Employee Bios

John Bloom

John is our master jeweler. Having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the 1970's from Syracuse University he learned the basics of good design as well as how to draw, hand fabricate and carve wax models. He has never stopped learning or honing his skills. He can take a statement like "I want a timeless look, but fresh and new." and sketch a few ideas right on the spot. John has the ability to take a chosen design and using anything from hand sculpting for lost wax casting to the up to the minute technology of computer aided design and computer aided machining (better known as CAD-CAM) he can produce a one of a kind piece or several hundred identical pieces of beautiful fine jewelry.

Kathy Bloom

Kathy is our gemologist. She started out by taking classes in jewelry design and fabrication at the Arts Center of the Capital Region and the Gemological Institute of America. After a few years of goldsmithing she realized that the metal part of jewelry is only half the picture. She earned the Graduate Gemologist Diploma at the Gemological Institute of America by studying diamonds, diamond grading, colored stones, and colored stone identification and grading.

Debbie Donnelly

Debbie has been a sales associate with JK Bloom Jewelers since December, 2004. Debbie is our fashion and trends expert. After a long and satisfying career in Social Work, she followed her heart to our jewelry store. Having been a long time customer of ours, Debbie has always had a fine appreciation for jewelry. So, when a career change was in the air, we were a natural fit. We have, in Debbie, someone with a strong fashion sense, always looking ahead to see what's new, hot, and trendy. Debbie excels in helping people make the right choices for themselves and their loved ones. Just like the Social Worker she started out as, she is still making people happy.

Maria Fusco

Maria is our goldsmith. Maria first left her home in Rome, NY, to come to Troy to study architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After deciding architecture wasn't for her she tried various other occupations before finally settling on jewelry. Maria trained in New York City, the jewelry capital of the United States, and was recruited from her studies at Studio Jewelers LTD to work for Ed Levin Jewelry as a process designer. Acting as a liaison between the design and production departments, Maria acquired an intense appreciation for precision and rigor. In September of 2005 she left Ed Levin for JK Bloom Jewelers where her day is varied and interesting. Maria sketches new designs, problem solves tricky repairs and sizes, sets gem stones and solders to perfection.