As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
No two workdays are the same for Mathias Donat.
One moment he’s supporting families at an estate sale, the next repairing an old tractor, and later he may be on stage in a tuxedo, energizing a crowd of more than 1,000 at a black-tie benefit auction.
A lifelong Saline resident, Donat is an auction manager and auctioneer with Braun & Helmer Auction Service, handling everything from fleet vehicle sales and estate auctions to nonprofit events and school fundraisers.
Donat, who recently served as president of the Michigan Auctioneers Association and currently chairs its board, began working with Braun & Helmer in high school.
Washtenaw Community College’s flexible scheduling allowed him to continue working for the firm while earning associate degrees in Business and Liberal Arts Transfer, along with a motorcyle technology certificate.
Later, Donat attended an auctioneer’s school in Ohio. The mix of education proved powerful. Acting classes built confidence and stage presence, while hands-on training prepared him for the mechanical realities of auction work.
Only about 10 percent of Donat's job is spent on stage. The rest requires strategy, marketing, negotiation and empathy, skills Donat credits to his WCC education.
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This story can be found in the Summer 2026 edition of Launch magazine. Read the full publication.
Tags: 60 Stories, Alumni Profile, Business, Launch Summer 2026, liberal arts