• 2009 – 2013: Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences with an emphasis on mineralogy, volcanism, and petrology from Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

• • Presented research at the 2013 North-Central Section: 47^th Annual Geological Society of America Meeting (https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2013NC/webprogram/Paper218233.html)

• 2015 – 2017: Sales Associate for Helzberg Diamonds
• 2017 – 2019: Gemological Institute of America (GIA) – Earned Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma and Pearls Graduate while employed as a diamond grader
• 2019 – 2020: Company manager & Gemologist for Michael Couch & Associates
• 2020: GemWorld Intl., Inc. – Completed in-person courses focusing on colored gemstone grading, pricing, & corundum treatment identification
• 2020 – 2022: Gemologist-Appraiser for Christopher’s Fine Jewelry
• 2020: Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) Accredited Senior Gemologist member
• 2022: American Gem Society (AGS) Certified Gemologist Appraiser
• 2022: National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) Certified Member
• 2022: International School of Gemology (ISG) Registered Gemologist Appraiser & completed ISG’s Litigation and Expert Witness course
• 2023: Enrolled in Advanced Personal Property Appraisal course offered by William D. Hoefer Jr.
• 2023: Completed online 15-Hour USPAP course for Personal Property, Gems & Jewelry, and Machinery & Technical Specialties through the American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
• 2024: Recognized as an Accredited Gem Lab (AGL) with the NAJA

Collaborative Research, Contributions & Industry Related Conference Attendances:

• Co-author of research book: Identifying Diamond Types and Laboratory-Grown Diamond with CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) (3^rd Edition, 2023) with Branko Deljanin of Gemological Research Industries, Inc. and Dusan Simic of Analytical Gemology & Jewelry
• Co-author of research poster:  CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) Technique for Screening & ID of Diamonds: Natural, Lab-grown & Post-Growth Treated Branko Deljanin of Gemological Research Industries, Inc.
• Co-authored an article titled Cross Polarized Filters as a Clue to Diamond Origin in the Issue 2 of 2022 AGS Spectra magazine with Wade Abel, Director of Gemological Services with the AGS
• Featured on the magazine cover of Gems & Jewellery (Winter 2023/Volume32/No.4) for winning photographer of the year with the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A)

• • Pages 12-15 also detail my winning photo along with my fourth-place photo entry, both regarding diamond characteristics.

• Regular columnist for the NAJA quarterly newsletter since 2021

• • Columns focus on the technicalities of diamond and colored gemstone testing, and their relevancy to jewelry appraisers.

• Active gemology instructor for Branko Gems online Gemstone Academy

• • I am responsible for lecturing on the topics of introductory gemological testing and diamond identification using standard methods of evaluation (i.e., polarized illumination, UV illumination, and basic microscopy to identify inclusions and characteristics of diamond)

• Active 3-year term with the Appraisal Foundation’s Personal Property Resource Panel (effective January 1^st, 2023)

• • Additionally, I am serving on the Personal Property Qualifications Task Force with the Appraisal Foundation

• American Gem Society Conclave attendance – Dallas, TX 2021; Oklahoma City, OK 2022; Louisville, KY 2023
• NAJA conference attendance – 57th ACE©it Winter Virtual Conference 2022; 58th ACE©it Mid-Year Virtual Conference 2022; 60th ACE©it Mid-Year [in-person] Conference, Providence, RI 2023
  • Completed annual color vision testing and received “exceptional color vision” on August 13^th of 2023

Speaking Engagements: The following speaking engagements regard diamond identification along with colored gemstone identification using standard methods of evaluation such as microscopy, polarized light, UV illumination, and inclusion identification.  All presentations included a discussion of why these topics are of crucial importance for the jewelry appraiser.

• Lectured at Augustana college in Rock Island, IL (2021)
• Virtual lecture to the New College of Florida as part of the Natural Sciences seminar series (2022)
• Virtual lecture hosted by Branko Gems (2022)
• American Gem Society speaker engagement in Fayetteville, AR (2023)
• American Gem Society speaker engagement in St. Louis, MO (2023)
• American Gem Society speaker engagement in Hillsboro, NC (2023)
• American Gem Society Conclave speaker engagement in Louisville, KY (2023)
• Hired by National Rarities in St. Louis, MO to lecture on diamond identification (2023)
• Hired by Jewelsmith Inc. in Durham, NC to lecture on diamond identification (2023)

Use of polarized light microscopy and UV illumination to screen natural from lab-grown diamond.

GIA Alumni, AGS, NAJA, ISG, Gem-A

I serve on multiple committees within the AGS, am a regular columnist for the NAJA quarterly newsletter, and serve on the PPRP for The Appraisal Foundation.

I was honored to have won the Gem-A Photographer of the Year award for 2023.