Katy M. Clites, Owner & Founder
Graduate Gemologist, GIA
IJA Appraiser Team

Meet the IJA Appraiser Team



Back Row: Kristan Winand, David Atlas, Kevin Kiska
Middle: Katy Clites
Front: Jill Morrow

David Atlas, G.G. (GIA)

David Atlas, GIA GG, began in the jewelry business in 1967 when he joined his father in the family firm, which was created by his grandfather, the original David Atlas. David worked at the jewelers bench for a number of years and migrated into manufacturing, gem buying, designing and then into appraising. In the course of his training he became a G.G. (GIA), 20 year CG (AGS), MGA (AGA), Member (ISA), Senior Member (ASA) and International Chairman of ASA Gems & Jewelry, Ethics Chair AGA. He is currently a Certified Senior Member and Chair of Ethical Issues and Associate Director of NAJA. He is active as a consumer advocate on Pricescope.com.



Kevin Kiska, G.G. (GIA)

Kevin Kiska has been a jewelry industry professional for over forty years and spent his early years learning his profession in his family's jewelry store in the Midwest, later owning his own retail jewelry business for nine years. Kevin has over thirty-four years of jewelry appraisal experience. He has served as a Past-President of the Michigan Jewelers Association, Graduate Gemologist in Residence with The Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica California, and is a Registered Jeweler and Certified Gemologist with The American Gem Society.



Kristan T. Winand, G.G. (GIA)

Kristan has been in the jewelry industry since 2004 (14 years) after graduating Cum Laude from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her childhood hobby of creating jewelry lead to a job in a large, independent, family owned jewelry store, where she learned jewelry repair and stone setting, in addition to buying fine jewelry for scrap and estate resale. In 2007, Kristan began creating her own jewelry to sell, working in silver and gold and with precious and semi-precious gems. Her passion for jewelry creation lead to pursuit of her Graduate Gemologist degree through the Gemological Institute of America. This higher knowledge of gems contributes value to her own jewelry and enables her to perform appraisal work of fine jewelry.



Jill Morrow, G.G (GIA)

Jill has 30 years of experience as a Retail Jewelry Store owner, Graduate Gemologist and professional jewelry appraiser. She completed all the required American Society of Appraisers valuation courses including USPAP. She has provided appraisals for banks, attorneys, individuals for the Pennsylvania department of Treasury, where she created the methodology for officials to use in estimating jewelry values. She developed a form and format for the unclaimed property Division, including recommendations for gem instruments, and staff training. She has a complete lab for identifying gems and jewelry.


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