Martin W. Hassing
President, appraiser and jeweler extraordinaire, Martin has been creating, repairing and appraising jewelry since 1974. With modest beginnings in the basement of his house, Marty has since moved operations to a restored house in Webster Groves where he continues to fill the showroom with amazing designs. His achievements include winning the prestigious AGTA Spectrum award in 1991, completing the Gemological Institute of America’s Advanced Diamond Setting, Diamond Grading and Gem Identification courses. He has also taught metal-working and stone setting workshops at Maryville, Webster and Southern Illinois Universities. A world traveler, Martin journeys annually to Asia and South America to hand-select loose gemstones, pearls and some finished jewelry. Willing to take on nearly any project, Marty is a master of his craft. He has worked in platinum, gold and silver with a penchant for imaginative metal fabrication.
Tina Robbins
Designer, appraiser, wax-carver and bench jeweler, Tina has been with Summit since 1995. She began her jewelry career with a degree in Studio Art from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She has since designed, carved and cast thousands of unique pieces for customers and the showroom. She is a certified gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America. A huge fan of colored stones, she incorporates them into many of her designs. Always open to a design or technical challenge, Tina continues to enjoy the wide variety of projects thrown her way. She and Gayle are currently adding Matrix CAD to their long list of talents. Away from the bench, Tina loves to draw, build Lego creations with her daughter, garden and spend time with her husband, extended family and dog, Pickle.
Gayle Gourdé Camp
Designer, Sales Associate and bench jeweler, Gayle has been with Summit since 2006. Gayle graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA degree from the school of design emphasizing metal-smithing. She is a graduate of the G.I.A. Diamonds and Diamond Grading course. She has brought to Summit experience with metal fabrication, enameling, forming, casting and stone setting. With a flair for the whimsical and unusual, her designs have big personality. She also is a painter, sculptor and illustrator and has shown her artwork around St. Louis. She and Tina are currently adding Matrix CAD to their long list of talents. (And she is our lovely model on our home page!!). She and her husband are very busy keeping up with their two young sons and two kitties.
Peter Sutton
Peter joined the crew at Summit in October of 2013. He has over twenty years experience in the field ranging from design to metalsmithing and appraising. He is a G.I.A. Graduate Jeweler Gemologist just to name a few of his long list of G.I.A. credentials. Raised in the St. Louis area, he returns to us after spending many years in Raleigh, North Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana. He and his husband are serious foodies willing to offer a list of must-eat recommendations. He comes from a close-knit family with a long history in the carnival industry and makes a mean funnel cake.
Cindy Sexton
Behind the scenes at Summit is Cindy, our master-jeweler, bench-woman of many talents. She joined the team in the fall of 2016 with over 30 years of experience in the jewelry trade. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville with a degree in metalsmithing and design and brings to Summit a huge range of skills from design, wax carving, fabrication and stone setting to pearl stringing. A perfectionist when it comes to her craft, her attention to detail and artistic sensibilities are a welcome addition to Summit. A woman of many interests, Cindy likes to spend time camping, boating and swimming with her husband, extended family and two dogs, Mylie and Ozzie.
Dawn Tedrick
Dawn is our go-to jeweler-metalsmith-sales associate alternate that helps us in a flash. She graduated from the University of Southern Illinois Carbondale with a BFA focusing on metalsmithing. When she is not corralling cows or building Legos with her husband and two boys out in St. Claire, MO, she brings to Summit a ton of design and bench experience.
Buddy
Our protector and store greeter, Buddy, the golden retriever. “Woof” (I like tennis balls and treats).