NYFAA News and Information

Danielle T. Rahm, ASA, ISA AM, Managing Director

Danielle has been with New York Fine Art Appraisers, the firm founded in 1980 by her father, Jason L. Rahm, for over twenty years. She serves as the Managing Director, overseeing operations and staff throughout the US.

Her background in Fine and Decorative Arts began when she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Boston University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Danielle continued her education at the Bard Graduate Center in Manhattan, where she was awarded a Master of the Arts in the History of Decorative Arts, Design and Culture.

An Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), as well as an Accredited Member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA), and International Society of Appraisers (ISA), Danielle is a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant appraiser.

Danielle’s valuations are highly respected and sought out by private and corporate clients, government agencies, and courts of law. She is often relied upon to complete complex appraisal assignments, including valuations involving blockage discount, rental value and fractional ownership. She serves as an expert witness and provides court testimony for valuation related matters. A generalist appraiser, Danielle’s areas of expertise include Post War, Contemporary & Emerging Art, Impressionist & Modern Art and Decorative Arts & Design.

Alongside her primary role at NYFAA as Managing Director, Danielle is actively involved in the ASA, currently serving a term as Vice Chair of the Personal Property Committee. She co-teaches the ASA Principles of Valuation course, Personal Property Valuation: The Legal and Commercial Environments. Danielle has chaired the ASA Personal Property International Conference Committee, and participates in numerous sub-committees. She was the recipient of the ASA Rising Star award in recognition of her contribution to the appraisal profession.

As a result of her expertise, Danielle has contributed to Forbes.com, writing about topics relating to professional appraising, authenticity, valuation methodology, the art market, collection management, and protecting art collections. She lectures extensively in the Metropolitan NY Area, including guest lecturing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, speaking to private groups, insurance and legal professionals. Danielle is also involved with television programming for the arts, appearing most recently on “To Catch a Smuggler” (National Geographic), “Greatest Mysteries: Louvre” (Travel Channel) and “Million Dollar Listing: NYC” (Bravo).

Barbara Rusoff, Director, Client Services

Barbara joined New York Fine Art Appraisers in 1980. She has dedicated herself to providing private clients, corporations, and institutions with the highest standards of prompt and personalized service, expertise, and confidentiality. Under her leadership, NYFAA has been recognized as a preferred provider for leading insurance companies, including Chubb, AXA Art, and PURE. Barbara works closely with clients to create an individualized and comprehensive program of appraisal and advisory services, including art liquidation, authentication, and collection management.

Melissa McCaffrey, Regional Director, New England

Melissa McCaffrey’s background includes a Master of Arts in the History of the Decorative Arts, Design & Culture from the Bard Graduate Center in New York and a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College. In her role at New York Fine Art Appraisers as Regional Director, Melissa assists private collectors, corporations, and institutions in Boston and the New England area with the valuation and disposition of fine and decorative art. Prior to joining New York Fine Art Appraisers in 2012, she was with Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers, Boston, where she cataloged Fine and Decorative Art for the monthly Discovery sale.

Nicole Voorhees, Regional Director, West Coast

Nicole Voorhees joined New York Fine Art Appraisers in 2013 to lead our West Coast appraisal office in Los Angeles, California. In this role, she assists private collectors, corporations, and institutions with the valuation and disposition of fine and decorative art. Nicole holds a BA from Chapman University, Orange, California, and a Certificate in Appraisal Studies from the Pratt Institute in New York. She is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), and served as the Personal Property Vice Chairperson, and later Chairperson, of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers from 2010-2015. Nicole enjoys being active in local and regional arts development and is a Docent Guild Member of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California.

Kate McDaniel, GG, Regional Director, Mid Atlantic

Kate McDaniel joined NYFAA in 2017 with over eleven years of experience to lead New York Fine Art Appraiser’s Mid Atlantic regional office in Washington, DC. In her role, Kate assists private collectors, corporations, and institutions in with the valuation and disposition of fine and decorative art and jewelry. Kate is a Graduate Gemologist, certified by the Gemological Institute of America. She holds a Master’s Degree in the History of Decorative Arts from Bard Graduate Center, New York, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and French from the University of California Berkeley. Kate also has a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts from the NYU School of Continuing Professional Studies and is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Prior to joining NYFAA, Kate was an in-house resident Graduate Gemologist at Tiffany & Co. for five years, after working at several exclusive private jewelry companies in Beverly Hills and New York.

Marie Wayland, ISA AM, Regional Director, Southeast

Marie Wayland, ISA AM, has been working with New York Fine Art Appraisers since 2013, as the Regional Director of NYFAA’s Southeast regional appraisal office in Palm Beach, Florida. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Marie has been appraising fine and decorative art as an active member of the International Society of Appraisers, Florida chapter, since 1999. She served as President of the chapter from 2002-2004. Marie focuses on providing appraisals for insurance, donations, estates, and equitable distribution for matrimonial dissolution purposes. She is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Jason L. Rahm, AAA, President

Jason L. Rahm, AAA, founded the appraisal firm of Jason Rahm and Associates (now New York Fine Art Appraisers) in 1980, after spending many years collecting and consulting. His passion for the arts has manifested in his appraisal practice, where he has been able to share his knowledge and experience with others.

A USPAP compliant, Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America, Jason has set high standards of excellence for the appraisal industry, gaining him worldwide respect amongst top insurance specialists, the law community, major auction houses, government agencies, corporate, celebrity and private clients.

As President of NYFAA, one of the leading independent advisory and appraisal firms of the fine and decorative arts in the country, Jason regularly appraises many prestigious collections, including the Art at Rockefeller Center. Alongside his primary role at NYFAA, Jason works with law enforcement and insurance companies as an art fraud investigator, serves as an expert witness, and lectures on topics relating to art appraisal.

“I found Jason Rahm to be extremely thorough in both the appraisal and photographing of artwork, silver and furnishings in my home. He has been careful, thoughtful and responsible.”

Barbara Walters