Connie Sue Davenport, ISA AM, has been helping people assess the value of their possessions and guiding them to a deeper awareness of the role of personal property in their lives since 1977. In addition to her work as an educator, seminar leader, and estate sale consultant, she performs appraisal reports for insurance companies, estates, and museums. Ms. Davenport has appraised antiques for probate inventories, provided expert witness testimony, executed estate sales, and coached hundreds of clients through the preparation and execution of estate sales.  

Appraisal Credentials:

• International Society of Appraisers with a designation in Residential Contents (ISA AM)

• National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)

History:

• Antique appraiser since 1981

• Resident Director of Historic Rock Castle, Hendersonville, TN, for eight years

• Program Director for Mansker's Station and The Bowen Campbell House, Goodlettsville, TN, for two years

Columnist:

• Bi-monthly antique columns in The Tennessean newspaper

• Monthly antique columns in two Tennessee magazines

Educator:

• Instructor in related fields at two local colleges

• Conducts various seminars related to antiques and estate valuation

Public Speaker:

• Popular speaker with business organizations, women's groups, senior service providers, historical societies

• Over three decades of experience with topics related to American antiques and conducting estate sales

Craftsman:

• Chair caner

• Hand spinner of natural fibers

Ms. Davenport has served as adjunct faculty at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, since 1981, teaching the popular American Antiques course. Her specialty field is American Antiques and Collectibles, and her passions include Victorian, 18th century, European, and Japanese imports.  Her ISA designation is in Residential Contents.  She also teaches a class in Chair Caning and a one-day seminar called How to Conduct an Estate Sale.

Ms. Davenport's varied background in museum and historic property management, education, counseling, retail, and entrepreneurship has prepared her well for her role as the President/CEO of Connie Sue, Inc.  In addition to serving as the Resident Director of Historic Rock Castle and Program Director for Mansker's Station and The Bowen Campbell House, Ms. Davenport gained extensive experience with museums and historical buildings while working with the Tennessee State Museum, Belle Meade Mansion, The Parthenon, Fort Nashborough and other historical properties and museums.  She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-Museum Council of Nashville, Rock Castle, and Community Access TV.  Her career has also included stints as an art educator at White House Middle School in Sumner County, as the owner of Connie Sue's Antiques, an antique shop in Madison, TN, and as a retail store manager for BLACKLION and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

She has conducted appraisal events, parties, and seminars on a variety of topics for a wide array of organizations, including the Officer's Wives Club of Fort Campbell, Association of Women Attorneys in Tennessee, The Sumner County Museum, Maury County Education personnel, Franklin Community Health Care professionals, Sumner County Realtors Association, the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, and a wide variety of civic and social clubs.  She has provided her services for customers on television programs like 'Talk of the Town' and on' Tennessee Mornings'.  She is also well-known for her appearances at local antique malls, shops, and clubs, where she offers personal property appraisals.

A master hand-spinner of natural fibers, Ms. Davenport was named one of America's 200 Best Craftspersons in 1990 by Early American Life Magazine.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and psychology with an education minor from Middle Tennessee State University.