MajorsDec 07, 2023
24 Karat Club of New York Welcomes New MembersMajorsDec 19, 2023
Malyia McNaughton to Become BIJC Board President
The jewelry designer and GIA G.G. will step into the role next year as the organization welcomes three new members to its board.
PHOTO Jewelry designer Malyia McNaughton is the incoming president of the board for the Black in Jewelry Coalition.
PHOTO She will lead a board that will include three new members, from left, Jeffery Bolling, Pat Dambe, and Thomas Davis.
New York—The Black in Jewelry Coalition will have a new president and welcome new members to its board next year, the organization announced Monday.
In 2024, current BIJC Board President and Jewelers of America Chief Financial Officer Annie Doresca will transition to treasurer and current BIJC Treasurer Malyia McNaughton, a Gemological Institute of America Graduate Gemologist and the designer behind the Made by Malyia brand, will become BIJC board president.
Doresca and McNaughton are among the co-founders of BIJC.
“As we reflect on BIJC’s accomplishments in its first three years, I am deeply grateful for the dedication and resilience of our team. Together, we have achieved significant milestones in promoting diversity and equity within the jewelry industry,” Doresca said.
“I look forward to witnessing and being a part of BIJC’s continued growth under the exceptional leadership of Malyia. With her at the helm, I am confident that BIJC will reach new heights, making an even greater impact on our industry.”
Related stories will be right here …
In 2024, current BIJC Board President and Jewelers of America Chief Financial Officer Annie Doresca will transition to treasurer and current BIJC Treasurer Malyia McNaughton, a Gemological Institute of America Graduate Gemologist and the designer behind the Made by Malyia brand, will become BIJC board president.
Doresca and McNaughton are among the co-founders of BIJC.
“As we reflect on BIJC’s accomplishments in its first three years, I am deeply grateful for the dedication and resilience of our team. Together, we have achieved significant milestones in promoting diversity and equity within the jewelry industry,” Doresca said.
“I look forward to witnessing and being a part of BIJC’s continued growth under the exceptional leadership of Malyia. With her at the helm, I am confident that BIJC will reach new heights, making an even greater impact on our industry.”
Also in 2024, three jewelry industry professionals will join the BIJC board.
The new board members are: Jeffery Bolling, district manager at Signet Jewelers with more than 30 years of industry experience; Thomas Davis, director of business development at Select Jewelry Inc., who brings a wealth of experience in corporate management, specialty retail, manufacturing, merchandising, sales, and celebrity branding; and Pat Dambe, director of marketing and brand development within Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy. Dambe has more than 30 years of executive experience working for corporations and luxury brands in the United States and Africa.
Bolling, Davis, and Dambe join the continuing BIJC co-founders and board members in leading the organization.
They are:
— Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, director of membership and marketing at the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, who will serve as board vice president;
— Lisa Jones, vice president of human resources at GIA, who will serve as board secretary;
— Nellie Barnett, GIA’s manager of corporate communications, who will serve as communications chair;
— Reginald Johnson, Signet Jewelers’ chief diversity officer and senior vice president for human resources in North America, who will serve as nominations chair;
— Adrianne Sanogo, GIA G.G., who will serve as education chair;
— Miya Owens, corporate counsel at Amazon, who will serve as a board member; and
— Lisette Scott, founder of Jam + Rico, who will serve as a board member.
BIJC’s 2024 board of directors is prepared to guide the organization toward a future marked by increased inclusivity, educational initiatives, and advocacy for Black professionals within the jewelry sector, the organization said.
For more information, visit the BIJC website.
More on Majors
The Latest
FinancialsOct 23, 2025
Jewelry Sales Resilient Despite Struggles at LVMH, KeringThe luxury conglomerates faced a challenging Q3 amid geopolitical and economic tensions.
SourcingOct 23, 2025
Petra Diamonds Turns to Shareholders to Raise Capital The struggling diamond mining company, which owns the historic Cullinan mine, has launched a rights issue to raise about $25 million.
WatchesOct 23, 2025
‘Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches’ Recounts Watch HistoryThe book details the journey of watches as symbols of hard-earned success in hip-hop for artists like 2Pac, Jay-Z, and more.
Brought to you by
Are Earrings an Overlooked Category? What Retailers Need to Know NowAs the holiday season quickly approaches, consider stocking one category that sometimes gets overlooked: earrings.
AuctionsOct 23, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman Names New VP, Senior Specialist for Jewelry & WatchesAlexis Vourvoulis, who most recently worked at Tiffany & Co., brings more than two decades of jewelry experience to her new role.
Weekly QuizOct 16, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsOct 22, 2025
The Taylor Swift Effect: Antique Diamonds EditionThe superstar’s August engagement put the stamp of approval on an already hot engagement ring trend.
TrendsOct 22, 2025
Don’t Forget These Diamond Jewelry Trends When Stocking for the HolidaysRetailers should offer classic styles with a twist that are a perfect fit for layered looks, experts say.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
AuctionsOct 22, 2025
Pink Diamond, Vanderbilt Jewels to Headline Phillips’ Geneva AuctionThe nearly 7-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond could sell for around $9 million.
SourcingOct 22, 2025
In ‘Storied Diamond,’ Jared Jewelers Is Emphasizing the Journey The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.
CollectionsOct 22, 2025
Tiffany & Co.’s ‘Bird on a Rock’ Finds New PerchChief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille has reimagined the iconic design in both figurative and abstract creations.
Events & AwardsOct 22, 2025
JFC Kicks Off Halloween Costume ChallengeFive dollars buys one vote toward an industry professional you want to see dressed up as a hero, or a villain, this Halloween.
Events & AwardsOct 22, 2025
Hillsborough Antique Show Gets New OwnerRecently acquired by KIL Promotions, the November edition of the public show in San Mateo, California, will be held Nov. 7-9.
GradingOct 21, 2025
GIA Examines Rare Bicolor Pink DiamondThe stone’s two zones, one pink and one colorless, may have formed at two different times, the lab said.
Lab-GrownOct 21, 2025
Grown Brilliance Opens First FlagshipThe New York City store showcases a chandelier with 1,500 carats of lab-grown diamonds designed by an FIT student.
Events & AwardsOct 21, 2025
‘Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture’ Opens at MADThe Museum of Arts and Design's new exhibition features 75 pieces by the designer, best known for her work in the “Black Panther” films.
AuctionsOct 20, 2025
Sotheby's To Auction 10-Carat Vivid Pink DiamondMaking its auction debut, "The Glowing Rose" is expected to fetch $20 million at the November jewelry sale in Geneva.
SourcingOct 20, 2025
2 Mozambique Police Officers Killed at Gemfields’ Ruby MineThey were attacked on Oct. 15, as approximately 40 miners without licenses marched on the mine’s gate.
CrimeOct 20, 2025
See the ‘Priceless’ Jewels Stolen During Daytime Heist at the Louvre It took the masked thieves less than 10 minutes to steal eight irreplaceable jewels from two display cases in the museum’s Apollo Gallery.
SourcingOct 20, 2025
Pristine Gems Names New Director of European SalesGemologist Lauren Gayda has previously worked at The Clear Cut, Taylor & Hart, and Effy Jewelry.
IndependentsOct 17, 2025
From the Jazz Age to the Information Age: London Jewelers Turns 100In 2026, the jewelry retailer will celebrate a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.
Events & AwardsOct 17, 2025
An Edit of Italian Jewels Is Coming to NYCThe new showcase dedicated to Italian jewelry design is set for Oct. 29-30.
TrendsOct 17, 2025
Piece of the Week: Judi Powers Jewelry’s ‘Stella’ EarringsTake a gaze at the sky with this pair of platinum diamond-set star earrings with blue lace agate drops.
IndependentsOct 16, 2025
Retailer Hall of Fame 2025: Jeffrey Zimmer Jeffrey Zimmer's decades of leadership at Reeds Jewelers are defined by integrity, a love of sourcing gemstones, and a heart for community.
AuctionsOct 16, 2025
Sotheby’s Introduces Custom Jewelry ServiceThe new high jewelry design and production process takes 30 days or less from concept to completion, the auction house said.
CollectionsOct 16, 2025
Foundrae Adds To ‘United in Love’ CollectionThe brand has released a second installment of its collection of traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsOct 15, 2025
Retailer Hall of Fame 2025: Kathy CoreyCorey rescued New England chain Day’s Jewelers, preserving its legacy with strong people skills, pragmatism, and a “get-it-done” attitude.
