Meet the Speakers
Keith L. McLane, BAS: KLM Auctions
Keith McLane is one of the country’s preeminent fundraising auctioneers, special appeal/fund-a-need experts, and event-based fundraising educators. Since founding KLM Auctions in 1995, he has specialized in organizing and conducting over 2,000 fundraising auctions for schools, charitable organizations, and nonprofit groups from Honolulu to New York City. Based in Northern California, KLM Auctions manages a well-educated and highly-trained team of auctioneers who collectively consult on and perform nearly 200 events/year. Keith frequently serves as a featured speaker to groups of fundraising professionals on topics pertaining to benefit auction fundraising. He holds an MBA from The UCLA Anderson School of Management and is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School. www.klmauctions.com
Renee Jones CAI, AARE, AMM, BAS, CAS, CES: National Fundraising Solutions
Ms. Jones is lauded for her business development, operations management, and professional auctioneer accomplishments. During her 32-year career as an industry leader and educator, she has managed over $7 billion of real estate and tangible assets transactions. Fundraisers are her passion. Her journey has been over two decades in the making and along the way she has raised over 250 million dollars for so many deserving organizations of all sizes. Ms. Jones won the 1996 International Champion Auctioneer competition, has served as Chair of the NAA Education Institute, two terms as an NAA Director, and is a Life Member of the National Auctioneers Association. She can be reached at www.reneejones.com
Lynne Zink, CAI, BAS, CES: Lynne Zink Productions
Lynne Zink specializes in Benefit Auctions, Real Estate and Personal Property Auctions. She also serves as a Consultant, Educator, and Motivational Speaker. In 2012, Zink earned the coveted title of International Auctioneer Champion in the Women’s Division and served as Ambassador for the National Auctioneers Association. Other honors include 2005 & 2013 Auctioneer of the Year and Past President of the Auctioneers Association of Maryland. Zink earned a Bachelor's Degree in English, Secondary Education, and Theater and conducts workshops & seminars in Fundraising, Communication, Train the Trainer, Success Strategies and more. www.lynnezink.com
Kathy Kingston CAI, BAS: The Kingston Auction Company
An award winning thought leader, fundraising auctioneer and consultant, Kathy Kingston is the author of the Amazon best-selling bookA Higher Bid: How to Transform Special Event Fundraising with Strategic Benefit Auctions.She is the founder and principal of Kingston Auction Company LLC, which has raised millions of dollars nationwide for over three decades. Ms. Kingston is the creator of the Philanthropy Model of Fundraising Auctions. Kathy has been awarded two of the National Auctioneers Association’s major awards, the 2012 Chuck Cumberlin Memorial Award and the 2006 Rose Award. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Saint Louis University, where in 1986 she was named “Woman of the Year.” In 2013, she was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant™ Hall of Fame. Through her innovative mentoring and coaching programs, Kathy consistently empowers auctioneers and nonprofit executives to break revenue records, to engage donors and to inspire a new culture of philanthropy. www.KingstonAuction.com
Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS: Menish Auction Group
Bill is a 15 time Emmy Award winning broadcast journalist and considered among the best Benefit Auctioneers in the Nation. From raising $5.5 Million for JDRF Seattle, to $3.2 Million for Sanford Burnham in San Diego to raising $1.3 Million for the Dick Vitale Gala in Sarasota, Florida, Bill excels in both high profile and intimate gala fundraisers. Bill is a Graduate of Ball State University and The Worldwide College of Auctioneering and The Certified Auction Institute at Indiana University. Bill was the 67th person in the world to receive the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist designation through the National Auctioneers Association. Bill is also the owner of SVN Menish Auctions where he oversees the sales of millions of dollars of commercial and residential real estate. As a real estate auction expert, Bill also holds the Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate Designation.www.menishauctions.com
Darren Diess BAS: Strategic Fundraising Auctions
Darren is a skilled Fundraising Advisor and Benefit Auctioneer specializing in taking non-profit fundraising and events from "It was a tough one," to "We exceeded all expectations and had a blast." Providing full-service fundraising solutions, Darren works to cultivate relationships, engage donors, and build long-term partnerships that result in continuous and planned giving. Darren has earned the prestigious Benefit Auction Specialist designation through the National Auctioneers Association. www.darrendiess.com
Darron Meares, MBA, CAI, MPPA, BAS: Meares and Associates, LLC
Meares Auction and Associates, LLC was founded in April 2008 by Darron and Hope Meares. The company began as a fundraising auction and consultation firm and quickly expanded with an asset appraisal division and a public speaking/education division. Darron Meares is an auction school instructor at the Southeastern School of Auctioneering, the continuing education presenter for the Industrial Auctioneer Association, an instructor at the Certified Auctioneer Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and a past presenter in 27 states through the US, Puerto Rico and Mexico. He writes his own presentations and tailors his presentations to the group to which he is speaking. In addition, Meares is requested to speak on Generational Differences and Communicating Between the Different Generations – both presentations assist age groups in communicating with each other. www.mearesauctiongroup.com.
