\nOpen to ALL members not just nonprofits
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\nJust interested in the membership luncheon? Come early and explore the Nonprofit Expo to learn more about the important work your fellow Midway Chamber of Commerce members do each and every day.
\nMorning:
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- 9-9:30 a.m: Registration &\; coffee \n
- 9:30-11:00 a.m: Nonprofit Presentation \n
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- Friend-raising or fundraising? How to define your event&rsquo\;s purpose from the start. \n
- Evaluating past attendees to measure real giving potential and identify opportunities. \n
- Educating your audiences on their role whether they&rsquo\;re current donors\, community members\, or new to your organization \; \n
- Designing events that flow\, ensuring each moment supports your mission and keeps guests engaged. \n
- Timeline = Bottom Line\, and how planning ahead directly increases fundraising outcomes. \n
- Choosing the right night\, ensuring your event aligns with your community&rsquo\;s rhythm&mdash\;not competing with it. \n
\nYou&rsquo\;ll walk away with clear strategies and a refined lens for planning events that fulfill their purpose\, strengthen donor relationships\, and maximize revenue. Whether you'\;re building a brand-new signature event or refreshing an existing one\, this talk gives you the tools to approach your next gathering with confidence\, clarity\, and purpose.
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\n\nPanelists:
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Col. Kurt Johnson\, CAI\, BAS\, Virtue Fundraising
\nFounder of Virtue Fundraising\, Kurt Johnson is\, in every sense\, the complete auction professional. Respected and recognized throughout the auctioneer community\, he is admired for his adaptability\, professionalism\, and heart of gold. From his very first auction in 1989 (a church fundraiser) Kurt knew he had discovered his calling. Over the decades since\, he has worked in every aspect of the auction and event industry\, ultimately finding his deepest passion in benefit auctions. Helping nonprofits raise more money than they imagined possible has become his life&rsquo\;s mission.
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\nKurt&rsquo\;s philosophy is simple yet powerful: kindness matters\, and together we can change the world for good. His personal and company goal is to ensure that every nonprofit he partners with raises more at their event than if they had hired any other firm. He thrives on consulting\, teaching\, auctioneering\, inspiring\, and motivating both clients and donors. Kurt believes that when organizations have the resources to do more\, the impact reaches far beyond the auction stage.
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\nHis accomplishments reflect both excellence and dedication: 2011 Minnesota State Bid Calling Champion\, 2023 Minnesota State Champion Ringman\, 2011 Chuck Cumberland Sportsmanship Award winner at the International Auction Championship Competition\, Certified Auctioneers Institute graduate\, Benefit Auction Institute graduate\, Past President of the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association\, Minnesota Auctioneers Hall of Fame Member\, and chair of numerous state and national committees. Yet\, beyond the accolades\, Kurt&rsquo\;s greatest joy is connecting deeply with the passion of nonprofit staff\, supporters\, and communities to help them bring their missions to life.
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\nOutside the spotlight\, Kurt is every bit as dynamic and joyful. He loves being a dad and grandpa\, cherishing time with his daughter and two grandchildren who live in Spain. The outdoors fills his soul\, whether hunting\, fishing\, hiking\, boating\, or simply sitting quietly in nature. An avid mushroom forager\, gardener\, and grape grower\, he also delights in cooking\, making homemade jellies\, and sharing meals with friends. Travel has taken him to four continents and over 15 countries\, while watercolor painting and poetry give him creative outlets that reflect his reflective side. With a deep faith guiding his life\, but never imposed on others\, Kurt blends humility\, joy\, and passion in everything he does.
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\nWhether in a tuxedo commanding the stage or in hunting gear exploring the woods\, Kurt Johnson embodies professionalism\, impact\, and kindness. He doesn&rsquo\;t do anything halfway&mdash\;because for him\, every event\, every cause\, and every connection is a chance to make the world a little better.
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Amber Stumph
\nAmber Stumph brings over 20 years of fundraising experience to her role overseeing operations at Virtue Fundraising. With a background in interior design\, her passion for planning and creating meaningful experiences naturally evolved into event management\, where she discovered her purpose&mdash\;supporting nonprofit organizations in hosting intentional\, well-executed fundraising events. That drive led Amber to launch Copper Bottom Events\, a service-focused company that provides nonprofits throughout the Twin Cities with fundraising event support\, including software consulting\, registration management\, clerk and checkout services\, and on-site staffing to ensure events run smoothly from start to finish.
\nAt Virtue Fundraising\, Amber now has the opportunity to serve organizations at an even greater capacity. She keeps projects organized\, operations seamless\, and teams supported&mdash\;quickly becoming the go-to person for making sure everything behind the scenes comes together with clarity and excellence.
\nHer project management roots run deep. Early in her married life\, Amber and her husband\, Benn\, acted as their own general contractors to self-build their first home\, a successful adventure they repeated a decade later. Married with two teens\, Amber spends many evenings cheering from the stands at hockey games and dance competitions. Whether at home\, traveling\, enjoying a dinner out\, or celebrating life&rsquo\;s moments\, nothing matters more to her than quality time with family.
\nOutside of work\, Amber stays energized&mdash\;literally and figuratively. She runs three miles a day\, manages a vacation rental in Phoenix\, and channels her creativity into decorating and hosting large gatherings. During the holidays\, her talents are unmistakable\, especially when her beautifully adorned 14-foot Christmas tree takes center stage.
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\nAmber is grateful for the dynamic\, values-driven team at Virtue and considers it a privilege to work alongside strong leadership. She feels honored to play a key role in ensuring that the Virtue magic happens behind the scenes and to continue supporting nonprofits through both Virtue Fundraising and Copper Bottom Events.
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Heather Hammond\, CRFE
\nHeather Hammond\, is the founder of Kinspire Events\, a Minnesota-based event planning and fundraising consulting company rooted in the belief that community and connection belong at the heart of every experience.
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\nOriginally from Washington State\, Heather moved to Minnesota for college and like so many transplants\, she instantly found her place. Minnesota&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Land of 10\,000 Nonprofits&rdquo\; community became her home\, shaping her nearly fifteen-year career in fundraising\, events\, and community engagement across some of Minnesota&rsquo\;s most impactful organizations.
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\nHeather earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification in 2024 and brings deep expertise in large-scale event production\, peer-to-peer fundraising\, corporate engagement\, stakeholder strategy\, program design\, and experiential storytelling. She has served in roles ranging from Community Engagement Manager to Development Officer\, overseeing six- and seven-figure event portfolios\, building corporate partnership pipelines\, managing speaker lineups that include C-suite and community leaders\, and creating high-ROI\, high-impact\, unique events that advance mission while strengthening relationships. \;
\nKinspire was born from Heather&rsquo\;s belief that events can - and should - be more than moments on a calendar\, no matter their size. After spending years &ldquo\;in the shoes&rdquo\; of her clients\, she saw firsthand how much nonprofit and corporate teams juggle\, and how much potential is lost when event planning becomes a burden instead of an opportunity. Starting Kinspire was her way of doing more: creating a space where organizations feel supported\, energized\, and inspired\, and where the events industry itself becomes more collaborative\, connected\, and community-centered.
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\nToday\, Heather lives in Eagan with her partner and their two kids (ages 6 and 9)\, who ground her life in purpose\, joy\, and the power of shared experiences. Whether she&rsquo\;s designing a new event\, advising on a fundraising strategy\, or stepping into a team to help bring a vision to life\, Heather leads with kinship\, creativity\, and a deep commitment to making every event meaningful for the people who attend it\, and the community it serves.
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- 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Nonprofit Expo \n
- 12 p.m.: Luncheon &\; Program \; \; \n
- 1 p.m.: Close &\; Happy Holidays! \n
\nProgram:\n\n
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\nKeynote:\n\n
Trish Thacker\, MSW\, LICSW is CEO at Guild and founder of Expedition Hope\, LLC. She has been a leader and therapist for over 25 years\, with specialized training in: leadership and leader development\, Interpersonal Neurobiology\, attachment\, trauma informed and healing centered practice\, resilience\, addictions\, family systems\, eating disorders and more. Trish is also a skilled leader with experience in public\, private\, and non-profit sectors. \; Trish \; is passionate about supporting people through the process of growth\, and also creating environments and cultures that support and encourage growth and healing. She believes that sometimes we need to hold hope for each other when we'\;ve lost sight of it for ourselves\, and that healing is found in relationship.
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