Monterey Bay: The Magazine of CSU Monterey Bay Spring/Summer 2014, Vol. VII, No. I | Page 6

Benefitting Others

The lights dim. The microphone clicks on. The clamor of excited conversation,
clinking glasses and laughter fades slightly. A prominent figure on stage begins
speaking—a clear, rapid-fire dialogue that commands attention and generates an
undercurrent of excitement as numbers are called out. First it’s a dollar, then $10,
then $20, then $50, before accelerating to $100, $150 and $200. The amount increases
exponentially.

Zack Krone is making the world a better place–one bid at a time

Alumnus Zack Krone
works the crowd at
February’s Have a
Heart for Students
fundraiser.

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S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 4 | csu m b . e d u / m a g a z i n e

Photos George Machun

By Scott Roark

Zack Krone (TAT ’05) is kicking off
another successful benefit auction in
his usual style – by selling a plain glass
of water to encourage people into the
spirit of giving. Sound far-fetched? At
the CSUMB Have a Heart for Students
auction in February, Krone sold a
glass of water for $525. The glass was
personally delivered by Krone to the
winning bidder seated in the audience
and included free refills.
Krone is the owner and operator of
California Coast Auctions, an Orange
County-based firm which specializes
in benefit auctions. Since its inception,
California Coast Auctions has raised
millions of dollars for hundreds of
organizations nationwide. Krone has
worked with many high-profile charities and celebrities.
Why does he do it? Krone leans
back in his chair at his company’s
office, thoughtfully considering a
desktop plaque that contains a favorite
quote by Oscar Wilde: “It is only an
auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.”
“There’s a great need for what we
do … and I love being my own boss,”
Krone said with a smile.
Krone is known specifically as a
benefit auctioneer, a big difference
from a regular auctioneer. Benefit auctioneers are involved early on in many
aspects of the event-planning process,
providing input on details such as
timing, printed materials and seating
arrangements. It’s a complete package

– one designed to inspire an environment of inspired giving.
According to Krone, the tools and
ability to create this environment came
directly from the CSUMB Teledramatic
Arts and Technology Department, now
known as Cinematic Arts and Technology. The curriculum is hands-on and
practical.
“Students had a camera in their
hand from day one,” he said. “The lesson at TAT was to push yourself and
see what you’re capable of. It cultivated
drive and self-discipline.” He cites
TAT faculty as significant influences,
including Chris Carpenter, Steven
Levinson, Benny Ambush and Hiromasa Konishi.
CSUMB’s emphasis on service
learning played a role in Krone’s current focus on charity. He volunteered
extensively, tutoring children at libraries in Salinas and San Juan Bautista.
An avid surfer, he also performed many
beach clean-ups while working 20 to 30
hours a week, acting in plays at CSUMB
and living in a converted garage.
“I didn’t want to share a room with
anybody,” he recalled fondly. “It was a
very formative time.”
An impressive career followed.
Krone has starred in more than 30
professional theatrical productions and
dozens of commercials and guest TV/
film appearances. Krone also worked
as a production coordinator on TV
shows such as “Southland,” “The
Middleman” and several pilot produc-

tions for Warner Bros., ABC, NBC and
Sony Pictures Television.
Becoming an auctioneer was almost
a fluke. Krone was working in TV and
serving as a master of ceremonies at an
occasional fundraiser. One night, the
auctioneer failed to show up. Krone
filled in and discovered his true calling. Shortly after, he graduated from the
World Wide College of Auctioneering in
Mason City, Iowa. He’s been looking for
the highest bidders ever since.
Married to Dawn, a Chicago native,
and back in Orange County where he
grew up, Krone is living his passion.
His father managed a car dealership.
His mother was a nurse. For Krone,
show business was always a true calling – and his performance makes an
impact in a different way, providing
resources to those most in need.
Now, it starts with a glass of water.
Perhaps it’s symbolic. Some would call
it a simple prop. Regardless, that glass
of water can begin a night that raises
hundreds of thousands of dollars, driving California Coast Auctions’ goal of
uniting commerce and entertainment
with charity, schools and nonprofits.
In the end, Krone is helping these
organizations help themselves.
The world is what you make of it,”
Krone said. “CSUMB definitely taught
me that.” MB
More information: cacoastauctions.com

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