Navigating Through Covid-19:

A Panel Discussion on Virtual Events, Stewardships and Major Gifts

Tuesday - May 19, 2020

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL EVENTS Jason Alpert Alpert Enterprises	STEWARDSHIP  Jennifer Moore Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
MAJOR GIFTS  Mike Sutton, CFRE Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties	MODERATOR Kevin Bakewell, APR Principal of Bakewell Public Relations, LLC

The entire world is experiencing unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dining room tables have turned into offices, coffee meetings are done via video conference, and to prevent the spread of the virus, many are having to pivot their plans they created for 2020. This panel will allow local experts in virtual events, stewardship, and major gifts to share their own case studies and best practices on how they are “navigating through COVID-19.” A question and answer session will take place at the end of the event.

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This program is offered FREE for AFP Members and guests.  

Please register to be sent the link/code to join the Session. 

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Applied for 1 hour CFRE Credit

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Jason Alpert is known as The Voice of All Seasons. He puts on a show like no other emcee or live auctioneer while raising hundreds of millions of dollars for worthy charities around the country. His unique style captivates, engages, and entertains groups of all sizes.

Alpert Enterprises has been in existence since 2007 and currently features 3 auctioneers and a 4th one just brought on board on March 1, 2020. The company’s auctioneers are as much fund raising consultants as they are “just” live auctioneers. In the past 13 years, they’ve raised hundreds of millions of dollars for organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Best Buddies, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, the First Tee, Humane Society, Meals On Wheels plus, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Ronald McDonald House, United Way, and even the WWE.

Early on, Jason could be heard behind the microphone at some of the country’s largest and most prestigious events. He was the Voice of NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway and traveled the country with the IndyCar Series. He also worked for Daytona International Speedway, Orange Bowl Committee, The Special Olympics, Walt Disney World, WWE, The Delray Beach Open ATP tour event, as well as major national brands like Bank of America, Lowes and Nicorette, among others.

Before becoming The Voice of All Seasons, Jason spent nearly 10 years as an on-air television sportscaster in Miami, Tallahassee, and Columbus, GA working for local affiliates and regional and national outlets like Sun Sports, Fox Sports Florida, MaxPreps.com, and Comcast Sports Southeast.  Jason was recently named Best of Tampa Bay by Tampa Bay Magazine for the 4th straight year.

Jason is a graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, with a major in Telecommunications-News. He currently resides in Seminole, FL with his wife and two children.

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Jennifer Moore began her career in fundraising for non-profit organizations within months of college graduation. She has been able to diversify her fundraising experience working for community non-profits and universities. In 2016 Jennifer obtained her CFRE and today serves as the VP of Development for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

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Mike Sutton is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, where he has served since March 2014. As CEO of a $15M nonprofit organization, Mike provides leadership and oversees the continued delivery of the Habitat for Humanity mission of partnering with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing in Pinellas and West Pasco Counties. He is responsible for building and growing community partnerships, directing staff and volunteers, overseeing fundraising efforts, and maintaining a high level of quality for all Habitat programs. In 2017, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties became the second largest Habitat affiliate (of more than 1,300 Habitat affiliates in the U.S.) based on new home construction.

Mike is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with experience in the non-profit sector dating back to 2001. Prior to his role with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, he spent five years with Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County where he has served as Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer. Before he relocated back to the Tampa Bay community for the position with Big Brothers Big Sisters, he served as director of development for Habitat for Humanity in Bryan/College Station, Texas, while also serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the State Associate of Texas for Habitat for Humanity. Mike also has experience working for the YMCA for five years.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida. He has received his Certificate in Fundraising Management through Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy. In 2011, Mike obtained his CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification and was honored as an Up & Comer through the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2010. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is currently the Board Chair for the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mike became a member of The Copperheads (the charitable arm of the Valspar Championship) in September 2014. He is an active member of the University of South Florida Alumni Association and the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity Education Foundation.

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Kevin Bakewell, Principal of Bakewell Public Relations LLC, is passionate about supporting nonprofits and his profession – passions that evolved during his 45-year career at AAA where he was responsible for all public affairs operations in 11 states and 2 US Territories. As AAA’s senior vice president and chief public affairs officer, Bakewell was head of corporate social responsibility, legislative advocacy/lobbying, media relations, community engagement and corporate communications. He led a staff of 60 and managed a $10 million annual budget, including yearly charitable giving and nonprofit sponsorships totaling more than $1 million.

In 2010, Bakewell founded AAA’s Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving traffic safety, serving as the organization’s board chair until his retirement in 2019. He is currently serving his third term as board chair for Preserve Vision Florida, the state’s premier nonprofit dedicated to preserving sight through vision screenings, correction, medical treatment and advocacy. Preserve Vision Florida, founded in St. Petersburg in 1957, has its roots in Prevent Blindness America, founded by Helen Keller in 1908. He also serves on the executive board for the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council/Boy Scouts of America, and on the executive committee for the Suncoast Safety Council.

Bakewell is nationally accredited in public relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), is a past president of the PRSA Tampa Bay Chapter (1997), and is the current Chair Elect for the national Independent Practitioner Alliance (IPA) Section of PRSA. A native of St. Petersburg, Kevin and Debbie, his wife of 42 years, have three grown children, four grandchildren, and reside in Clearwater.