Meet Col. Carrie Cunningham Auctioneer
Raising voices, Raising hands
My Journey to Auctioneering
I found my way into auctioneering after spending over 25 years as a professional performer. With a degree in music and five years singing with the Spokane Symphony Chorale, music has always been my lifeline. I often say my heart is bigger than my body—I write songs to move people, whether through their hearts or their feet.
But my journey wasn’t easy. I grew up in a toxic and abusive household, and music became my escape. Singing allowed me to step into someone else’s world, even if just for a moment. As I got older, I knew I wanted to give back.
I began volunteering with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the court system), the Vanish Children’s Alliance, and Read Across America. My goal was simple: to ensure the safety of as many children as possible. But by 2018, I still felt like I wasn’t doing enough. One night, overwhelmed and lost, I broke down in my office and cried out, “What am I doing with my life?”
Then, I heard it. A voice—clear as day—said, “Auctioneer, Carrie.”
It caught me off guard, but deep down, it made perfect sense. The voice belonged to my grandfather, who passed in 1983. He and his father were both cattle auctioneers. I realized I had inherited not just their energetic spirit for the stage, but also a deep desire to make a difference.
Since cattle auctions weren’t my calling, I turned my focus to benefit auctions—raising money for causes that matter. With my grandfather guiding me, I attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa—ironically, the same place he once took cattle to auction.
Today, I am a proud member of the National Auction Association, trained as a Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS)—a distinction held by less than 5% of the auction community, with women making up only 8%. I’m currently the only female BAS in Orange County and one of only about 15 in all of Southern California.
To date, I have helped raise over $4.5 million for incredible causes.
I’m always learning—whether it’s staying up to date on legislation or incorporating AI for note-taking, making meetings more effective. My mission is simple: to use my voice, my passion, and my experience to create lasting impact.
I am still creating music for myself and other artists, along with creating powerful music for the non profits I work with!
Associations: CMA voting member, Grammy Voting Member, National Auction Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, Global Songwriters Connection, Songtown, Songwriting Pro
