SourcingDec 17, 2021
IDCA Elects New Board, Executive Committee for 2022IndependentsJan 26, 2022
IJO Adds 5 Retailers to Board
The organization is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
IJO has added five new retail members to its board of directors.
Southport, Conn.—The Independent Jewelers Organization has added five retailers to its board of directors.
The new members officially joined on Jan. 1 and will serve a three-year term.
The newly added retailers include Barbara Binkley of Cooper & Binkley Jewelers in Brighton, Michigan; Kari Johnson Smith of Champaign Jewelers in Champaign, Illinois; Janelle Mead of John Thomas Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Nathan Regan of Burnell’s Fine Jewelry & Design in Wichita, Kansas; and Daniel Widmar of Rasmussen Jewelers in Racine, Wisconsin.
“One thing that’s always impressed me is IJO listens to its members, and I’m happy to be in this position where I feel I can make a difference—help make things even better than they are,” said Smith.
The board consists of 10 retail members and three vendor members, who act as liaisons between IJO members and management.
The current board members are Elena Davis of Towne Square Jewelers in Charleston, Illinois; Sherri Erickson of Erickson Jewelers in Iron Mountain, Michigan; Jim Messier of Arthur’s Jewelry in Bedford, Virginia; Travis Piper of Piper Diamond Company in Vincennes, Indiana; and Kelly Silva of House of Silva in Wooster, Ohio.
The vendor members are Craig MacBean of Ostbye in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jeff Wynkoop of Quality Gold in Fairfield, Ohio; and Jeff Pancis of Pancis Gems in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
“We have a very dynamic board of directors in IJO, and their input is invaluable to the workings of this organization,” said IJO CEO Jeff Roberts.
“These new appointees were chosen from among 650 retailers and 190 suppliers, which really says a lot about their leadership abilities. They all have been active, supportive members and have contributed strongly for a good number of years. I look forward to working with them in this new capacity.”
The following board members are leaving after serving their full terms: Linda Horrell of Mar Bill Diamonds & Jewelry in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania; Steve Rumanoff of Rumanoff Fine Jewelry & Design in Hamden, Connecticut; Seth Shipley of Shipley’s Fine Jewelry in Hampstead, Maryland; Billy Smith of Smith Jewelers in Franklin, Virginia; and Jim Steen of Morris Jewelry in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
“These outgoing board members have provided outstanding service to the IJO family,” Roberts said. “Their expertise, innovative ideas and incomparable communication skills have been a great asset to all in the organization, and I’m deeply grateful for their support.”
IJO is a jewelry buying group and service organization that aims to help members increase sales and compete in the marketplace.
The group will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year at its next conference, held March 12-15 in San Antonio, Texas.
For more information about the conference or IJO membership, visit the organization’s website.
Related stories will be right here …
The new members officially joined on Jan. 1 and will serve a three-year term.
The newly added retailers include Barbara Binkley of Cooper & Binkley Jewelers in Brighton, Michigan; Kari Johnson Smith of Champaign Jewelers in Champaign, Illinois; Janelle Mead of John Thomas Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Nathan Regan of Burnell’s Fine Jewelry & Design in Wichita, Kansas; and Daniel Widmar of Rasmussen Jewelers in Racine, Wisconsin.
“One thing that’s always impressed me is IJO listens to its members, and I’m happy to be in this position where I feel I can make a difference—help make things even better than they are,” said Smith.
The board consists of 10 retail members and three vendor members, who act as liaisons between IJO members and management.
The current board members are Elena Davis of Towne Square Jewelers in Charleston, Illinois; Sherri Erickson of Erickson Jewelers in Iron Mountain, Michigan; Jim Messier of Arthur’s Jewelry in Bedford, Virginia; Travis Piper of Piper Diamond Company in Vincennes, Indiana; and Kelly Silva of House of Silva in Wooster, Ohio.
The vendor members are Craig MacBean of Ostbye in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jeff Wynkoop of Quality Gold in Fairfield, Ohio; and Jeff Pancis of Pancis Gems in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
“We have a very dynamic board of directors in IJO, and their input is invaluable to the workings of this organization,” said IJO CEO Jeff Roberts.
“These new appointees were chosen from among 650 retailers and 190 suppliers, which really says a lot about their leadership abilities. They all have been active, supportive members and have contributed strongly for a good number of years. I look forward to working with them in this new capacity.”
The following board members are leaving after serving their full terms: Linda Horrell of Mar Bill Diamonds & Jewelry in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania; Steve Rumanoff of Rumanoff Fine Jewelry & Design in Hamden, Connecticut; Seth Shipley of Shipley’s Fine Jewelry in Hampstead, Maryland; Billy Smith of Smith Jewelers in Franklin, Virginia; and Jim Steen of Morris Jewelry in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
“These outgoing board members have provided outstanding service to the IJO family,” Roberts said. “Their expertise, innovative ideas and incomparable communication skills have been a great asset to all in the organization, and I’m deeply grateful for their support.”
IJO is a jewelry buying group and service organization that aims to help members increase sales and compete in the marketplace.
The group will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year at its next conference, held March 12-15 in San Antonio, Texas.
For more information about the conference or IJO membership, visit the organization’s website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
MajorsApr 15, 2026
Spark Creations’ Randy McKenzie Dies at 72 McKenzie spent 45 years with Spark Creations and is remembered for being kind, dedicated, and hardworking.
WatchesApr 15, 2026
These Are the New Rolex Watches for 2026Rolex focused exclusively on the Oyster Perpetual this year, as the model is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
