About us
Buyers who’d rather hear the story first.
Treasures Rediscovered hosts professional estate buying events inside established local jewelry stores. Our team is built on transparent, ethical practice, formal gemological training, and a genuine interest in the history behind each piece.
Leadership
Who you'll be working with.
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Chad Blackburn
President · AJP
Nearly two decades in the estate industry, trained by a stepfather with 50 years in the field. Known for wanting the history behind a piece as much as the piece itself.
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Rick Leppo
Chief Executive Officer
Bachelor of Science and Doctorate from Southern Illinois University. Specializes in sports memorabilia and rare coins; active in the Rotary Club.
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Rick Myers
Resident Graduate Gemologist
Over 30 years evaluating gems and jewelry. Former owner of R Myers Jewelers and manager at Fifth Avenue Design.
Behind them stands a team of 35+ professionals, including account managers, estate specialists, inventory experts, e-commerce staff, and numismatists. Most are GIA Applied Jewelry Professionals, with credentials spanning diamond grading, colored stone identification, art history, and business.
The team
The specialists behind every event.
Account managers
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Christina Cortina
Account Manager · AJP
US West RegionOver a decade as a pediatric dental assistant before turning to antiques, fine jewelry and travel. A GIA Applied Jewelry Professional who loves hearing each client's story. An avid hiker who has summited three peaks, including Colorado's Mount Massive.
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Sharon Callahan
Account Manager · AJP
US East RegionA background in finance and portfolio management, where she built long-term client partnerships. Co-owner of a family small business since 2007. Earned her AJP after moving into the jewelry trade. Off the clock: the outdoors, travel and football.
Estate specialists
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Joe Morrissey
Estate Specialist Manager · AJP
Builds lasting relationships by getting to know each client, their pieces and the stories behind them. Known for making every appointment easy and enjoyable. Off the clock: live concerts and time with family.
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Josh Scafe
Senior Estate Specialist · AJP
An estate buyer with deep numismatics knowledge and a sharp eye for fine jewelry, timepieces and rarities. Known for making every appointment memorable. Off the clock: treasure hunting, live music and the outdoors.
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Jaime Hartman
Senior Estate Specialist · AJP
Master’s in Art History from the University of Georgia and a summa cum laude undergraduate degree from Goucher College. Great-granddaughter of a diamond importer and granddaughter of a jewelry designer. Her AJP rounds out a lifelong connection to the trade.
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Tim Marhanka
Senior Estate Specialist · AJP
A retired Fire Captain with over 20 years of service. Owned and ran TNT Auction Services for eight years, specializing in estate liquidations. Has a sharp eye for antiques, vintage advertising and unusual finds. Off the clock: family and fishing.
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Max Rozenfeld
Senior Estate Specialist · AJP
Learned the diamond trade on 47th Street in New York, starting with deliveries for his mother's melee business. Worked up through stone sorting, quality control and production supervision for high-end manufacturers. GIA trained in diamond grading, colored stone identification, CAD/CAM and jewelry design.
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Brian Gilbert
Senior Estate Specialist · AJP
In the jewelry trade since 1990, first as a photographer and jewelry designer. A GIA Applied Jewelry Professional who enjoys sharing what he knows with clients. Off the clock: concerts, musicals and art exhibits with his family.
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Jonathan Smith
Estate Specialist · AJP
Years of work with galleries, artists and museums across the country shaped his eye for art and antiques. Now travels to find, evaluate and preserve fine jewelry and antiques. An avid photographer who camps in remote landscapes.
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Ryan Valleroy
Estate Specialist · AJP
BFA in Art and Metalsmithing and three decades in the industry. GIA certified in diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls, with a soft spot for colored stones, pre-Victorian jewelry, mid-century art and silver. Off the clock: his dog Rose, tropical plants and travel.
Operations
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Ryan Key
Numismatics Manager · AJP
More than a decade in rare coins and currency. Reads quality and historical significance at a glance, and helps collectors and investors build meaningful collections. Off the clock: fishing and travel with his wife.
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Eli Burch
Training & Development Manager · AJP
Specializes in valuing fine jewelry, watches and antiques, with a background in the rarities trade and technical training from GIA. Leads training and development for the team. Enjoys preserving historical jewelry, and time with his wife and dogs.
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Alexandria Leisure
Inventory Manager · AJP
Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and six years as a paralegal before turning to antiques and fine jewelry. A GIA Applied Jewelry Professional. Off the clock: outdoor adventures with her dog, painting and family.
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Lauren Hartman
E-Commerce Operations Manager · AJP
Bachelor's in International Business Administration from Lindenwood University, with a minor in Fashion Design. Started her career making custom patio furniture for clients including Wayne Gretzky and The Smashing Pumpkins. Brings a detail-driven eye to every piece.
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Chase Jones
Breakdown Manager · AJP
MBA from Southeast Missouri State University, where he served in student government. A retail sales enthusiast known for matching customers with the right pieces. Off the clock: science fiction and board games.
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Max Klug
Breakdown Assistant Manager · AJP
Studied sales and communication at McKendree University before earning his AJP. Enjoys teaching clients about rarities. Off the clock: football, baseball and road trips to small towns across the US.
Account liaisons
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Abigail Mathany
Account Liaison · AJP
MBA from Oakland City University, with a background in marketing, sales and customer service. Brings a people-first approach to every partner relationship. Off the clock: coaching and following soccer, and time with family and friends.
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Avery Anderson
Account Liaison · AJP
Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Administration from Maryville University. Spent two years in finance and accounting before moving into fine jewelry and collectibles. Off the clock: international travel, national parks and the St. Louis Blues.
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Jack Braun
Account Liaison · AJP
Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership from Missouri State University, with a background in sales and running his own business. Builds client relationships on a real love for the trade. Off the clock: music, movies and the NFL.
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Kimberlyn Pretto
Account Liaison · AJP
Bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and several years in corporate travel and events. Fell for Southwest jewelry as a child, playing dress-up in her grandmother's collection. Off the clock: live music, reading, camping and her dogs.
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Benjamin Soto
Account Liaison · AJP
MBA with an international background in operations, logistics and client relations. Originally from Chile and fluent in English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Off the clock: travel and soccer.
Office
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Sonya Butler
Office Manager
A background in art history, with hands-on experience in galleries, museums and auction houses. Off the clock: family time and hosting gatherings, where she mixes the cocktails.
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Sarah Wittmann
Office Administrator
A collector of antique and vintage gold bracelets, with hands-on knowledge of antique jewelry and a soft spot for colored gemstones. Off the clock: hiking and gardening.
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Cammy Hennis
Human Resources
Several years in retail jewelry taught her how sentimental a piece becomes over time. She brings that understanding to a compassionate, professional process. Off the clock: boating with her husband and two daughters.
Office dogs
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Otis
Research Analyst
Assesses the age of collectibles by scent alone. Off duty, he watches TV and barks at any suspected animal. Loyal to the whole team.
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Frankie
Security Consultant
Watches every window for people, cars and sounds. Greets newcomers, then settles on the nearest lap. Responds best to “park,” “dinner” and “walk.”
Affiliations
Licensed, accredited and accountable.
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Better Business Bureau -
Gemological Institute of America -
Continental Buying Group -
Jewelers Board of Trade -
Independent Jewelers Organization -
American Gem Society -
The Centurion Jewelry Show -
Jewelers for Children
Questions
About the company
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IWho runs Treasures Rediscovered?
President Chad Blackburn and Chief Executive Officer Rick Leppo lead the company. Rick Myers, a GIA Graduate Gemologist with over 30 years of experience, serves as the resident Graduate Gemologist.
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IIHow long has Treasures Rediscovered been buying estates?
For 35 years. In that time the company has purchased millions of items through events hosted inside independent jewelry stores.
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IIIWho will evaluate my items at an event?
A GIA-trained estate specialist, and most of our buyers hold the AJP credential. Rare coins and currency are the specialty of our numismatics manager, Ryan Key, and our resident Graduate Gemologist, Rick Myers, brings over 30 years of gem expertise.
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IVAre your buyers certified?
Most of our team are GIA Applied Jewelry Professionals, with credentials that span diamond grading, colored stone identification, art history and business. The company is BBB accredited.