2008 Speakers
Tom Ahern
Tony Baker
Belinda Belisle
Bill Belisle
David Brownlee
James Constantian
Steve Conti
Roger Cook
Mischa Dobrotin
Eric Finzi
Little John Gangel
Dr. David Goff
Theodore Theodosus Gonzales
Denise Hagopian
Suki Hilger
Charles Kelly
Leigh Leshner
Richard Lightfoot
William Novotny
Myron Ross
Donna Seecof
Dr. Robert Seecof
Mark Shapiro
Sally Shishmanian
Paul Silverman
Elizabeth Wallenius
Oran Z
Tom Ahern
Presenting American Flint Glass and LusterWare
Life
long collector Mr. Ahern’s passions include Flint Glass and English Luster ceramics
along with stamps and a few other collections thrown into the mix. Speaker at the Collectors Conference
for the past 10 years he will be back this year. Mr. Ahern is a several time winner of the prestigious
“Collector of the Year”, along with being a dealer, writer, teacher and lecturer.
Tony Baker
Presenting The Mysteries of Clocks and Time Pieces
Belinda Belisle
Presenting The Art and Charm of Needlework Samplers
Belinda Belisle is an award-winning lace-maker, restorer, and appraiser. She has
studied and collected antique textiles for over 25 years. Belinda has held
membership in International Old Lace, Inc., The London Lace Guild, The Wearable
Art Guild, Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, Old Colonial
Coverlet Guild, the Textile and Costume Guild, and The American Institute for
Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC).
Belinda is a Certified Textile Appraiser (CTA), graduating from the College for
Appraisers, and is an Associate Member of the Appraisers National Association.
She has completed coursework in Collections Care at the Campbell Center for
Historic Preservation Studies in Illinois under Jane Hutchins and coverlet
identification and restoration through the Quilt Heritage Foundation. Belinda
has a BA degree from CSULB with a specialization in Textiles. Along with her
husband, she runs a restoration and conservation studio in Orange County.
William Belisle
Presenting Print ID 103: Identifying Icart Prints
Bill Belisle is a graduate Certified Fine Arts Appraiser (CFAA). He has been Chair of the Fine Arts Department of the College for Appraisers since 1998. A member of Appraisers National Association, he has been on their Board of Directors. Bill also was awarded a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and decorative Art from UCI in 2006. Since 1999 he has been an Associate Member of the British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers (BAPCR), following coursework at the London School of Picture and Frame Restoration. Bill also completed the McCrone Research Institute’s course in Microscopy for Conservators.
Bill has been a collector of antiques and fine art for over 20 years, and he has been a dealer as well, specializing in silver, art, smalls, and Victoriana.
David Brownlee
Presenting Ancient Coins and Early Crusader Artifacts
David is a Certified
Professional Appraiser, graduate of College for Appraisers with certification in General
Appraising, Fine Arts, Gemology and Master Gemologist.
He and his partners have a growing estate sale and appraisal business. He can often be found at the ANA appraisal booth at the Rose Bowl and the Torrance Street Faire
James Constantian
Presenting Antique Phonographs and Early Recordings
James started collecting old phonographs and records at the early age of 14. Now at 60 he has built up a collection of close to 50 phonographs and thousands of records. He belongs to several clubs and CAP's & MAP's James also gives talks to many historical societies around Southern California
Steve Conti
Presenting The Life and Times of Sascha Brastoff
Avid
collectors of antiques and fine art, Steve's parents introduced him
to the world of quality objects at an early age. His mother took him
to auctions in New York City when he was in kindergarten. Steve's father
specialized in antique clocks and, by the mid 1970s, had a
collection of more than 100 timepieces. Steve was born into the
business. His family had period 18th century
furniture in the mid 1960s. Today, his mom concentrates on period
Victorian clothing and textiles.
Roger Cook
Presenting Appraising Automobile 101
Roger is the director of the new Certified Auto Appraising program at the College for Appraisers. This seminar will give you an overview of this burgeoning market for auto lovers and appraisers alike!
Mischa Dobrotin
Presenting Antique and Vintage Tools
Mischa Dobrotin has been a long time collector of tools, American primitives antiques and American Indian artifacts. He has been teaching at the College for Appraisers since 1989. Mischa also has conducted seminars on Indian collectibles along with primitive. An engineer by trade his passion and love of all things primitive brings a special light to his lecture.
Eric Finzi
Belgo Restoration and Appraisals
Presenting Restore or Not
Eric Finzi has over 35 years of experience with Restoration, Conservation and Appraisals of Fine Art, Antiques, Furniture, Paintings, Collectibles and Jewelry. He is also a diamond expert and certified Gemologist.
Little John Gangel
Presenting Let's Talk About Auctions
John Gangel operates Little John’s Auction Service based in
Dr. David Goff
Presenting Collecting the Old West and Mexican and Spanish Silver
Dr. David Goff is well respected for his collection and lectures on Indian beadwork
Theodore Theodosus Gonzales
Presenting Mexican Festival Costumes
Mr.
Gonzales, hair stylist and fashion collector, has won numerous hair
styling awards including the "Total A Look" World Championship that
combines hair style and fashion. His period hair styling expertise
has made him sought as an instructor and judge. For over fifty years
"Ted" has been assembling vintage and classic dresses, purses,
jewelry and other accessories. His extensive private collection
includes costumes from the late 19th century and outfits worn by
fashion icons from the early 20th century. Exhibits from his
collection have been seen at museums and fashion displays for
historical costume societies and charities. Theodore is the only
Private collector featured in the Costume "Society of America's
"Historic Fashions Calendar, Series 2007." This displays a Chinese
opera costume from his international collection. Although his
passion is collecting, his dream is to share his collection for the
education of future generations.
Denise Hagopian
Heavenly Choice Events
Presenting Authenticating Betty Boop from 30s and 40s and eBay Snares and Frauds: A Roundtable Forum
Denise Hagopian has been collecting Betty Boop for over 25 years. Frustrated over not enough accurate information on the history of the Fleischer Family or this character, she brought collectors together at the 1st Betty Boop Festival in 1985. She has the World's largest selection of Betty Collectibles & know does guest speaking plus consulting and product design. She identifies with Betty and understands why thousands of collectors love her.
Suki Hilger
Presenting Old Books, Old Paper
Suki Hilger is a well-known appraiser who is highly respected among her clients and colleagues as a person of knowledge. A former actress, she brings her passion for the stage into the world of books, documents, graphic arts and fine art. She serves as chair of the Appraisers National Association Board of Directors. This is her third year as a presenter at the Collectors Conference.
Charles M. Kelly
Presenting Hard Boiled Detective Fiction - LA Style
Appraiser,
book collector and crime reporter Charles M. Kelly has been collecting detective
fiction since 1975. His expertise is 20th century crime fiction. He lives in
Seal Beach, California.
Leigh Leshner
Presenting Czechoslovakian Jewelry
Leigh is a lifelong collector and is a much in
demand lecturer. She is the author of several books on Vintage
and Costume Jewelry, and produced and co-wrote the award winning
Hidden Treasures video series.
Richard Lightfoot
Presenting Mining Collectibles
Richard Lightfoot is a certified appraiser in
Antiques, Fine Art, and Personal Property and a graduate of the College for
Appraisers. He has been a collector and dealer of Mining Collectibles,
Western Décor, Old Tools, Gold and Mineral Specimens and Photography and has
experience with on-line auctions and wholesale and retail. He has been
dealing with Custom Fine Jewelry and Jewelry Repair for 35 years and has
experience with gemstones and precious metals including Lapidary, Turquoise and
Silver.
William Novotny
Presenting Issues for Appraisers, Sellers and Collectors: Ethical & New Legal Issues
William M Novotny is an AQB Certified National USPAP instructor. He is an Accredited Member of ISA and ANA and a graduate of the College for Appraisers. He was an antique dealer for twenty years, an estate sale agent for 15 years and an appraiser for fourteen years.
Myron Ross
Heroes and Legends (www.heroesandlegends.net)
Presenting Autographs and Hollywood Memorabilia
Myron Ross has been a registered dealer and authenticator in autograph memorabilia for over thirty years. His Heroes & Legends is said to be the premiere Internet site for authentic autograph material emphasizing signed photographs of Hollywood stars, recording artists, sports figures, important historical personages and other too numerous to mention here. Mr. Ross is known throughout the United States as an expert in this important collectibles field.
Donna Seecof
Presenting Indian and Western Book-Ends
Donna Seecof is a Southern California native, growing up in Escondido and attending
Palomar College before graduating with a degree in Zoology from University of
California, Riverside. She met Robert at the City of Hope Medical Center.
They’ve been married for over 40 years and have 3 sons and 5 grandchildren.
Donna obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing during the 1970’s.
Donna retired at the end of 2005 from GE Healthcare Performance Solutions, where
she was a Senior Consulting Manager . Besides being able to identify all the
local species of rattlesnakes, her interests include Southwestern
Indian art and
artifacts, souvenir buildings, and Vernon Kilns. She co-authored the first book
on bookends with her husband, Robert.
Dr. Robert Seecof
Presenting Indian and Western Book-Ends
Robert Seecof grew up in New York City. He earned PhD and MD degrees and was
Chairman of the Department of Developmental Biology at the City of Hope National
Medical Center in Duarte, California from 1962 through 1979. Dr. Seecof left
research in 1983 and has been practicing medicine in southern California as a
family physician since that time. He and his wife, Donna, purchased their first
bookends in 1991, a pair of very attractive Art Deco birds. There were no
reference books available to give more information about these bookends. Dr.
Seecof used his research experience to investigate bookends and he and his wife
wrote the first book on bookends, BOOKEND REVUE (Seecof, et. al., Schiffer Publ.
Ltd., 1996). Dr. Seecof’s interest in bookends is still strong. He and Donna
have published several articles on bookends in antiques and collectibles
magazines in recent years and have given talks to interested groups as well.
Mark "The Wiz" Shapiro
Presenting The Wonderful Wizard of Baum.
Mark's collection has been featured in the Orange County Register, Orange County Home Magazine, the Colorado Springs Gazette, and was a featured collection in Freeman's Auction House, Philadelphia, and a featured collection at PBA Auction House, San Francisco.
Sally Shishmanian
Collectors' Favorites
Presenting Bakelite Baubles
Sally Shishmanian is host and producer of COLLECTORS' FAVORITES, a half hour
television show airing on several Southern California channels. She remembers buying
her first carved bakelite bangle in 1954, but a family photo shows her wearing a
celluloid link necklace of roses and leaves in 1945. She has since amassed over
1000 pieces of early plastic jewelry. Other collections include quilts, folk
textiles, English china and vintage clothing. Her professional life includes
manufacturing boutique clothing, marionette costumes, and manager of Pacific
Design Showrooms and the Craft and Folk Art Museum Shop. She has spoken at the
Collectors' Conference since 1997, and lectured throughout the year.
Paul Silverman
Presenting Vintage Musical instruments
Elizabeth Wallenius
Presenting Western Clothing
A vintage western garment collector and former owner of the over 100-year-old western garment manufacturing company, H BAR C, California Ranchwear, she designed and manufactured garments in vintage styles.
Oran Z
Presenting Negro League Memorabilia
Oran Z is the founder of the Oran Z Pan African Black Facts & Wax Museum in Los Angeles. He is an expert on Black Memorabilia of all eras as well as Art and History. Oran has been featured in many radio and television programs. This year, he brings his sizable collection of Negro League memorabilia.