Behind every major hobby milestone stands a visionary — the builders who expand access, elevate trust, and redefine what collecting means. The Collectibles Executive of the Year category honors the individuals whose leadership, innovation, and passion shaped the collectibles industry in 2025. These nominees represent the balance of legacy and disruption — from auction houses and grading companies to live commerce and digital marketplaces — and their impact will be felt for decades to come.
Nominees
Brahm Wachter
Since joining Sotheby’s in 2019, Brahm Wachter has driven the auction house’s dynamic expansion into streetwear, sports memorabilia, sneakers, trading cards, and modern collectibles. As Head of Modern Collectibles, he’s bridged traditional art auction prestige with modern cultural relevance.
Wachter has curated some of the most high-profile memorabilia sales in history, including Michael Jordan’s Last Dance jersey ($10.1M) and Diego Maradona’s Hand of God shirt ($9.3M), while leading Sotheby’s record-breaking auctions of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan rookie jerseys in 2025.
By integrating partnerships with the NBA, Fanatics, Real Madrid, and luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Off-White, Wachter has positioned Sotheby’s as a global cultural force and redefined what collecting can mean in the modern era.
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Brian Dwyer
As President of REA (Robert Edward Auctions), Brian Dwyer has guided the company to new heights of credibility and performance. A lifelong collector, Dwyer’s roots in the hobby stretch from early eBay consignments to leadership roles at SGC before joining REA in 2012.
He’s expanded REA’s auction calendar, introduced new technology-driven operations, and helped the company achieve record-setting sales across vintage baseball cards and sports memorabilia. Dwyer’s leadership blends authenticity, accessibility, and education — making REA one of the most respected names in the hobby.
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Chris Ivy
As the founding Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage Auctions, Chris Ivy has transformed the company into one of the world’s leading destinations for high-end sports memorabilia. Since establishing the division in 2001, Ivy has overseen landmark sales for Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Michael Jordan — bringing sports memorabilia to the same stage as fine art and historical artifacts.
A respected expert frequently featured by ESPN, CNBC, and Bloomberg, Ivy has helped shape the cultural legitimacy of collectibles within mainstream investment and media. His leadership continues to reinforce Heritage’s reputation for scale, trust, and record-setting results.
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Jason Masherah
A lifelong hobbyist turned executive, Jason Masherah has been the steady hand behind Upper Deck’s evolution as President since 2013. From pioneering exclusive athlete deals with legends like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Wayne Gretzky, to introducing the revolutionary e-Pack platform that bridges digital and physical collecting, Masherah has kept Upper Deck at the forefront of innovation and quality.
His 20-year journey with the company — from brand manager to president — has seen collaborations across Marvel, Disney, DC, and AEW, creating some of the most beloved sports and entertainment products in the hobby. Masherah’s leadership ensures that Upper Deck remains synonymous with authenticity, craftsmanship, and collector connection.
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Ken Goldin
Founder and CEO of Goldin, Ken Goldin has become one of the most recognizable figures in the collectibles world. Since 2012, his auction house has surpassed $1 billion in total sales, with Goldin himself responsible for more than $2 billion in memorabilia transactions over his career.
In 2024, Goldin negotiated the sale of his company to eBay, combining the power of a global marketplace with the authenticity and curation of his boutique operation. He further expanded in 2025 with the acquisition of Studio Auctions, extending Goldin’s reach into Hollywood memorabilia.
Goldin’s influence extends to mainstream audiences through Netflix’s King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, which continues to introduce millions to the world of collecting — making him both an industry leader and cultural ambassador.
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Mike Mahan
As CEO of Fanatics Collectibles, Mike Mahan has overseen one of the fastest expansions in the history of trading cards. Under his leadership, the division grew to $1.6 billion in 2024, up 40% year-over-year.
Mahan personally conceptualized the MLB Debut Patch — connecting game-used jersey patches from players’ first games to trading cards — and has continued to build partnerships with the UFC, WWE, MLS, EPL, and NBA.
He’s also advanced transparency and accountability within the hobby, commissioning independent KPMG randomness audits and extending redemption expirations to 10 years. Mahan’s combination of creativity, scale, and collector trust has positioned Fanatics Collectibles as the defining force in modern trading cards.
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Nat Turner
CEO of Collectors, parent company of PSA, Nat Turner has led the company through a technological renaissance since acquiring it in 2021. Under his leadership, Collectors has invested heavily in AI, automation, and scalability — transforming PSA into a modern powerhouse of grading and authentication.
A lifelong collector himself, Turner’s passion drives his approach to innovation, transparency, and community building. His entrepreneurial success — from selling Invite Media to Google and Flatiron Health to Roche — underscores his ability to blend business acumen with deep hobby roots.
Through Turner’s leadership, PSA remains the gold standard of trust in an increasingly complex collectibles landscape.
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Nicolas le Jeune
As Co-Founder and CEO of Courtyard.io, Nicolas le Jeune is reshaping how collectors experience ownership in the digital age. His platform’s Slab Pack innovation allows collectors to open mystery packs of real, graded cards that can be instantly resold, kept vaulted, or shipped home — creating liquidity and transparency like never before.
Le Jeune’s vision merges Web3 technology with the traditional hobby, offering a seamless experience for both new and veteran collectors. Under his leadership, Courtyard has positioned itself as a bridge between physical and digital collecting, bringing efficiency and excitement to the next generation of hobbyists.
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Each of these leaders has left an undeniable mark on the industry — from building billion-dollar platforms to protecting collector trust, from mainstream media expansion to next-gen innovation. Their work defines where the hobby is heading next.
Voting for Best Collectibles Executive of the Year is now open. Vote Here.
All registered Mantel users who vote will automatically be entered to win a limited /50 Ghostwrite Hobby Awards Trophy.
To see all categories and nominees, visit TheHobbyAwards.com.
