About Bob
Bob Hale, Licensed Auctioneer
Bob Hale has personally conducted more than 1,780 fundraising events. He's been dedicated to working with nonprofit organizations since 1996, a decision he's said comes from seeing, directly, what a successful event means for an organization's mission. That's a different motivation than running an auction well for its own sake, and it shapes how he works: he pays attention to what a specific cause needs from its donors that night, not just how to move through a list of items.
Reading the room is a large part of that. Bob adjusts pace, energy, and approach in real time based on how a crowd is responding—pushing when there's more to give, easing off when there isn't—and that ability to stay tuned in to an audience, event after event, is something he's built up over all his nights on stage.
Working with Bob starts with a planning conversation, not a script. He sets goals with you ahead of time and stays flexible as plans change, which he says they almost always do. His own way of putting it: "The Only Thing Etched in Stone is Nothing's Etched in Stone."
Local Events in Ohio
Bob is based in Cleveland and works with organizations across Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. Kathryn Riddle, a former Cleveland journalist who covered special events, said: "Every time I see you at a benefit auction, I let them know they've hired the best auctioneer in town. It's true!"
Local organizations Bob has worked with include:
National Events
While you can find auctioneers in most major cities, they may not be the right fit for your organization's event. Instead of settling, exploring outside your local area is a great option! Contact Bob to check his availability.
National organizations Bob has worked with include:
- American Liver Foundation
- Arthritis Foundation
- Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- Goodwill Industries
- Make-A-Wish
- March of Dimes
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Bob has also worked events attended by former First Lady of Ohio Hope Taft, Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James, racing driver Bobby Rahal, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and actor Henry Winkler.
A Few Words from Bob
Throughout my career, I've worked with organizations both large and small, and gotten to know the directors, staff, and volunteers who run them. I've been part of these fundraising events since 1995, and I'm still struck, every time, by how generous people are willing to be for a cause they believe in. That's really why I've stayed in this work: I get to see, up close, what that money actually does for an organization.
I don't turn away small organizations. I once heard another auctioneer say, at a professional seminar, that they don't have time for little events. I don't agree with that, and it's not how I approach this work.
If you're looking for a benefit auctioneer, reach out early. My calendar fills up, and I'd rather have the conversation sooner than have to say no. If you're an auctioneer interested in working with nonprofits and aren't sure where to start, feel free to contact me too. I'm glad to talk through it.
Thank you to everyone who works for or supports the organizations I've had the chance to work with. I mean that.
