Who We Are

Bill Pace is a founding partner of Pace & Hong Auctions. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit and the Reppert School of Auctioneering, one of the oldest and most respected auction schools in the country.

Bill’s professional career began as a radio news reporter in Detroit. He started making documentary films after founding a counseling facility for runaway youth; then went on to work at Detroit area television stations where he received five Emmys. Bill completed his local career at WTVS-TV producing “LateNight America” seen nationally on Public Broadcasting.

In 1986 he formed Longbow Productions in Los Angeles with two partners, specializing in family dramas. Bill’s work includes films for CBS, ABC, NBC and the USA Network including “Forever Love” with Reba McEntire, the feature film “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “The Summer of Ben Tyler” starring James Woods.

During his time on the west coast, Bill also built spec homes in Lake Arrowhead where he designed residences with rustic mountain appeal. Bill has also been actively involved with education as a co-founder of The Wesley School, serving as their Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Bill’s exposure to antiques began at his grandfather’s farm in Capac, Michigan and he has been an avid collector of vintage fishing lures for many years. Pace & Hong Auctions evolved from his interest in the production of television programs combined with his enjoyment of antiques. The result is a unique and entertaining event he welcomes you to enjoy at Pace & Hong Auctions. Bill is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the Michigan Association of Auctioneers.

Bill lives at Lost Lake Woods Club in Lincoln, MI where he has been a member since 1985. He enjoys everything outdoors and is a member of The National Fishing Lure Collector’s Club, Ducks Unlimited and The Ossineke Eagles. An avid fisherman and the proud father of two daughters, Bill’s auctioneering career is another adventure with longtime fishing buddy and business partner Herman Hong.

Herman Hong, a founding partner of Pace & Hong Auctions, comes to the auction world with keen interest and experience in building successful businesses. After more than a decade as a corporate manager of sales, service and operations in telecommunications, the emergence of the personal computer caught Herman’s imagination. He became fascinated with the potential of this developing technology and how it could improve the lives of individuals and their small businesses.

In 1982 Herman started his own small business focused on financial management and technology for local entrepreneurs. He has worked with a variety of businesses including wood flooring distribution, agricultural processing, pallet manufacturing, food sales and furniture retailing. Throughout his career, Herman has seen that integrity, hard work, good customer service and community involvement are central to the success of any local business and he brings this approach and work ethic to Pace & Hong Auctions.

After finishing college and business school, Herman’s most important learning came from the people he has met along the way. Happily married for twenty-eight years to Sheila, who is a writer, they have three grown daughters with their own thriving families which include cats and a few horses thrown into the mix.

Herman and his wife are avid long-time collectors of art and antiques. They discovered eBay in its early days, which merged their interests in collecting and technology. For over twenty years Herman has traveled and fished in Northeast Michigan. Fly fishing on the Au Sable River is one of his favorite pastimes but he is still looking to catch-and-release that record Brookie. . . .