Events & Awards

See Who’s in JA’s 2024 ‘20 Under 40’ Class

Events & AwardsMay 15, 2024

See Who’s in JA’s 2024 ‘20 Under 40’ Class

The annual list recognizes young professionals making an impact in jewelry retail.

Jewelers of America 20 Under 40 2024 recipients
Jewelers of America has named its 2024 “20 Under 40 in Jewelry Retail” class.
New York—Jewelers of America has announced the inductees into this year’s “20 Under 40 in Jewelry Retail” group.

The annual list, now in its third year, recognizes young professionals who show leadership skills and a commitment to innovating jewelry retail.

Chosen by a panel of industry judges, the recipients are under the age of 40 and employed by JA member retail stores.

“Jewelers of America is thrilled to welcome the next class of the ‘20 Under 40 in Jewelry Retail’ and shine a spotlight on the talented individuals in our Jewelers of America member stores nationwide. So many of these professionals are already trailblazing and leading our future forward and we look forward to being part of their journey,” said JA President and CEO David Bonaparte.

The 2024 recipients are as follows:

Milana Arsakhanova, director of sales at Bellman Jewelers in Manchester, New Hampshire;
Grace Barretti, senior marketing manager at Greenwich St. Jewelers in New York, New York;
Jesse Dikes, store manager and boutique director at Weston Jewelers Hard Rock - Hublot Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida;
Jonathan Geller, president and CEO at D. Geller & Son in Atlanta, Georgia;
Paula Gracia, regional director at Ben Bridge Jeweler in Seattle, Washington;
Bobbi K. Hansen, director of merchandising at Fred Meyer Jewelers in Portland, Oregon;
Ilsa Heinicke Huscher, e-commerce manager at Borsheims in Omaha, Nebraska;
William Jones IV, co-founder of Jewelry Sales Academy and chief operating officer at Sissy’s Log Cabin in Pine Bluff, Arkansas;
Viviana Langhoff, fine jewelry designer and founder of Adornment and Theory in Chicago, Illinois;
Beau Maville, vice president of sales and marketing at Dutille's Jewelry Design Studio in Lebanon, New Hampshire;
Janina Messerlian, vice president at Baxter's Fine Jewelry in Warwick, Rhode Island;
Niki Novello, Graduate Gemologist at Cleveland Jewelry Designs in Lyndhurst, Ohio;
Megan Piccione, owner and president at Megan Piccione High Jewelry in Beachwood, Ohio;
Marina Pilibosian Bozabalian, vice president at Birmingham Jewelry in Sterling Heights, Michigan;
Talon Rasmussen, director of manufacturing at Rasmussen Jewelers in Spanish Fork, Utah;
Sara Reisz Sargent, co-owner at Summerwind Jewelers & Goldsmiths in Portsmouth, New Hampshire;
Amina Sorel, CEO and founder of Amina Sorel Fine Jewelry in New York, New York; 
Alysa Teichman, owner at Ylang 23 in Dallas, Texas, and Wildlike in New York, New York;
Amelia Tuttle, website manager at Day’s Jewelers in Waterville, Maine; and
Troy Underwood, vice president at Underwoods Fine Jewelers in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For more information about each of the 20 Under 40 recipients, visit the JA website.

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