Chad’s title comes from spending 29 years as an educator and school principal. Early on in his career, Chad found that fundraising was a vital part of what a school principal must do, so he decided to attend auctioneer school and advanced “Benefit Auctioneer Specialist” (BAS) training, and learn how to do it right. Currently, there are only a handful of fundraising auctioneers in California, who have earned the coveted BAS designation. As opposed to most fundraising auctioneers, Chad has very rare and in-depth experience on BOTH sides of fundraising events, having helped create many school district galas from scratch! Chad usually does about 50 gala events each year himself and another 20-30 events for his team of auctioneers.
Over the past 20 years, Chad has helped raise an average of $1.2 million dollars per week, for his clients, for most of each year. Chad has worked with celebrities like Alec Baldwin, Josh Groban, Dianna Ross, Jason Mraz, Sarah McLachlan, Chad Lowe, Tony Bennett, Sharon Stone, Michael Phelps, and many many more. Clients have included the US Olympic Team, San Francisco 49ers, many professional athletes, and countless schools, health-related causes, and causes that support people in need all over the world!
Chad was raised “off-grid” and “barefoot and wild” in Big Sur, California during the 1960’s and 1970’s. His dad was a professional musician, and Chad’s childhood memories include family friends like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, David Crosby, and Janice Joplin. Chad has always had a close connection to nature and animals (Chad has been a Master Falconer, climbing instructor, and fly fisherman most of his life), and today supports many animal rescue and conservation events. Chad also serves many music and fine arts related events, such as Josh Groban’s “Find Your Light” foundation.
In summer of 2019, Chad and Carolyn set sail on a long-planned sailing voyage around the world, on their 43’ steel, DeVilliers sailboat. After cruising and exploring Alaska, Chad and Carolyn now split their time between working on their off-grid homestead in Alaska, and helping all their fundraising clients raise record-breaking funds! Over 30 years ago, Chad began inspiring his high school history students to always have a dream, a goal to strive for, and he began sharing his dream to explore and voyage on a sailboat. As members of a few ocean/sailing conservation efforts, Chad and Carolyn love helping vital environmental causes as they voyage! Thankfully, Starlink connections now allow Chad to remain available at all times for consultation support.