Efficient Event Prep: Strategies for Fundraising Events

Jason Champion holds the position of Vice President of Business Development at Winspire, a globally recognized leader in offering premium experiences for charity auctions and fundraising campaigns. In his role as the company's chief branding officer, he bears the responsibility of shaping the organization's future brand direction. Jason assumes a central role in elevating performance levels by spearheading inventive product and service enhancements, charting strategic brand strategies and positioning, leading creative initiatives, ensuring high levels of customer contentment, and catalyzing the company's growth trajectory.

Lauren Batterby was born and raised in Manchester, England. She is the CEO and founder of Life Event Staffing, providing specialized auction staff for fundraising and corporate events across North America, serving both the United States and Canada. With over 10 years of industry experience, Lauren's expertise lies in fundraising events and silent auction technology. LIFE Event Staffing was established in 2021, with a small roster of 40 staff and 1 client, under Lauren’s leadership Life Event Staffing has grown to 650 staff, managing 7 silent auctions platforms, and organizing over 850 successful auction events in 2022. Another big addition to the team in 2022 was sweet baby Lucy, now 13-months old. Laurens daughter.

A word from Lauren: “I seek to leverage my career in fundraising by building relationships to strengthen my knowledge while learning from others. I believe that positive actions bring positive outcomes and I lead my company with empathy.”

Cody Hays is the CEO and Founder of Marketing Mission. A digital marketing firm that helps nonprofit organizations use marketing tools and resources to advance progressive social change. With over 7 years of nonprofit experience, Cody's happiest days are spent behind his computer screen helping other nonprofits change the world. He helps organizations grow their impact through creative, data-driven digital marketing.

Jeff is no stranger to fundraising events, having participated in them for over 25 years. He ran his first fundraiser in 2005 and has managed over 50 auction events and fundraisers for his own charities, not to mention hundreds more with Handbid. Jeff has been involved in technical product and software development since 1996 and has built and managed mobile app solutions since 2008. When it became clear that he and his wife, Kari Porter, needed a better solution for their fundraisers, developing a mobile bidding app was a no-brainer. The result? Jeff and his wife Kari developed and launched Handbid in 2011. The rest is what they call “history”.