TREFLER - Key Persons
Allison Cook joined Trefler's as Office Manager in 2019. In her words "my brother in Kansas sent me the job posting and I applied immediately, with great interest, on a Saturday afternoon. The job fit was right, and here I am, Office Manager in a busy restoration studio. Collecting ideas and information, sorting, organizing and in general figuring out priorities - these are the kinds of activities I enjoy."
Allison's experience includes working within the Media Department of the New England Aquarium, the Print Department of the Boston Public Library as well as volunteering with the Museum of Science's Collection Department for over five years. Her varied background also includes working for over three years as an Auction Assistant at Skinner.
Bernard Murphy is Head Conservator for Trefler's Furniture Restoration Department, where he specializes in structural and cosmetic repairs, as well as designing and fabricating custom furniture, art displays and frames.
Bernard joined Trefler's nearly five years ago, prior to which he spent two decades as a high-end art framer. In his words, "For me, the transition to restoration came from a desire to use these skills on a full-time basis." His woodworking and hand-finishing skills allows him to engineer tailored solutions for framing, art displays, and modification of furniture.
Bernard has been working with wood since age seven, through personal and professional exploration of the material, he has developed an impressive breadth of knowledge, skill and craftsmanship that is apparent in each project he approaches.
Chris Keiffer is a Senior Conservator for Trefler's Furniture Restoration Department. He works primarily on structural repairs and finishing furniture and antiques.
Chris trained with the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, and has been an integral part of Trefler's furniture restoration department since 2014/
In his words, "one of my favorite things to do is to work on very old pieces of furniture. I like to try to save the original wood and finishes as much as possible. When necessary, I attempt to reproduce and repair any damaged or missing pieces in a manner as close to how they were originally done as possible."
As Trefler's lead art handler, Jim handles all of Trefler's logistics for all of the items that come through the studio, including packing, handling and transportation of artworks and objects. His care and interest in restoration has led him to learn more about electrical and lighting repair, glass grinding and photo restoration.
Jim's educational background includes a BFA in Film and Video Production. His studies and interest in the arts and media encouraged him to join Trefler's. In his words, "What drew me to restoration was the attention to craft it requires - while still being a creative process."
Kody is Trefler's Director of Sales and has been with Trefler's for nearly 3 years. His primary role is working directly with clients to assess on-site damage as result of fire and water claims.
Kody graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a focus in Photography. His interest in historic techniques in film encourage him to learn more about restoration, particularly in regards to photography conservation.
In addition to his role as Sales Director, Kody enjoys taking on select projects involving photography restoration, both digitally and print. In his words, "I really enjoy digital restoration on photographs, especially when the customer has lost hope that it can be fixed, and we can bring it back to life for them."
Marilyn has worked in sales for Trefler's since 2019. Her part time role includes handling the behind-the-scenes details of many client projects, including scheduling home & claim inspections, on-site restoration services, art handling, and installation work.
Along with Kody, Marilyn regularly works with insurance agents, public adjusters, moving and relocation companies, interior decorators and designers, concierge services, and online re-sellers to manage projects involving their clients. "Our team approach, as well restoring cherished possessions for those affected by life-altering events are a rewarding combination."
Marilyn has a background in education and museum work, and in addition to her time at Trefler's, she is a professional organizer and owner of Creative Simplicity Organizing & Productivity.
Paul McCarthy is Trefler's Chief Operating Officer. Having joined Trefler's over 35 years ago, Paul has been an integral part of the company's growth over the last three decades. Starting out as a restorer himself, Paul began his career with Trefler's when it was still operating with just two specialists in a modest 1,200 square foot studio space. Today, Trefler's full-service facilities proudly operate within a 10,000 square foot studio, employing over a dozen, incredibly talented team members.
Paul's personal relationship and appreciation for antiques, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms was instilled in him at an early age by his mother's love of decorative objects and the arts.
Because of this connection, Paul explains the reward that comes with each successfully treated object. "My enjoyment is in hearing the stories behind the items that come in, since most are restored for sentimental reasons, and seeing our client's satisfaction and surprise when they get their items back."
Sarah Robison is Senior Conservator in Trefler's Decorative Arts & Books Department. She has been with Trefler's for over 26 years and specializes in a wide variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, glass, marble, frames, bound materials and books.
Raised in a craft oriented family, Sarah began developing hand skills and structural ability from an early age. Her formal training includes a Bachelor's in Studio Art, as well as a two year program in Bookbinding and Book Conservation at the North Bennet Street school in Boston.
In Sarah's words, "I particularly like the challenge of putting something together that has been broken into many pieces. It's satisfying to take something that is pretty much a pile of shards and see it start to take shape and then become whole again. For books, I really enjoy working on cloth case books. And I also love that many of the books I restore are sentimental, like children's books and cookbooks."