In 2003, Mr. Kruse began accepting receivership appointments managing countless transactions through sales or wind-down processes. His expertise extends across the Midwest, overseeing receivership cases from Washington DC to California.

A respected authority, Mr. Kruse imparts his knowledge through seminars on distressed asset management and corporate wind-down for the real estate and auction community. He has shared insights on financial institutions and the court system at The Ohio Auction School and National Auctioneers Association, earning recognition as an industry expert by leading publications such as the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Business First and countless online venues.

In 2011, Mr. Kruse played a pivotal role in drafting new local rules for receivership management in Franklin County, Ohio.  He also contributed to modified legislation language streamlining the foreclosure sale process in Ohio and played a key role in developing a proprietary website for workflow tracking and online bidding for Private Selling Officer auctions.

Acknowledged as “One to Know” in Real Estate 2013 by Business First, Mr. Kruse’s commitment extends to public service.  Appointed by Governor John Kasich in 2013, he served as Chairman of the Ohio Auctioneers Commission, contributing to the advancement of the auction industry.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Kruse embraced new adventures during the Covid period. He discovered a passion for scuba diving, obtaining his PADI open water instructor certification and progressing toward the prestigious Master Scuba Diver Trainer certification.  In Ohio and Florida, he shares his expertise as a scuba diving instructor and serves as a dive guide on boats in Clearwater, Florida.

Away from work, Mr. Kruse finds joy in traveling, cooking, and continuing his exploration of the underwater world. Residing in both Columbus, Ohio, and Tarpon Springs, Florida, with his wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Savannah, he cherishes the balance between his professional success and personal adventures.

Most recently, Melissa was the director of External Operations for the Columbus Local Organizing Committee for the Women’s Final Four.  Prior to that she was the Deputy Director of Transportation & Logistics for the Democratic National Convention Committee. In conjunction with the Director of Transportation, she helped plan a fully integrated accessible transportation system comprised of 425 buses and 365 motor pool cars, that moved more than 45,000 convention participants from 90 hotels to conference events throughout Philadelphia.

She was also involved in the two-year outreach and strategic planning effort for Columbus 2016, the City of Columbus solicitation to land the 2016 Democratic Convention.  She worked closely with many leading stakeholders both in Columbus and nationally, to plan and implement events to raise awareness and generate support for the City’s endeavor. This project included planning and executing over 40 events in a two-day site visit, as well as coordinating multiple events both in Columbus and other cities.

During the Clinton Administration, Melissa also served as a Special Advisor to the President and the Director of Outreach for the Office of the Special Envoy for the Americas. In this role she organized events throughout the North and South America in support of Administration initiatives.

Shawn’s experience in sales spans from the late 1980s – during which, he undertook projects throughout the northeastern United States – to managing his own car dealership for 25 years. Shawn now runs his own small farm and auction business, where his passion for the auction industry has led to conducting auctions throughout the country.

He is experienced with troubled assets, commercial and residential real estate, farm properties, oil and gas, recreational land, and hunting leases. His specialty is the blend between rural and urban America, and the differences in how business is conducted in each. He works the Appalachian area of Ohio. He is a proud member in good standing with the Ohio Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association.

Shawn was born and raised Ohio graduating from Walnut Ridge H.S. in 1984, then attended The Ohio State University.