implementing company policies and procedures as they apply to employees, customers and external business partners and sponsors.
Prior to joining Barrett-Jackson, Matt was an attorney with the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP for over nine years. While at Squire Patton Boggs, Matt’s practice focused largely on complex and high-stakes business litigation matters throughout the United States, including areas involving breach of contract, employment and labor issues, and business torts such as fraud, securities, interference with business advantage, trademark infringement, product liability, noncompete and nonsolicit agreements, banking and breach of fiduciary duty. Matt also has significant experience with negotiating and drafting various business agreements, including sponsorship and service agreements, licensing agreements and media-related agreements. While at the firm, he was a member of the hiring committee.
Prior to joining Squire Patton Boggs, Matt served as a law clerk to Judge John C. Gemmill of the Arizona Court of Appeals. He is also a former senior associate editor of the American Bar Association’s The Labor Lawyer.
Matt is a frequent speaker and author on various legal and business topics, including issues involving client billing and fees, in-house legal practices and contract negotiation. In 2009, Matt authored an article in The Banking Law Journal titled “The Nigerian Check Scam: An Oldie Revisited,” 126 Bank. L.J. 223 (March 2009).
Matt received his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law where he graduated cum laude and was the executive editor of the Syracuse Law Review. He also graduated magna cum laude from the W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University with a bachelor of science degree in finance.