Here’s what our clients have to say about us!
Dear Kevin,
The 6th Annual BASH for Augie’s Quest event at the San Francisco Marriott was a smashing success — and it was due in large part to you! As you know, the evening raised over $1.3 million for ALS research and we could not have done it without your expertise!
Your wisdom and charm wowed the crowd, encouraging them to bid throughout the silent auction. Your charisma and infectious smile carried over into the dining room where we were able to raise significant funds with the live auction. Shortly put, you are a consummate professional and we were blessed to have you as part of our team!
Augie’s Quest, in conjunction with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), is an aggressive, cure-driven effort singularly focused on treatments and cures for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Thank you once again for being with us! We look forward to a long and successful partnership together at future another successful BASH!
Christina Moon ~ Project Coordinator ~ Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc.
Just wanted to say again how much we appreciated your services! You were charismatic, yet not obnoxious. Aggressive to raise the bids, but not rude or insensitive to the bidders limits. Were considerate toward our purpose for the evening- even inspirational. Balanced entertainment with professionalism. Well- structured and timely, while remaining flexible and understanding of the necessity to adjust plans throughout the evening. And were just plain enjoyable to work with!
Seriously, we recognize that a large portion of our profits that night were due to your skills and talents. So again and again, we thank you!
Already I’ve spoken to several other organizations I work with, singing your praises as they ask about the success of Summit’s auction. Looking forward to referring your business to others in the future.
God bless! And I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the evening soon. Thanks again, Kevin!
Sincerely,
Sherry Ehrhart ~ Chairperson ~ Summit Christian School Auction
Kevin: You were terrific Thursday, at the Ducks Unlimited Auction fund raiser. It’s not easy being an out-of-towner, but your style, touch of class and personality won the audience and opened the wallets – big time! I think the unofficial total is over $430,000. Thank you! Kevin, you can count on me to give you a
recommendation to anybody who’s looking for a top-notch auctioneer.
Onward & Upward
Dick Friel ~ Professional Auctioneer Seattle, Washington
I think Kevin O’Callaghan is a great auctioneer who makes sure everyone is having a good time and at the same time knows just when to push attendees to get the maximum bid. I would definitely recommend him and plan on using him again for our future events.
Darla Yetter ~ Chairman – Roseville Arts
Very much an entertainer as well as auctioneer. The crowd reacts positively to his interactions. Auctioneers are in numerous count but only one stands out in ability & professionalism. Kevin O’Callaghan is in a better league of his own with his ability to entertain as well as stay on task & engage the audience in raffle drawings & the auction. Best one around.
Larry Crabtree ~ North Valley Chapter Chairman of the California Deer Association
Kevin made our auction both exciting and entertaining for our guests! We got several very last minutes live items and he did an excellent job selling them with no script or proper preparation! He worked so well from his notes and our program and has a great sense of timing! He is great at “winging it” and helped us straighten out how to sell our angel donations and donation board simultaneously.
K.J. Miller ~ Lake Tahoe Ullr Fest Auction co-chair
Kevin O’Callaghan did a wonderful job of entertaining our guests, creating excitement over the auction items and keeping the flow of the auction steady and comfortable. He was a great addition to our event! It was fun! We got fantastic feedback from Kevin’s performance and the crowd loved him. We already received a request for his contact information from one of our guests who would like to hire him for an event.
Lisa Camhi ~ Program Coordinator for Outreach, PR and Education
Kevin O’Callaghan has been our Auctioneer since our founding. He has consistently entertained and done an excellent job in working the crowd. He costs a bit more, but we believe he is worth it!
Mike J. Borel ~ President – California FNAWS
Auctioneer Michael Akin was fantastic. His voice and the momentum was exhilarating. The audience really got into it. He had 4 bid spotters helping him with our very large crowd and they were Absolutely amazing. It’s a piece of the puzzle you don’t want to forget. It’s a package deal. The spotters help the crowd gear up. They worked hand in hand with Michael.
Carolyn Heidenreich ~ Gala Chairperson
Kevin guaranteed that his enthusiasm would generate more money for our charity and it did by a lot. Kevin and his team of four spotters were excellent. There’s no going back for us to volunteer spotters that’s how much of a difference I think they made. All in all it was a wonderful night for our Boys & Girls Club and I want to thank Kevin and his spotters. In my 25+ years of doing auctions, I have never seen an auctioneer work as hard as Kevin did that night consistently throughout our live auction and it showed in our results.
Jim Ducatte ~ CEO Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, California
O’Callaghan Auctioneers did an outstanding job of getting us a quality auctioneer at short notice! They took the worry out of the evening. Kelly Trout did an outstanding job for being thrown into the deep end of the pool. We have a crowded room and I do not think that there was anyone that felt they did not receive auctioneer respect for their bids.
Margo Wood ~ Secretary/Treasurer-CDA Chico Chapter
Kevin and gang!!!
What an awesome job you did on Saturday night. The word is spreading like wild fire about our “great” auctioneer and spotters! Thank you so much. Kevin, I’m so glad we got to meet. You are very impressive and you added to the enthusiasm of the evening. What a great turn out we had and the people were all excited to be there. It was really one of our best and I think you add a great deal to it. Thanks again and from everything I hear —we want you back next year!!!! Thanks again
Lucy Fox ~ Special Events Coordinator ~ Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley
Kevin was absolutely fabulous! The past few years we felt that there was money left on the floor. Kevin got every cent out of our audience..and then some! He captivated the crowd of 500 and had everyone’s attention for the entire auction whereas in the past we felt lucky if 25% of our crowd knew what was going on. Thank you, Kevin, for a wonderful evening! We look forward to seeing you next year!
Michelle Diaz ~ Chairman of the Marywood Palm Valley School Gala in Rancho Mirage, CA
Thank you O’Callaghan Auctioneers for a most exciting evening with our auctioneer, Gunther Laus and his two assistants. We had met Gunther a year prior to our annual banquet/auction at the Phoenix, AZ SCI event. We decided at that point that Gunther would be selected to work at our event. Not only did he drive our auction sales higher than had ever been in the past, but also many who attended commented upon the high energy and excitement that was finally put back into our event. Now that is a compliment!
Several other clubs were present that evening and were extremely impressed. We know that Gunther will be invited back on several more occasions to star at their events as well.
Jean and Barry Hamilton ~ Fundraiser Chairs ~ AZ Chapter Safari Club International
On behalf of St. Eugene’s Cathedral Parish and School, I wish to thank you for another exceptional Live Auction! The numbers are in and once again, you’ve managed to help us surpass our Live Auction revenue goals.
You and your team continue to not only meet, but also exceed our expectations, which is why, every year, Stairway’s date is determined by your availability!! As we say in our event program, you truly are the “Master of the Gavel!” We look forward to working with you again next year.
Cherie Granzatto ~ Stairway Chair ~ St. Eugene Catholic School
Thanks again for helping with the Ripon RMEF Banquet again this year. Your superior work as auctioneer continues to make this one of the premier fundraising events in the area.
As you know, much pre-work goes into an event of this nature. While the ground work for an event of this size and scope certainly is important and must be orchestrated and completed by a group of experienced/organized individuals months in advance, there are only a very few things that will make money on the evening of the event. The auctioneer, the spotters, and the raffle girls. Of these, the auctioneer is the linchpin.
Your familiarity with the auction items, their usage and FMV help in the fund raising effort. Seldom is an auction item sold to quickly or drug out to long. You have experience to “drop the hammer” at just the right time. Your stage presence and style go a long way toward the fundraising effort. It is highly entertaining for the audience to hear your cadence and see your excitement as the dollar numbers increase and everyone awaits to see who will win the monetary duel and see if you will entice yet another auction bid from the audience!
As RMEF Volunteer District Chair for Central California, I attend many fundraising banquets and auctions in Northern and Central California. You are, without question, the premier Auctioneer for this area. You conduct yourself as a professional, and as such, have put yourself at the top of list for improving the revenue of a fundraising banquet. The numbers speak for themselves. With you as the auctioneer, the live auction dollars are higher. Higher dollars make all the pre-work worthwhile and mean more money for the mission of RMEF, which allow each of us to “Pass it On”.
Larry E. Boone ~ District Chair ~ Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation
I “met” Kevin at a charity event in Palm Springs and was so impressed that I decided to plan a party “around” him..ha. The idea of an auction (to give gifts to our guests) sounded like a lot of fun…and FUN it was! He’s the best at what he does with lots of enthusiasm. It could NOT have been better. My friends adored you! Thanks, Kevin….perhaps we’ll do business again. God Bless you and your family.
Barbara Noujaim, Private Birthday Party
Hiring Kevin was the best decision I made for the auction. His energy was exciting and his knowledge and timing were right on. We surpassed our financial goals by hiring a professional. I would highly recommend Kevin to any organization.
Pallie Morgan ~ San Ramon Valley Christian Academy
With the enthusiasm, energy and genuine personality of Kevin, we brought our fundraiser to a whole new level. The guests were entertained and encouraged (by the auctioneer and spotter) in a humorous, comfortable and professional manner to raise their bid cards high and often! We look forward to working with O’Callaghan Auctioneers again.
Karen Rice ~ Beth Chaim Congregation
The energy begins to rise in the room, as the attendees of a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquet anticipate the upcoming Live Auction. And then it begins, Kevin O’Callaghan starts his auctioneer song and you can just see the faces light up, hands begin to clap and toes begin to tap! I have never seen one individual that is able to bring so much energy and excitement to an entire room of 400 banquet attendees. There is no doubt that Kevin O’Callaghan is the premier auctioneer for California and Nevada. Kevin not only shows professionalism through his demeanor, appearance, and equipment, but offers professional back up auctioneers when he is not available. I can not thank Kevin enough for all he has done to further the mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Bryan Lamont ~ Regional Director Nevada ~ Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
When we opened the World’s first dedicated Golf Car Auction we called on Kevin to come and call the event. His powerful presentation and knowledge of how to work the crowd gave us a tremendous launch that has kept people contacting us months later. He will be our auctioneer from now on!
Tom Emmett ~ Greater Palm Springs Golf Car Auctions
Kevin O’Callaghan brings tremendous spirit and enjoyment to all the Live Auction segments of the many events I’ve attended over the past six years in Reno and Carson City. Kevin uses his music & song to get everyone excited to be at the event. His ability to keep the bidding going is also uncanny. He will draw the most possible out of the crowd to help the event maximize it’s gross. He is always in a good mood and the attendees reflect his attitude through their comments to event organizers during and after each event.
I highly recommend Kevin as the best auctioneer we have ever had the pleasure to work with for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. I’ve seen him work his magic for the Nevada Big Horns banquet with unbelievable bidding results drawn from that 2,200-attendee crowd. He does the same great job for banquet auctions with as few as 100 in attendance. If you select Kevin as your event auctioneer, you have made a great choice and will get a terrific effort every time.
Dennis Smith ~ Coldwell Banker Commercial Premier Brokers ~ Carson City, NV
Dear Johan;
The Boys and Girls Club of Brawley is once, again, planning for its annual combo auction. Auctioneering is a talent that is rare. Last year your efforts were outstanding. You played couples against each other; couples against one another and you were responsible for raising our profits from $17,000 the previous year to $35,000 last year.
I am still hearing comments about how entertaining you were from folks who attended last year. We would like to use your services again this year. Could you please contact me at your earliest convenience to confirm the date and your availability.
Sincerely,
Judy Chilcott ~ Executive Director ~ Boys and Girls Club of Brawley
I have used Kevin and his team for National Wild Turkey Federation fundraising events and have been very pleased with his services. He is outgoing, personable and an excellent auctioneer. His excitement, timing and hard work get the most out of our live auction items every time. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing a top-notch auctioneer.
Pat McNeil ~ Regional Director ~ California National Wild Turkey Federation
On behalf of the EWGA, I would like thank you for the FANTASTIC job you did at our Golf Pro Auction. You were the “hit” of the event. We are all still talking about what a great event it was and we all agree that you are the one responsible for our success. You made our event special. I hope we will be able to work together in the future.
Jan MacKanin ~ Chairperson ~ Sacramento Executive Women’s Golf Association
The Child Abuse Prevention Council would like to thank you for your hard work. You were entertaining to say the least and a fabulous fundraiser! We exceeded our goal and a great part of the success goes to you.
Kim Grier ~ President ~ ACAPC
Thank you for your talented and excellent auctioneering effort at our annual Fall Bouquet Fine Wine Auction. Your rapport with the audience and your up-tempo pace made for a lively and entertaining live auction. As a result, the majority of the auction lots exceeded their stated value! We look forward to working with you again next year.
Ray Tretheway ~ Executive Director ~ Sacramento Tree Foundation
Kevin always tries for the last dollar. He doesn’t give up. Our retention dollars are always up with Kevin on the block.
Phil Hall ~ Used Car Manager ~ Click Automotive Group
I have been using the great auctioning talents of Kevin O’Callaghan and his team for over 10 years now. The reason is simple; in the 18 years of fundraising I’ve been part of; he’s the best and most entertaining of his trade that I have come across. All of the local chapters that are using Kevin have seen dramatic increases in revenue, and he plays a big part in this. He makes the auctions fun! What makes Kevin stand out more than anything is his desire to always do better than his last auction. This is a common trait among those who stand out in their field, whether it be business, sports, or in Kevin’s case, auctioning!
Rick Bulloch ~ Chapter Development ~ California Deer Association
Kevin is the best auctioneer ever!
He is a pleasure to watch, easy to follow and wonderful to work with.
My husband and I attend 20 auctions per year throughout the US and if you
want THE auctioneer, it is without a doubt, Kevin O’Callaghan!
Tammy Scott ~ Fundraiser & Banquet Chair ~ Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society
A true professional. Many auctioneers claim it. But Kevin O’Callaghan delivers it! His is the complete package. From his opening act of singing the auctioneer song to his signing off at the conclusion of our event he kept the crowd amazed and entertained. No doubt that without Kevin’s participation we may not have reached those record results.
John Barry – Director ~ Greater New Haven JDRF
I only have a few words to describe Kevin O’Callaghan! (Talented, Excellent, Entertaining, Fantastic, Great, & Fast just to name a few)! If you are looking for one of the best non-profit fundraising auctioneers in the business, look no further, you have found him! I sure do enjoy working with Kevin and hope to for many more years to come!
Jason Quick ~ National Rifle Association
Kevin O’Callaghan is the most entertaining and energetic auctioneer I have ever worked with. Kevin has a knack for energizing a crowd of any size and making them feel like participating. We average 500+ people at our Elk Banquets and he keeps them all entertained. Kevin is a pleasure to work with and he makes it easy and fun. I highly recommend Kevin for your Auctioneer needs.
Tim Pruitt ~ Chapter Chairman ~ Elko Rocky Mt. Elks Foundation
We want to thank O’Callaghan Auctioneers for the great work they have done at our school wide auction. It was another banner year for the school hitting an all time high. Our dedicated volunteers and staff are committed to a quality event and the auctioneer made it happen again!
Kevin O’Callaghan has been the auctioneer for the auctions at Rincon Valley School for five of the six school wide auctions we have conducted in the history of the school. Ever since the first auction our guests would comment that Kevin actually turned thousands of dollars for the event. Kevin’s auctioneer abilities are key to the successes we have experienced. He is well liked and we look forward to our auctions with Kevin each year. His excitement and enthusiasm is contagious and people in the audience seek him out at the end of the auction to praise him.
Thanks Kevin O’Callaghan.
Kevin Hofer ~ Principal ~ RVCS