2011 Benefit Auction Summit Committee, National Auctioneers Association
Minnesota’s first benefit auctioneer and instructor, specializing since 1993. Experience with hundreds of benefit auctions of many types, including galas, art auctions, wine dinners, golf tournaments, festivals, a-thons, online, and corporate motivational.
2010 and 2009 3rd place winner, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Bid Calling Championship
2010 and 2004 Benefit Auction Panelist, National Auctioneers Association Conference and Show
2010 Fun Auction Committee and co-emcee, National Auctioneers Association Conference and Show
2009 inductee, World Wide College of Auctioneering Hall of Champions/Hall of Fame
2009 featured speaker at these state auctioneer association conferences: Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma
2009 Judge: Texas Auctioneers Association Bid Calling Championship and Ringman Championship
2009 recipient, award recognizing 17 years of service to the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Legislative Committee
Benefit Auctioneer Specialist Committee, National Auctioneers Association (2009)
Invited by the National Auctioneers Association to develop the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist Certification (2007)
C.A.I. (Certified Auctioneer Institute), National Auctioneers Association (March 2009). Designed for leaders in the industry and auction firm decision-makers, the C.A.I. is an executive development program. Less than five percent of auctioneers nationwide hold the C.A.I. designation.
B.A.S (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist), National Auctioneers Association (March 2007). Less than one percent of auctioneers in North America have this specialized training and designation.
Columnist for The Auctioneer, a national magazine of the National Auctioneers Association: August, 2008-2009
Monthly columnist for Auction World, a newspaper of the National Auctioneers Association: 1999-July, 2008
2005 President, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Board member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association: 1996-1999, 2004-2006
Life member, National Auctioneer’s Association
Member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Member, Iowa Auctioneers Association
Featured in television commercials and in radio promotions
Experienced with closed-circuit television
Graduate,Continental College of Auctioneering, 1988
Toastmasters, C.T.M.
B. S., Winona State University; Winona, Minnesota
Connie J. M. Johnson, BAS, Vice President and General Manager
Connie Johnson
2011 Benefit Auction Summit Committee, National Auctioneers Association
2010 Fun Auction Committee and co-emcee, National Auctioneers Association Conference and Show
2009 Established Woman Award, National Association of Woman Business Owners--Minnesota Chapter
B.A.S (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist), National Auctioneers Association (February 2009). Less than one percent of auctioneers in North America have this specialized training and designation.
2011 and 2010 Second place for Auction Photograph, 2008 First place for Web site, Minnesota State Auctioneers Conference Marketing Contest.
Nominee, 2007 J. Blanton Belk Outstanding Alumni Award,Up With People International Alumni Association's highest honor
Over 29 years in communications and public relations
Over 25 years in special event planning
Over 20 years in operations and personnel management
14 years managing Kurt Johnson Auctioneering, Inc.
Over nine years working in fundraising for nonprofits
Experience on multiple Boards throughout the state
Experience with conference planning and execution
Cast Representative, Up With People International Alumni Association
Member, National Auctioneers Association
B.A., Public Relations; St. Mary’s University of Minnesota—Winona, Minnesota
Col. Hannah Johnson, Auctioneer, Bid Spotter
Hannah Johnson
National Communications Coordinator, University of Iowa Associated Residence Halls Board of Directors
Sophomore, University of Iowa
2011 and 2010 Contestant, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
2011 and 2010 Contestant, International Junior Bid Calling Championship and Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
2010 Graduate with Distinction, St. Paul Central High School
2009 Graduate, World Wide College of Auctioneering
Seven years assisting her Dad as a bid spotter
Jim Fahey, B.A.S., Hall of Fame, 1990 Minnesota Champion Auctioneer
Jim Fahey
2009 recipient, award recognizing 17 years of service to the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Legislative Commitee
2009, Charter Director, Minnesota State Auctioneers Foundation
B.A.S. (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist), National Auctioneers Association (September 2008). Less than one percent of auctioneers in North America have this specialized training and designation.
2006 inductee, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame (the association’s highest honor), recognizing honesty; high ethical standards; a willingness to share with others; high standards in the community and the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association; significant contributions to the auction profession
30 years doing benefit and motivational auctions, with hundreds of benefit auctions to his credit
1990 Champion Auctioneer, Minnesota State Auctioneers
Past President, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Member, National Auctioneers Association
Member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Member, Wisconsin Auctioneers Association
Community Leadership Award, Southwest Minnesota Foundation/Blandin Foundation
2010 Judge, International Auctioneer Championship, National Auctioneers Association; judge of many state contests
Instructor at World Wide College of Auctioneering, and Inducted into Wall of Champions
Conducted many National and State Conference seminars on Bid-Calling and Vocal Health
2006 President,Minnesota State Auctioneers Association (second woman following mother, Carol, in 1988)
2005 Champion Auctioneer, Minnesota State Auctioneer’s Association (first woman in combined contest)
2003 International Auctioneer Champion, Women’s Division, National Auctioneers Association
Appeared as a guest on Ellen Degeneres show, 2003
M.A., University of Redlands, Speech-Language Pathology
B.A., St. Cloud State University, Communicative Disorders
Graduate, World Wide College of Auctioneering
Col. Larry Kroshus, B.A.S., 1991 Minnesota Champion Auctioneer
Larry Kroshus
B.A.S (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist), National Auctioneers Association (February 2009). Less than one percent of auctioneers in North America have this specialized training and designation.
26 years doing benefit auctions, with hundreds of benefit auctions to his credit
1991 Champion Auctioneer, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Finalist, International Bid Calling Championship
Past President, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Member, National Auctioneers Association
Member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Licensed Minnesota Pharmacist
B. S. Pharmacy, North Dakota State University—Fargo, North Dakota
Col. John Schultz, Auctioneer
John Schultz
2011 and 2010 Speaker, National Auctioneers Conference and Show
2009 President, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
2009, Charter President, Minnesota State Auctioneers Foundation
2009 Golden Gavel Award, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Board member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association: 2004-Present
Six years doing benefit auctions
A second generation, full time auctioneer
Member, National Auctioneers Association
Member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Graduate, World Wide College of Auctioneering
A.A., Northwestern College
Col. Matthew Schultz, B.A.S., 2010 Minnesota Champion Auctioneer
Matthew Schultz
Board member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association: 2011-2014
Placed 16th, 2010 International Auctioneers Bid Calling Championship
2010 Bid Calling Champion, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Member, Young Professional Auctioneers(Advisory Committee to the President of the National Auctioneers Association), 2009-Present
2009 4th place winner, Bid Calling Championship, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
B.A.S (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist), National Auctioneers Association (October 2007). Less than one percent of auctioneers in North America have this specialized training and designation.
2005 3rd place winner, Bid Calling Championship, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
2002 Rookie Bid Calling Champion, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
Nine years doing benefit auctions
Life member, National Auctioneers Association
Member, Minnesota State Auctioneers Association
A second generation auctioneer
Graduate,World Wide College of Auctioneering
A.A., Minneapolis Drafting School
“In the 15 years I’ve been involved with benefit auctions, I have not seen another auctioneer as gifted as Kurt Johnson. Because he’s the master of his trade, I’ve referred him to several nonprofits in the metro area and all of them have been thrilled with the results. Even the most skeptical become believers in the value of live auctions after they witness Kurt work his magic. You will not be disappointed when you hire Kurt Johnson as your auctioneer. Your guests will have more fun and your organization will make more money.”
--Mary Butler, Development and Special Event Consultant
“I would recommend Kurt Johnson Auctioneering, Inc. in a heartbeat.”
