A Family Auction Company Since 1981
About Hessney Auction Co., LTD.
Hessney Auction Co., LTD. has been proudly serving the Finger Lakes and beyond since 1981, when Joseph D. “Joe” Hessney turned his passion for the auction profession into a family business built on hard work, honesty, and relationships.
More than four decades later, Hessney Auction Co. remains a family-owned and operated business based in Geneva, New York. What began with Joe has grown into a full-service auction company conducting Sportsman Auctions, Coin & Jewelry Auctions, and Benefit & Fundraising Auctions.
While the auction industry has changed tremendously since 1981, our philosophy has remained the same:
Treat people fairly, know what you are selling, work hard for your consignors, and never forget the relationships that built the business.
Today, Joe and his daughter, Carrie Hessney-Doran, continue that tradition together, combining decades of experience with modern online auction technology and marketing that allows Hessney Auction Co. to reach bidders across the country.
Founder & Professional Auctioneer
Joseph D. Hessney
Joe Hessney founded Hessney Auction Co. after graduating from Reisch World Wide College of Auctioneering in 1981.
Throughout more than four decades in the auction profession, Joe has been an active member and leader within both the National Auction Association and New York State Auctioneers Association. He has served the NYSAA in numerous leadership roles and has been recognized throughout his career for his contributions to the profession. Joe is a graduate of CAI (Certified Auctioneer’s Institute) at Indiana University, and also holds designations in GPPA (Graduate Personal Property Appraiser), CES (Certified Estate Specialist), and ATM (Auction Technology Marketing).
Career Honors
- 2005 New York State Auctioneer of the Year
- 2008 New York State Bid Calling Champion
- 2017 New York State Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame Inductee
Joe’s knowledge, reputation, and commitment to doing business the right way have been the foundation of Hessney Auction Co. since the very beginning.
Vice President & Second-Generation Auctioneer
Carrie Hessney-Doran
Carrie Hessney-Doran is a second-generation auctioneer who grew up in the auction business and now serves as Vice President of Hessney Auction Co., LTD.
A graduate of the Missouri Auction School, Carrie has spent more than 14 years working throughout virtually every part of the auction industry. At Hessney Auction Co., she specializes in Sportsman Auctions, helping manage large-scale auctions that include firearms, ammunition, sporting goods, vehicles, boats, equipment, and related assets.
Carrie is also the founder of Hessney Benefits, working with nonprofit organizations throughout New York and across the country as a professional benefit auctioneer and fundraising consultant. She conducts more than 40 benefit auctions annually, combining professional auction strategy, storytelling, donor engagement, and paddle raises to help organizations maximize their fundraising.
In 2026, Carrie achieved one of the highest honors in the auction profession when she was named the 2026 International Auctioneer Champion. After years of competing at the state and international level, the championship represented not only a professional milestone, but also an opportunity to represent the auction industry, encourage the next generation, and show other women and working mothers what is possible in this profession.
Career Honors
- 2026 International Auctioneer Champion
- 2024 International Auctioneer Championship Reserve Champion
- 2023 New York State Auctioneer of the Year
- New York State Women’s Bid Calling Champion
Carrie holds the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI), Auction Marketing Management (AMM), and Certified Estate Specialist (CES) professional designations and has served the New York State Auctioneers Association as a board member, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Team Behind Hessney
A family business is about more than the family name. We are incredibly fortunate to have longtime employees who have become an important part of the Hessney Auction Co. story.
Our full-time team members have each been part of Hessney Auction Co. for many years. Their experience, loyalty, hard work, and dedication are behind countless auction days, consignments, phone calls, photographs, catalogs, bidder questions, pickups, and all of the details it takes to make an auction happen.
They aren’t simply employees. They are part of the Hessney team and an important part of why our customers have continued to trust us year after year.
More Than 45 Years, And Still Going
From the traditional live auctions Joe started conducting in 1981 to today’s online auctions reaching bidders across the country, Hessney Auction Co. has continued to grow while staying true to its roots.
We are proud of where we came from, grateful for the customers and consignors who have trusted our family for generations, and excited about where the next generation of Hessney Auction Co. will take us.
Since 1981, it has always been about more than selling things. It’s about people, relationships, and earning the opportunity to serve them again.
