Called to serve God in business

Name: Bob Brunk '63

Business name: Brunk Auctions, Asheville, N.C.; founded in 1983

Business description: Auctioneer specializing in 18th and 19th century American and European antiques; furniture, fine silver, paintings, rugs and a wide range of decorative art.

On the spirit of entrepreneurship: "We have a very simple policy: When we make a mistake, we pay for it. If it is not our mistake, we don't pay for it. It's a simple policy, but it's good business.

"Many days, the mercantile part of my job is not the most important part of it. What's important is to listen to people in order to be clear as I can about what their situation is and offer whatever help I can. Sometimes that is selling things for people. And sometimes that is a hug. Sometimes it is crying with somebody. Sometimes it is saying 'you are not really ready to sell anything, you have to grieve or you have to wait awhile.' We look and listen to our clients.Ó