VIRTUAL Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS)
This designation is one of NAA’s fastest-growing. The designation covers not just selling items at a benefit auction, but how to maximize fundraising through non-bidcalling methods, such as games to play with an audience, silent auctions, direct appeals and more. Some of the major topics covered are working with nonprofits and volunteers, networking and marketing your services, and actually convincing people to pay for a benefit auctioneer (often nonprofits are used to using a volunteer auctioneer). Attendees are generally benefit auctioneers with some experience who are looking to expand or auctioneers looking to add something to their portfolio of services.
Instructors: Scott Robertson, CAI, BAS and Lance Walker, CAI, BAS, CES
Frequently referred to as Florida’s Favorite Fundraising Auctioneer, Scott Robertson is a full time professional benefit auctioneer. For more than 20 years, he has assisted schools and non-profit organizations to meet or exceed their fundraising goals. This Florida State Champion Auctioneer has conducted thousands of fundraising auctions. In the past six years, Scott and his associate auctioneer, Sara Rose Bytnar, helped not-for-profit organizations raise more than $150 million dollars. His contagious energy and enthusiasm assist in his ability to entertain at charity auctions and is evidenced by the percentage of attendees remaining in their seats bidding and cheering until the end of the auction. Scott takes great pride in helping not for profit organizations raise funds to help their cause. Scott eats, sleeps and breathes Fundraising Auctions. He is honored to play a part in making the world a better place.
Lance Walker founded Walker Auctions 36 years ago and specializes in conducting real estate, personal property and benefit auctions throughout the United States.
In the Memphis area, he heads the Walker Auctions real estate division working with sellers and fellow Realtors in selling houses, land or commercial property that would best sell using the live or online auction format. He and his auctioneer wife and business partner Terri have pioneered the sale of real estate and personal property in the Memphis area utilizing the MarkNet Alliance online auction bidding portal. MarkNet Alliance provides a nationwide presence for 65 member auction companies. They conduct over 100 auctions per year for individuals, businesses and foundations. Walker is a licensed real estate broker and auctioneer in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri.
Lance also has M.A. and B.S. degrees in Education from SEMO U in Cape Girardeau, MO, is a graduate of the Certified Auctioneers Institute from University of Indiana - Bloomington, and the Certified Estate Specialist program. Walker was elected to the NAA Board of Directors in 2006. He has served as President of the Missouri Auctioneers Association and Vice President of the Tennessee Auctioneers. He was named to the Missouri Auctioneer's Hall of Fame and is also a Realtor.
Lance Walker is considered to be one of the leading benefit auctioneers in the country and conducts benefit auctions from east coat to west coast. Walker co-wrote the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist certification program for the National Auctioneers Association and serves as instructor to over 100 aspiring auctioneers annually.
Prior to working in the auctioneering field, Walker was Collector of Revenue in Missouri for eight years collecting real estate and personal property taxes for Pemiscot County. He also worked as an off-campus faculty member for the University of Missouri Extension Service and was a guidance counselor and social studies teacher in the public schools.
