Staff & People
Meet a few of the members of the Shipshewana Trading Place team, who work hard to make Shipshewana a destination worth visiting time and time again.
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Shipshewana Trading Place Team
Keith has been an owner/operator of Shipshewana Trading Place since 1981. With a strong commitment to keeping the company a family-owned business, he purchased the organization fully in September 2015 and has since been joined in the office by his son. His daughters are also active and work in the livestock office. Don’t be surprised to see his wife, children and grandchildren around from time-to-time helping to keep the business moving forward. He is an active member of Elkhart Community Church and a board member for the Westview School Corporation. In his spare time, Keith loves to spend time with his family, especially his 10 grandchildren.
Brian joined the family business in December 2015 alongside his dad leading business development efforts. With more than 10 years in the RV industry, it is not surprising that one of his first efforts included the expansion of RV services. He led the addition of a new RV Service Center, that opened in October 2016. The RV Service Center offers Full PDI (Post Delivery Inspection); warranty work, service work, add-on sales and installation and winterizing services. In his free time, he loves spending time just hanging out with his wife and 4 young children.
Flea Market
Since 2006, Michael has managed the operations of the Midwest’s Largest Flea Market. He oversees vendor recruitment and retainment, maintenance, and customer service. Michael loves meeting new people and working with vendors to help them have the best experience possible at the market. His responsibilities also include managing the Shipshewana Antique & Misc. Auctions, Swap Meets, Ship-Chic Crafts, Gifts & Goodies markets and other special events held on the grounds. Michael is married and lives in Shipshewana with his wife and three children.
Javan’s main role is supporting the operations of the flea market and swap meets. He can also be seen around Shipshewana Trading Place in auctions or anywhere else his skills can be used to support the various businesses across the grounds. He is a local and lives in Shipshewana with his wife and son. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and strumming on a variety of instruments making music.
Jamye joined the Shipshewana Trading Place Team in April 2023. She has been an avid shopper of the flea market since coming here as a young girl with her mom & grandma. She is no stranger to the auction business. Her first job out of college was with a car auction in Auburn, IN. Jamye plays a key role to the flea market & corporate offices; and on occasion, clerks the antique & misc. auction. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, gardening & anything outdoors, and loves spending time with her grandkids. Being a crafter, she is also a vendor in our Ship-Chic Crafts, Gifts & Goodies Markets and has become known as our very own internal “sign maker”.
Antique & Misc. Auction
Wanda’s roots at Shipshewana Auction run deep. When she was a little girl, her father and mother owned the business and Wanda would sell popcorn to buyers and sellers. Currently, Wanda can be found on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Antique & Misc. Auction office fielding phone calls and working the buyer windows. She also clerks at the Friday horse auctions. When she’s not at Shipshewana Auction, Wanda enjoys working for a shop uptown, collecting high-end primitives, and traveling to Indy and Phoenix to visit family.
Corporate Office
Eric has been with Shipshewana Auction since 2003 where he heads up the accounting department. Eric has been a part of the local community his whole life and actually worked for Shipshewana Auction during the summers through his high school and college years. Eric lives in the Shipshewana area with his wife and two children.
Lora leads the strategic marketing & customer service initiatives for the Shipshewana Trading Place brand. She also serves as their community representative while leading other marketing and communications initiatives. Prior to joining the team in 2014 she spent 13 years in healthcare marketing for Indiana University Health and 7 years in design & commercial printing. She is the Board President for the LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and a member of the Shipshewana Retail Merchants Association. Lora lives in Shipshewana with her husband and their children. She is active in kids ministry at New Life Fellowship and loves to spend time outdoors with her family, playing with her granddaughter, cooking, and being creative.
Rita started with Shipshewana Trading Place in 2017 as the human resource coordinator. She has 10 years in the HR field, and enjoys the challenge of the job and how it changes from day to day. Rita lives at the lake and enjoys all aspects of lake life including swimming, boating and paddle boarding.
Mike joined the Shipshewana Trading Place team in 2019. He currently serves as the IT Coordinator and assists Lora in the Marketing department as the Digital Marketing Specialist. Prior to joining the team, Mike spent 11 years working for Howe Military Academy in Howe, IN serving as the Director of Technology and Digital Marketing. Mike lives in Three Rivers, Michigan with his wife and their two children. In his spare time, he enjoys serving as a member of the Restoration Church worship team in Constantine, MI and loves to go on camping adventures with his family.
Out of business college, Michelle began her career by working at the Shipshewana State Bank. Michelle later worked over 25 years in office management in the manufacturing industry. Michelle joined the Shipshewana Trading Place team in July 2021 and feels back at home in Shipshewana working in accounting and supporting the Antique & Misc. Auction and Farmstead Inn teams. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys walking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Merv joined the maintenance team in 2018 and provides day-to-day maintenance, primarily at the Farmstead Inn, as well as, the ongoing upkeep of the facility. Before joining Shipshewana Trading Place, Merv worked for Westview Schools for 11 years and also owned Ace Hardware in Shipshewana for 30 years. In his spare time, he enjoys going to his lake house, antiquing, gardening, and spending time with his grandkids on the farm.
Ray is an integral part of the maintenance team and helps provide overall direction of the day-to-day maintenance, as well as, the ongoing upkeep of our facilities, equipment and vehicles. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and kids.
RV Service Center
Ryan has been with the Shipshewana RV Service Center since its opening. Before managing the service center, Ryan worked as Director of Operations at Evergreen RV and also held positions at Skyline and Crossroads RV. He lives in Shipshewana with his wife and two kids, and he enjoys hunting, sports, and hanging out with family.
Farmstead Inn
Chad began working at the Farmstead as a Front Desk Team Member and was quickly identified as a great fit to fill the conference setup & teardown position. Having the knowledge and team experience, he is now serving as the Farmstead Inn & Conference Center Manager. He is active in his home church and in his spare time, he coaches baseball and loves to spend time with his wife and two children.
Andrea joined Shipshewana Trading Place in 2021 as an auction clerk, bringing back great memories from her past. She had so much fun returning to the auction scene that she asked if there was anyplace else within the company that she could help. She helped fill the receptionist role as Flea Market season approached and now works with the Farmstead Inn & Conference Center taking care of group and conference planning. When not in one of her Shipshewana Trading Place roles she is happy to be at home perusing Instagram & Pinterest for ideas on how to decorate with her latest auction finds.
Auction Restaurant
Stephanie Bontrager started with Shipshewana Trading Place in February, 2023 as the Auction Restaurant Manager. She resides in Howe, IN with her husband Dannie and their three children. In her free time, she enjoys camping and spending time outside. Stephanie also attends the Stroh Church of Christ. She is excited to serve the community through the restaurant and hopes to bring a welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy at the Shipshewana Auction Restaurant!
Livestock & Horse Auction
Donna has been with the team since 1996. She wears many hats at Shipshewana Auction, but most of the time, you will find her assisting cattle or horse buyers and sellers in the livestock office during the livestock and horse sale. Donna enjoys the customers she has gotten to know over the years and how they have been a blessing to her. When not at work, Donna enjoys spending time with family, including her grandchildren, baking or sitting on the back patio with a good book.
Jenny has been around the auction, flea market, and hotel most of her life. Her knowledge of the business is beneficial as she checks out buyers and sellers during the weekly Livestock and Horse Auctions, and also helps out in any area of the business she might be needed throughout the season. Jenny has an infectious positivity that brightens up any office she works in. She lives in Shipshewana with her husband and 3 children.
Stacy has worked a variety of positions across the organization, including the flea market, Auction restaurant, and most recently livestock office and clerk. Her infectious positive attitude reflects in every customer encounter, whether she is serving a guest at the restaurant or the livestock office. She, her husband and three children keep very busy in the community and with various extracurricular activities such as 4H and live in nearby Churubusco.
Fun & Events
Shippy serves as a fitting representation of the bustling energy that permeates our weekly antique and livestock auctions, as well as, our seasonal flea markets. He encapsulates the entirety of our complex also including the Auction Restaurant, Farmstead Inn & Conference Center; and the RV Park and Service Center, ensuring every traveler’s journey is a top-notch experience. Shippy joined the Shipshewana Auction Team on June 16, 2023. He loves having his photo taken so be sure to get your selfie with him if you see him. You never know when or where you might find him out and about. When he’s not working, he loves connecting with the community to rejuvenate himself for the next round of explorations and treasure hunts at Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market!