About Heritage Auctions - Pop Culture

A sales professional and account manager with more than 25 years of experience, Justin Caravoulias’ enduring love for action figures started in the ’70s with a fuzzy-haired GI Joe 12-inch Land Adventurer figure his mother bought at a yard sale. His position as a Consignment Director for Action Figures & Toys at Heritage perfectly unites his extensive sales background with his lifelong passion for action figures and toys.

After attending the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Caravoulias started a successful career that encompassed advertising, telecommunications, premium domain name sales, and recruitment services. In 2019, he created e-commerce site Vitruvian Armory, a company that serves 1:18 scale action figure customizers by helping them acquire the parts and accessories to suit their individual needs. After joining Heritage in February 2023, he played an immediate key role in assembling the inaugural Ultimate Batman Collection Signature® Auction, personally cataloging over 600 lots with one of the largest and most comprehensive Batman collections from the ’60's and ’70s. 

Caravoulias’ personal collection is diverse and based around action figures. Collected since childhood, his GI Joe collection ranges from 1964 to present day, in addition to other action figure lines from the ’70s to today along with trading/sports cards, vinyl records, VHS tapes, comic books, and most recently, Japanese movie tickets.

Dallas native Jesus Garcia’s love for Pokémon cards started from a very young age. A Consignment Director for Heritage’s Trading Card department, he first discovered the phenomenon with the premiere of Pokémon the TV Series, an affinity that progressed to Pokémon Blue and Red and ultimately to the cards themselves.

With a background in Business Administration, Garcia joined Heritage in 2011, starting as an Operations Assistant before transitioning to positions as a Consignment Coordinator and Operations Supervisor for the Comics and Animation Art Department. As the Pokémon craze reignited, he began working on consignments in that area and was promoted to his title a year later.  

A longtime collector of Pokémon cards and Funko Pops, Garcia’s most interesting consignment came from “The Rad Dad Collection,” an exceptional collection passed down from Bart “Rad Dad" Kiser to his children on Christmas morning 1999 before he passed away in 2018. While the array of sealed base sets and booster boxes were massive in terms of quantity and value, Garcia most enjoyed personally working with the family, hearing the story of the experiences they shared as a family through the epic Pokémon collection, and sharing it with collectors during Heritage’s debut Trading Card event that realized $3.47 million in July 2021.  

After attending the University of Louisville (KY), Michael worked in the Consumer Electronics industry. In 1983, he joined the Universal Autograph Collectors Club, and became a dealer in a wide range of collectibles in 1985. Adopting the Internet early, he moved into website design and development in 1995, an area where he has received numerous awards. Michael joined Heritage in 2004 and has done cataloging work for Music & Entertainment Memorabilia, Americana & Political Memorabilia, Historical Manuscripts, and Space Exploration.

Arya Salemi is a respected figure in the trading card industry, known for his Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon collections expertise. His entrepreneurial approach has significantly impacted the trading card community, blending passion with business to create a successful venture.

Arya’s journey in the trading card industry began in his childhood when he was captivated by the art and strategy of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon. This initial interest, fueled by dedication and a thirst for knowledge, transformed into a deep involvement with the trading card community. His participation in tournaments across the globe and the development of a substantial collection were the stepping stones to his future business success, demonstrating his ability to turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise.

Arya's extensive knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit led him to venture into trading Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon cards. His deep understanding of the market and collector demands propelled him to become a recognized seller in the industry. Arya’s business, renowned for its diverse selection, top-notch quality, and customer-centric approach, has flourished through the strategic use of online platforms and networking. These efforts have cultivated a loyal customer base and set his company apart in a competitive marketplace.