This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
JA Expands Team with New Hires
Jewelers of America has announced changes and additions for both National Jeweler and JA, including a hire for the newly created role of marketing coordinator.

New York--Jewelers of America has announced changes and additions to its staff as well as the staff of National Jeweler.
Jewelers of America’s marketing and communications department has expanded with the hire of Summer Gu in the newly created role of marketing coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating the promotion of JA Member benefit programs, events, advocacy and publications, as well as assisting in member recruitment and engagement efforts.
A 2014 graduate of New York University with a master’s in public relations and corporate communications, Gu is an addition to the team led by Director of Marketing and Communications Molly Fallon and Lauren Thompson, who was promoted to the new role of associate director of communications and digital development late last year.
Additionally, Lauren Kalma, who formerly was the public relations and marketing coordinator, now is the public relations and events coordinator. Kalma works with Amanda Gizzi, JA’s director of public relations and events, on the company’s event production, social media and consumer and trade public relations activities.
As previously reported, National Jeweler has hired Ashley Davis as associate editor, covering emerging designers, new collections and trends in the fine jewelry market.
Davis is a graduate of the New School’s Riggio Honors Program, and comes to the publication after two years as an accessories assistant at Women’s Wear Daily.
Her hiring follows the promotion of Brecken Branstrator, who leads the publication’s colored gemstone coverage, to senior editor.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, though the organizations act independently of one another. JA acquired National Jeweler from Emerald Expositions in February 2015.
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