Carrie Hessney-Doran of Hessney Auction Co. has been named the 2026 Women’s International Auctioneer Champion by the National Auction Association during the organization’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Hessney-Doran, vice president of Hessney Auction Co. and founder of Hessney Benefits, earned the title after competing in a live auction contest judged on more than speed. Judges evaluated contestants on their ability to engage an audience, build momentum and successfully close a sale.
The championship adds to an already distinguished list of accomplishments for Hessney-Doran, who was named 2023 New York State Auctioneer of the Year and won the 2015-16 New York State Bid Calling Championship.
Beyond traditional auctions, Hessney-Doran has built a specialty in nonprofit fundraising through Hessney Benefits. She has helped organizations raise more than $50 million through live benefit auctions supporting youth programs, healthcare initiatives and other community causes.
“People underestimate how much the auction method itself does the work,” Hessney-Doran said. “It’s not just entertainment. It creates real momentum in a room, and when that’s channeled toward a cause people care about, it changes what’s possible for a nonprofit’s bottom line.”
Raised in the family business founded by her father in the early 1980s, Hessney-Doran has spent more than a decade conducting auctions ranging from firearms and vehicles to fine jewelry and heavy equipment. She also holds several professional designations from the Certified Auctioneers Institute, including Certified Estate Specialist and Auction Marketing Management.
As the 2026 Women’s International Auctioneer Champion, Hessney-Doran will spend the next year representing the National Auction Association at conferences, training events and public appearances while promoting the role live auctions can play in successful fundraising efforts.
She said she hopes to encourage more nonprofit organizations to consider live auctions as an effective way to increase charitable giving and engage donors.
