Arts & Entertainment  October 3, 2014

CEO Auction benefits NoCo United Ways

Auctioneer Bill Seaworth presides over the CEO Auction at Bixpo 2014, held Sept. 30 at Embassy Suites in Loveland as developer Troy McWhinney looks on. McWhinney offered a hiking or biking trip to his winning bidder. Proceeds from the auction benefitted the United Way of Weld County and the United Way of Larimer County. The business expo was presented by BizWest Media LLC. Chad Collins / BizWest

 

LOVELAND – How much would you pay to have some time to bend the ear of a corporate leader?

Winning bidders at the CEO Auction got the chance this week as part of Bixpo 2014, the 10th annual business-to-business expo presented by BizWest Media LLC – and are looking forward to some unique experiences as well, from watching a game from a luxury suite to helicopter and plane rides – or simply talking shop over a beer.

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Proceeds from the auction, held Tuesday at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, benefitted the United Way of Weld County and the United Way of Larimer County. The organizations advance the common good by distributing funds to various nonprofit organizations that provide human services, with a focus on education, income and health, and raise funds through various means including direct donations, corporate-sponsored drive and events such as the CEO Auction.

It was the first time such an event had been offered at Bixpo.

“They’d never done this before,” said Gordan Thibedeau, president and chief executive of the United Way of Larimer County. “It’s certainly something new – and in the fundraising business, there’s not a lot new.”

“We were really uncertain about how well this idea would be perceived, but I am thrilled that our Bixpo attendees invested nearly $18,000 in this endeavor to help the United Ways of Northern Colorado distribute money to those in need,” said Jeff Nuttall, BizWest publisher and manager. “I want to extend my personal thanks to the 42 CEOs that put forth their time and money to make this fundraiser a success.”

The chance to participate in various activities with area CEOs was offered in both public and silent auctions.

Executives of Fort Collins-based OtterBox drew the highest winning bids. A winning bidder paid $3,200 to hunt waterfowl with company chairman Curt Richardson, while another paid $1,700 to join CEO Brian Thomas in the Champions Club at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for the Denver Broncos’ regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 28. Bids of $1,000 each won the chance to watch a Colorado State University football game in a Hughes Stadium suite with CSU President Tony Frank and a ride in a MedEvac helicopter with Rick Sutton, CEO of Banner Health in Northern Colorado.

CEOs offered fishing trips, golf and tennis matches, horseback rides and more, but one of the most interesting experiences was donated by Marsi Liddell, CEO at Aims Community College. She’ll take the winning bidder, who paid $350, from Greeley to Estes Park and back. That doesn’t sound too unusual – until you realize that the round-trip journey will be made by plane.

 

Auctioneer Bill Seaworth presides over the CEO Auction at Bixpo 2014, held Sept. 30 at Embassy Suites in Loveland as developer Troy McWhinney looks on. McWhinney offered a hiking or biking trip to his winning bidder. Proceeds from the auction benefitted the United Way of Weld County and the United Way of Larimer County. The business expo was presented by BizWest Media LLC. Chad Collins / BizWest

 

LOVELAND – How much would you pay to have some time to bend the ear of a corporate leader?

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