Celebrating Women Appraisers

In honor of International Women’s Day, this past March 8, ASA would like to celebrate the achievements of our women appraisers, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.

Here‘s a special spotlight on a few of the many women making a difference in ASA and the appraisal profession.

Milena Kosi, ASA, Ljubljana, Slovenia, is an authorized business appraiser by the Slovenian Institute for Auditors and a member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. She is highly qualified Senior Business Appraiser with more than 25 years of appraisal experience within the capital markets and business valuation. She gained experience in Corporate Finance division of Investment Banking Department in Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d., later as project manager in KPMG Slovenija and for the past 15 years she is the general manager and owner of the company M.Kabinet, business valuation and consulting, d.o.o. Ms. Kosi has been an ASA member since 2002, holds ASA-BV and ASA-ARM designation, and presently serves as Vice President Slovenia for the ASA Europe Chapter Committee.

Cigdem Lule, PhD, GIA GG, FGA, DGA, Arlington Heights, IL, is a mineralogist and a gemologist with more than 20 years of experience gained in three different countries. Her scientific background along with gem trade and market research experience form the basis for the broad range of services offered to clients. Her company Kybele LLC is an appraisal and consulting firm specializing in the evaluation of jewelry, gems and minerals, and providing independent opinion of values. She also develops educational workshops for the gem professionals, appraisers and gemologists throughout the U.S. and the world, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Greenland, New Zealand and Turkey; and is also a frequent speaker, author and independent researcher specializing in Archaeogemology. Ms. Lule is a Candidate Member of ASA and a past presenter at the 2020 ASA International Conference.

Irina Rykun, ASA, Moscow, Federation, is a senior manager in valuation & business modeling. She specializes in the valuation of fixed assets including industrial buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment with focus on oil and gas companies. Ms Rykun is a full member of the Russian Society of Appraisers and also an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) since 2010, where she has served as a past member at-large for ASA’s Machinery & Technical Specialties Discipline committee, an MTS senior instructor and presenter at the ICVPME event.

Diane Dinkins-Carr, ASA, Chicago, IL, is founder and president of DDC Consulting Group, Inc. She was introduced to the fine arts at a very early age. With both parents holding art degrees and very active in the art community, she had no other choice but to study and receive her academia credentials in the visual arts. Ms. Dinkins-Carr has appraised over 2,000 pieces of African and African American art, curated over 50 art exhibitions, coordinated more than 20 auctions, designed, developed, and implemented art programs, seminars, workshops, lectures, and made acquisitions for individuals, collectors, and businesses. She is very active in the art community and instrumental in keeping the legacy alive of the country’s oldest African American art center, South Side Community Art Center, where she served as Board Chair and President. She and her husband Louis are collectors and philanthropists of the arts. Ms. Dinkins-Carr has been a designated member of ASA since 2006.

Patricia A. Thomson Graham, ASA, Long Beach, CA, is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and Senior Valuation Consultant with the Los Angeles, California office of Klaris, Thomson & Schroeder, Inc. She has prepared appraisals of residential, industrial and commercial real estate for estate tax, litigation support, estate planning, insurance and sale/purchase. She specializes in the valuation of real property including commercial, and industrial involving fee simple, leased fee, and leasehold interests valuations. Ms. Thomson Graham has been a designated member of ASA since 2018 and currently serves as treasurer for ASA’s Los Angeles chapter.

Looking Forward

ASA continues its efforts to push for diversity and inclusion, including advocating for the rights of women members and appraisers and fostering a new generation of female rising stars.

For more information about ASA, including membership opportunities, visit www.appraisers.org, or contact asainfo@appraisers.org or (800) 272-8258.

About International Women’s Day – International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.