STAFF ARRIVAL & WELCOME EVENT
Welcome to Champion of the Year University!
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Join us as we kick off Champion of the Year University! This Kickoff event will include heavy appetizers and drinks along with a fun and engaging program including mission moments and Jason Alpert, Auctioneer, will host some revenue enhancers for staff to participate and learn how you can include them in your Gala!
Attire: Business Casual
STAFF SESSIONS |
Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
National Champion of the Year Growth & Initiatives
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Learn about the success of Champion of the Year and the exciting initiatives for 2023 and beyond!
Staff Presenter:
Katie Rose, Senior Director, Champion of the Year
Champion Recruitment & Making the Ask
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
This interactive session will showcase best practices on when to recruit Champions, what to prepare to make a nomination and how to make
Staff Presenters:
Lisa Cleary, State Director AZ
Tammy Medlock, State Director NC
Rachael Fischer, Director Mission Advancement CO
Champion of the Year Staff Panel
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Learn about the successes and challenges of various staff members across the country that have excelled and navigated through opportunities in different areas of the Champion of the Year model.
Staff Presenters:
Will Macon, State Director TN
Caroline Tyson, Development Director WI
Julie Garza, Area Director, TX (Houston)
Jessie Glenn, Deputy Director, Comms & Stewardship, CA
Sam Mildner, Area Director, Western PA
Ted Rives, Development Director, IA
Staff Facilitator:
Ryan LaCosse, Area Director IL (Peoria)
World Café
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
World Café will provide staff with an opportunity to connect with staff across the country on various Champion of the Year topics.
Staff Facilitators: Champion of the Year 5 Star Team
Lunch
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Illinois Volunteer Panel
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Hear from local Illinois volunteers about their experience and support of Champion of the Year.
Staff Facilitators:
Adam Wilt, State Director IL
Stephanie Taylor, Development Director, IL
Guest Panelists:
Courtney Labetti, Elizabeth Fay, & Morgan Olszewski
Communications, Stewardship & Engagement
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
This session will provide insights and best practices for effective Champion communications, stewardship, and engagement. Including resources and strategies to inspire action, foster meaningful connections and cultivate lasting relationships.
Staff Presenters:
Lise Lozelle
Senior Director, State Communications & Engagement
Haley Wilber Manager, State Development & Communications Break
How You Can Ace the Event
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Learn from Kelly Rio, Ace the Event Founder, as she provides an overview on the support her on-site team provides along with tips and best practices on how you can create a seamless event experience for your Gala attendees.
Guest Presenter: Kelly Rio, Ace the Event Founder
Maximizing On-Site Fundraising Revenue & Fun
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Long time Best Buddies partner and Professional Auctioneer, Jason Alpert, will share best practices on how to set yourself up for an impactful and successful mission moment and bid from the heart to ensure your event will inspire guests and raise funds for Best Buddies.
Guest Presenter: Jason Alpert, Alpert Enterprise Founder
Legacy Best Practices
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Securing Legacy Champion of the Year Candidates is a critical piece to a successful event. The 5 Star Team will share some tips on how to implement legacy and feedback from previous Champions.
Staff Presenters:
Jessie Glenn, Deputy Director, Comms & Stewardship, CA
Ted Rives, Development Director, IA
Jessica Tippmann, Area Director, NJ
Panel: Lisa Cleary & Sarah Jeter
Final Goal Setting & Takeaways
Room: Junior Ballroom A/B
Jason Alpert, Alpert Enterprises
Jason Alpert and Alpert Enterprises are known as The Voice of All Seasons. The Team of four Tampa Bay based live auctioneers and fundraising consultants put on fundraising shows like no other live auctioneers while raising more than $300,000,000 for worthy charities around the country. Jason has called the live auction for organizations like Best Buddies,
along with American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, United Way, and even the WWE, among many others. His unique style captivates, engages, and entertains groups of all sizes.
Jason has also been heard as the voice of NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway., Daytona International Speedway, Ford Racing, Walt Disney World ESPN Club, Special Olympics-Florida, the Orange Bowl Committee, and the Delray Beach Open ATP World Tour event, and has been named Best Benefit Live Auctioneer by Tampa Bay Magazine 6 years running.
Kelly Rio, Ace the Event
In February of 2022, former GiveSmart Senior Manager, Kelly Rio, along with her husband Nick, publicly launched Ace The Event a one-stop-shop event agency that focuses on people first! Along the way, they have handpicked individuals with various fundraising, event technology, and auction backgrounds to team up with internally. With the understanding that each organization and event is unique, the ACE team stays service-minded and mission-focused.
ACE continues to grow season after season, currently having serviced over 40 states! Providing Customer Success Consultants, 300+ specialized On-Site Staff, Equipment Rentals, Trainings, Consults, and Auctioneering we are there to help our organizations ACE their event every step of the way!
Thank you to our incredible 5 Star Team for their commitment and passion for Champion of the Year. These individuals from across the country work hard to create resources and initiatives while continuing to make positive change in their local communities. We are so appreciative of the time and talent you give to our national team!
THANK YOU!
