Our Team
Tim Peters
Tim Peters has been working in real estate for more than 10 years in commercial brokerage and residential investment and development. Tim holds both his real estate license and his auctioneer's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is also a member of the Virginia Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association. Tim excels at devising creative marketing solutions to help auction sellers get the most out of the sale of their property. He meets with every seller to guide the process and direction of each auction. From that point, he manages the team that executes the auction process from marketing to auction day to the closing table.
Tim, a native of Virginia, graduated from James Madison University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Keith May
Keith May has been in the real estate business for more than 20 years and now brings that extensive experience to the real estate auction industry. Keith's widespread expertise in residential, commercial and investment real estate make him an integral asset to the Cottonwood Auctions team. Keith is also the owner of Kline May Realty, a residential real estate firm, and is the principal broker for both Priority Property Management and Cottonwood Commercial. Keith serves on the Board for the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, the Harrisonburg Rotary Club, and Eastern Mennonite School. Keith also serves as Chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence, and has previously served as Chairman of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board for Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and Chairman for a Mutual Aid Insurance Company.
In addition, Keith serves on the Commercial Council for the Virginia Association of Realtors, and is a member of the Virginia Economic Development Association. In 2011, Keith was recognized at the Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2012, Keith was recognized at the Realtor Association Humanitarian of the Year.
Megan Ruckman
Megan Ruckman is our director of operations. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company, as well as the planning, development and implementation of our marketing strategies, marketing communications and public relations activities. Megan develops a dynamic and comprehensive 30-day marketing strategy for each client that showcases the property to serious buyers. Utilizing both print and online marketing tactics, Megan helps clients expedite and enhance the sale of their property through a method that yields results in just 60 days.
For the auctions, Megan also makes sure bidders have their questions and concerns addressed adequately so that they can make informed purchase decisions. Anything you need that isn't already contained in our comprehensive bidder packet, Megan will work to get. Before the auction, Megan is there to help sellers prepare for preview days and everything leading up to the main event. After the auction, she will work with the seller and buyer to coordinate a quick and successful closing. From beginning to end, Megan makes sure that our clients have exactly what they need.
Megan has a bachelor's degree in media arts and design and a master's degree in technical communication, both from James Madison University. In addition, Megan also holds her real estate license in Virginia.
Dean M. Nichols, Esq.
Dean M. Nichols (“Mac”) acts as general counsel for the Cottonwood Auctions team. For the past 27 years, Mac has worked in real estate law and estate planning. In addition to his law degree, Mac is a Certified Public Accountant and has his master's degree in taxation. Mac is a member and past president of the Rockingham County Rotary Club. In addition to his other professional organizations, he is a past president of the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Bar Association and is a member and treasurer of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Mac serves on the VMRC Foundation Board of Directors and on the Board of Foundation for Indigenous Languages. He concentrates his practice in planning tax transactions. including tax-deferred exchanges, estate planning, real estate law, general business matters and handling Internal Revenue Service controversy matters.
