MajorsJan 29, 2024
PGI Announces Business Development Grant RecipientsMajorsJan 30, 2024
6 Retailers Chosen for New JA, BIJC Business Program
The Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program is designed to give new retailers the knowledge needed to build and maintain their businesses.
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to correct the name of Valerie Madison’s store. It is Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry, not Madison Jewelers, as previously reported.
New York—The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) and Jewelers of America have selected the retailers who will comprise the first class of participants in their new, jointly developed program for up-and-coming jewelers.
Created last year, the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator program, or EJAP, is a series of interactive workshops designed to provide selected new retail jewelry entrepreneurs with a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain a successful business in the jewelry industry.
There are six retailers from five different jewelry companies in the first EJAP cohort.
They are: Patricia Carruth, Your Personal Jeweler, Royal Oak, Michigan; Cloyette Harris-Stoute, Twin Elegance Jewelry, St. Albans, New York; Soojin Kim, Suu Atelier, Los Angeles; Madeline and Karen Ormaza, Armonia Jewelry, Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Ashley Perryman, Jewelry Lady, Indianapolis.
The eight-month EJAP program, which is supported by the JCK Industry Fund, will kick off in February with interactive workshops.
The workshops will cover key business topics and be taught by the following subject matter experts:
— Business strategy: Valerie Madison, owner, creative director, and designer at Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry;
— Accounting: Mariel Diaz, founder and director at Accounting for Jewelers LLC;
— HR/Operations: Annie Doresca, chief financial officer at JA, and Lisa Jones, vice president of human resources at the Gemological Institute of America;
— Legal: Cecilia Gardner, attorney at Cecilia L. Gardner, Esq.;
— Product Development/Jewelry Forensics: Emily Phillippy, owner and founder of Emily Chelsea Jewelry Inc., and Adrianne Sanogo, GIA GG and a co-founding board member and education chair at BIJC;
— Ethical Sourcing: Christine Malle, owner of Christina Malle Designs;
— Sales: Manos Phoundoulakis, co-founder and director of happiness at Select Source Inc.;
— Marketing: Deanna Thornton, founder of Thornton Digital Consulting LLC;
— Security: John Kennedy, Jewelers’ Security Alliance president; and
— Insurance: Tina Olm, vice president of shipping solutions at Jewelers Mutual Group.
Related stories will be right here …
New York—The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) and Jewelers of America have selected the retailers who will comprise the first class of participants in their new, jointly developed program for up-and-coming jewelers.
Created last year, the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator program, or EJAP, is a series of interactive workshops designed to provide selected new retail jewelry entrepreneurs with a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain a successful business in the jewelry industry.
There are six retailers from five different jewelry companies in the first EJAP cohort.
They are: Patricia Carruth, Your Personal Jeweler, Royal Oak, Michigan; Cloyette Harris-Stoute, Twin Elegance Jewelry, St. Albans, New York; Soojin Kim, Suu Atelier, Los Angeles; Madeline and Karen Ormaza, Armonia Jewelry, Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Ashley Perryman, Jewelry Lady, Indianapolis.
The eight-month EJAP program, which is supported by the JCK Industry Fund, will kick off in February with interactive workshops.
The workshops will cover key business topics and be taught by the following subject matter experts:
— Business strategy: Valerie Madison, owner, creative director, and designer at Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry;
— Accounting: Mariel Diaz, founder and director at Accounting for Jewelers LLC;
— HR/Operations: Annie Doresca, chief financial officer at JA, and Lisa Jones, vice president of human resources at the Gemological Institute of America;
— Legal: Cecilia Gardner, attorney at Cecilia L. Gardner, Esq.;
— Product Development/Jewelry Forensics: Emily Phillippy, owner and founder of Emily Chelsea Jewelry Inc., and Adrianne Sanogo, GIA GG and a co-founding board member and education chair at BIJC;
— Ethical Sourcing: Christine Malle, owner of Christina Malle Designs;
— Sales: Manos Phoundoulakis, co-founder and director of happiness at Select Source Inc.;
— Marketing: Deanna Thornton, founder of Thornton Digital Consulting LLC;
— Security: John Kennedy, Jewelers’ Security Alliance president; and
— Insurance: Tina Olm, vice president of shipping solutions at Jewelers Mutual Group.
“BIJC and Jewelers of America are excited to welcome this first cohort of our Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program,” said jewelry designer Malyia McNaughton, who took over as BIJC president this year.
“These jewelers have tremendous business acumen, and we know that they will come away with even deeper knowledge in the jewelry industry, which will result in businesses that will be successful for years and years to come.”
After the workshops are complete, participants will provide a presentation encapsulating the program’s content and how they will use it for their businesses.
One of the participants will be eligible to receive a $5,000 grant. The remaining four jewelry businesses will be awarded $1,250 each.
Following the completion of the EJAP program, the cohort will continue to have access to periodic check-in calls, quarterly workshops, and invitations to industry events.
More information on the EJAP can be found on the BIJC website as well as on the JA website.
More on Majors
The Latest
SourcingNov 21, 2025
De Beers’ Branded, Traceable Diamonds Roll Out to 19 Retailers Called “Origin by De Beers Group,” the loose, polished diamonds are being sold in a total of 30 stores in the United States and Canada.
CollectionsNov 21, 2025
Piece of the Week: Melissa Kaye’s ‘Rocky Infinity’ NecklaceThe lariat necklace features a 4.88-carat oval-cut Zambian emerald in 18-karat yellow gold.
AuctionsNov 20, 2025
Vanderbilt Jewels Shine at Phillips Sale, Pink Diamond WithdrawnA 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
CollectionsNov 20, 2025
Rebecca Rau Jewels Debuts With ‘Then & Now’ CollectionRau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.
Weekly QuizNov 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2025
RJC Names New Executive DirectorFormer De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
WatchesNov 20, 2025
LVMH Takes Minority Stake in Citizen Group-Owned Movement Maker La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
GradingNov 20, 2025
Julia Griffith Joins SSEF as Head of EducationShe previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.
CollectionsNov 19, 2025
Larkspur & Hawk Celebrates 25 Years With Helena Bonham Carter CampaignThe British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.
TechnologyNov 19, 2025
Google Has a New Form for Reporting ‘Review Bombing’ Attacks Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.
IndependentsNov 19, 2025
Houston Jeweler Keith Shaftel Retires, Next Generation Steps In Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.
TrendsNov 19, 2025
Midas Chain Releases 2025 Holiday Style GuideThe jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
NYC Jewelry Week 2025: 12 Must-See EventsWith more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
A Giant, Bejeweled Moldy Berry Is on Display in LAThe artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.
SourcingNov 18, 2025
Another Diamond Company CEO Steps DownMark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
