Kurt Johnson, CAI, BAS
Kurt Johnson is Minnesota’s 2011 Champion Auctioneer and the 2011 inaugural recipient of the National Auctioneer Association’s Chuck Sportsmanship Award. He is Minnesota’s first benefit auctioneer and instructor and was instrumental in developing the BAS (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist) certification program for the National Auctioneers Association. Kurt is a past president of the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association; is an instructor at World Wide College of Auctioneering in Iowa; has authored national benefit auction columns; and has been featured on television and radio. He is a member of the Minnesota, Iowa and National Auctioneers Associations and he received his B.S. Winona State University in Paralegal.
Kurt Johnson Auctioneering, Inc. carved a niche as one of the nation’s premier and corporate motivational auction companies. With 28 years’ experience and over 2,500 auctions to its credit, Kurt Johnson Auctioneering, Inc. raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations across the country. Their award-winning team is well-known for entertaining/engaging its audience; sharing information about an event’s cause; and calling bidders to action through lively bidding and good-natured fun. The end result is a successful live auction achieved through the excitement of audience collaboration.
Teaching, consulting, and are Kurt's passions and he looks forward to putting those skills to work for you.
Designations Explained
BAS (Benefit Auctioneer Specialist ) - The National Auctioneers Association (NAA) created this designation to provide Auctioneers with advanced training in planning and conducting successful benefit auctions. Students are taught the fundraising components of benefit auctions, item acquisition, audience development, revenue generating activities and items, marketing and public relations.
CAI (Certified Auctioneers Institute) - Established in 1975 by the NAA, the Certified Auctioneers Institute, commonly referred to as CAI, focuses on developing skills required to operate a successful auction firm business. This designation is completed over a three-year period, one week at a time, covering topics like marketing and advertising, business ethics, legal financial and accounting principles, auction technology, promotional strategies, and negotiating skills.
AARE (Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate) - This NAA designation was created to provide Auctioneers with advanced training in the selling of real estate at auctiion.