Board Members

	Dan DeVane Chairman Mr. DeVane retired from the NC Department of Transportation where he served as the Chief Deputy Secretary/Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he served 6 years as a County Commissioner in Hoke County and 11 years as a member of the NC House of Representatives serving parts of Hoke, Scotland, Moore, Robeson, and Cumberland Counties. He has been a licensed auctioneer since 1976 operating DeVane Realty & Auction. After retiring from DOT, he and his family have continued the auction business operating in the Fayetteville and surrounding areas. Mr. Devane had previously served on the Board, initially in 2012. Mr. DeVane was appointed to the Board in July 2020 to serve a three-year term ending June 30, 2023. Mr. DeVavne was reappointed to the Board in July 2023 by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a three-year term ending on June 30, 2027.
	Willie A. Johnson Vice Chairman Mr. Johnson attended North Carolina A & T State University and Guilford Technical Community College where he earned a degree in Business Administration. He became a licensed auctioneer in 1989 and a licensed real estate broker in 1993. Mr. Johnson earned the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation at Indiana University. Willie Johnson Auctioneer & Associates auction firm was established in 1992 and Willie Johnson Realty firm in 1998. During the years he has conducted marketing as a broker and auctioneer in residential and commercial properties at Century 21 and Keller Williams Realties. In 2005, he served as president of the Auctioneers Association of North Carolina (AANC), and served as AANC convention chairman in 2000 and 2004. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Greensboro Regional REALTORS Association, North Carolina REALTORS Association, National REALTORS Association, and National Auction Association. In 2005 NC Governor Michael Easley appointed Mr. Johnson to the NC Auctioneer Licensing Board, where he served as Chairman 2007-2008. Mr. Johnson was reappointed to the Board in July 2021 by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a three-year term ending on June 30, 2024.
	Melinda Q. Porter Public Member Mrs. Porter is a Realtor/Broker with United Country Forbes Realty and Auctions. She grew up in Raeford, NC then moved to Plymouth, NC in 1986. In Plymouth she worked as a licensed Property & Casualty insurance agent for Seaboard Insurance Agency where she serviced existing policies, processed new customers and resolved claims for clients of the agency. In 1994 she left insurance and started working full time for Porter Properties & Mini Storage, a family owned business. Porter Properties has residential and commercial rentals and a 311 unit storage facility. They have been the local UHaul dealers since October 1999. In 2017 she obtained a Real Estate License and first worked for Riverfront Realty then moved to United Country Forbes Realty and Auctions. She also holds the position of Music Director for First Christian Church in Plymouth, NC. She is currently serving her 3rd term on the Washington County Board of Elections. Mrs. Porter was appointed to the Board in July of 2021 by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a three year term ending on June 30, 2024.
	T. Kyle Swicegood Member Mr. Swicegood is a licensed real estate broker & auctioneer. He is a first-generation auctioneer and second-generation real estate broker. He is a graduate of Catawba College, and Reppert School of Auctioneering. He is an active member of the Auctioneers Association of NC, where he previously served on the Board of Directors. He has been a teacher for both the National and State level auctioneer programs. He holds the Certified Auctioneer designation as designated by the National Auction Association and the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) which is conferred upon commercial real estate leaders who have a proven record of success in the field of financial, market, and investment analysis. Mr. Swicegood is the 2012 North Carolina Bid Calling Grand Champion Auctioneer. He currently serves on the NAA Board of Directors, has previously served on the NAA Education Institute Board of Trustees, and is the past Chair for the Certified Auctioneers Institute. He is the president and lead auctioneer for the Swicegood Group, Inc. Mr. Swicegood was appointed to the Board in July 2021 by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a three-year term ending on June 30, 2024.
	Buck Lattimore Member Mr. Lattimore is a North Carolina licensed Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Wofford College and is also a graduate of the Mendenhall School of Auctioneering and the J.Y. Monk Real Estate School. He is an active member of the Auctioneers Association of North Carolina (AANC), where he has served on the Board of Directors and as an instructor for continuing education classes for auctioneers. Mr. Lattimore has more than 38 years of senior management experience. Before his retirement in 2009, he was Chairman of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He also worked as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance and was Vice President of George Shinn & Associates, where he helped the Charlotte NC company win the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise. He served six years in a Mechanized Infantry Unit of the Army National Guard, and he is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Raleigh and Apex American Legion Post #124. Mr. Lattimore is a former NCDRC licensed North Carolina Superior Court Mediator. Mr. Lattimore was reappointed to the Board in July 2022 by Governor Roy Cooper to serve a three-year term ending on June 30, 2025.