WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING…
WOW! Believing in taking risks, we decided to add a live auction and paddle raise to our annual event last year. Little did we know that through Lia’s enthusiastic and passionate personality and expert skill we would raise a record amount of money for our mission. Lia’s genuine interest in creating an atmosphere of giving and engagement paid off not only in raising more money but in raising spirits and joy. People wanted to give. People wanted to be part of the process of making a difference. From the first planning meeting to the actual event Lia was a consummate professional and support to us. We choose her again this year to lead our auction process. Once again we raised a record amount of money and spirits!
Engage Lia. Follow her lead. You will reap invaluable rewards!–Jacki Coyle, Executive Director, Shepherd’s Table
I run a small theatre company, Pinky Swear Productions. Lia was instrumental in helping us make a great success of our first gala fundraiser. She helped create hype for auction items, both silent and live, creating buzz and excitement through the crowd. She was able to help us pull silent auction items that were hotly contested and bid them out live, which was both fun and lucrative for our company. She was respectful to the guests, while still reminding them of the reason they were attending the event that night. Lia ran the live auction at the end of the evening. And by ran it, I mean she played it like a fiddle on fire. She made every item sound like the most exciting thing you could ever possibly have/want/do. She was persuasive without being pushy and had a real skill with knowing when to keep the bidding going and when to let it settle on a final price. She helped us pre-determine maximums and minimums for a call for cash, which helped us to make a lot more than we would have if we had been left to our own devices. Some good advice I got when I started planning this event was to have an auctioneer/facilitator, so I and my staff could focus on mingling with our guests rather than on the business end of things. The best advice I got was to hire Lia. I received tons upon tons of great compliments from our guests on how much they enjoyed her personality and her work on the auctions. I could not recommend her more highly!–Karen Lange, Co-Artistic Director, Pinky Swear Productions
Lia’s professionalism, organization, and passion were evident from the moment we sat down to our initial meeting and I immediately knew we were in good hands. She was a goldmine of innovative ideas that enabled us to maximize and even exceed our fundraising goals. Lia’s skills as an auctioneer, both during the actual auctions and in working the room prior and post, helped us to raise over $45,000 for charity! I very heartily recommend Lia’s skills as an auctioneer, you definitely can’t go wrong with her!-– Cindy Kim, Pediatric HIV/AIDS
Lia has been the Auctioneer at Metro TeenAIDS’ Annual Auction since 2006 and we plan to never give her up. Her charm, energy, and enthusiasm do an amazing job in capturing the audience—MTA has never been as successful in meeting our goals without her participation in the event. Lia’s devotion to our mission is also clear.– Adam Tenner, Metro Teen AIDS
Lia Kvatum is a true gem! For three years in a row, she served as our auctioneer at our church’s biggest annual fundraiser! If it hadn’t been for Lia and her skillful auctioneering we would not have made half the money we did to go toward our mission and ministry. She uses a blend of humor and energy which engages the audience and encourages them to bid higher and higher! We plan on inviting Lia to be our auctioneer every year going forward. People just can’t stop talking about what a highlight Lia is and how much they look forward to the annual event to see her again in action!--The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein, Rector, Church of the Ascension
Lia’s infectious and engaging energy has made our fundraising auction a big success for three years running. She knows how to read a room, find the fun, and roll with the punches (as when our sound system completely failed and Lia continued completely unfazed). –Mark Chalfant, Executive Director, Washington Improv Theater
