SourcingFeb 18, 2025
Celine Assimon Stepping Down as CEO of De Beers JewellersIndependentsFeb 20, 2025
IJO Elects 4 New Board Members
Alisha Cornett, Nic Faini, Eric Stevens, and Seth Shipley have joined the organization’s board of directors for a three-year term.
IJO’s new board members are, clockwise from left to right, Alisha Cornett of Green Brothers Jewelers in Bay City, Texas; Nic Faini of Faini Designs Jewelry Studio in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Eric Stevens of Stevens Diamond Jewelers in West Springfield, Massachusetts; and Seth Shipley of Shipley’s Fine Jewelry in Hampstead, Maryland.
Southport, Conn.—The Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) has elected four new members to its board of directors.
Nic Faini of Faini Designs Jewelry Studio in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Alisha Cornett of Green Brothers Jewelers in Bay City, Texas; Eric Stevens of Stevens Diamond Jewelers in West Springfield, Massachusetts; and Seth Shipley of Shipley’s Fine Jewelry in Hampstead, Maryland, have joined the organization for a three-year term.
As board members, they will act as a liaison between the membership and IJO headquarters, said Stephen Barnes, president of IJO. They will discuss suggestions and ideas that are brought to them with the organization’s management.
IJO board members meet twice yearly at IJO’s conferences and are available for consultation throughout the year.
“IJO has a longstanding history of listening to its members, and their concerns are our concerns. Many changes have been made as a result of their ideas, and their input is invaluable,” said Barnes.
Related stories will be right here …
Nic Faini of Faini Designs Jewelry Studio in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Alisha Cornett of Green Brothers Jewelers in Bay City, Texas; Eric Stevens of Stevens Diamond Jewelers in West Springfield, Massachusetts; and Seth Shipley of Shipley’s Fine Jewelry in Hampstead, Maryland, have joined the organization for a three-year term.
As board members, they will act as a liaison between the membership and IJO headquarters, said Stephen Barnes, president of IJO. They will discuss suggestions and ideas that are brought to them with the organization’s management.
IJO board members meet twice yearly at IJO’s conferences and are available for consultation throughout the year.
“IJO has a longstanding history of listening to its members, and their concerns are our concerns. Many changes have been made as a result of their ideas, and their input is invaluable,” said Barnes.
Faini, Cornett, Stevens, and Shipley are taking over for Nathan Regan of Burnell’s Fine Jewelry in Wichita, Kansas; Kari Johnson Smith of Champaign Jewelers in Champaign, Illinois; Janelle Mead of Harris Jewelers in Rio Rancho, New Mexico; and Daniel Widmar of Rasmussen Diamonds in Racine, Wisconsin, whose terms expired at the end of 2024.
The board is comprised of 10 retailers and three vendors. Positions open up regularly, said Barnes, and all submissions are welcome.
IJO’s current retail board members for 2025 include:
Cindi Haddad-Drew of Cindi’s Diamond & Jewelry Gallery in Foxboro, Massachusetts;
Tia Daniel of Conti Jewelers in Endwell, New York;
John Herold of John Herold Jewelers in Randolph, New Jersey;
Joanne Osborne of Osborne Jewelers in Goodyear, Arizona;
Rick Sanders of Sanders Jewelers in Gainesville, Florida; and
Scott Stambaugh of Stambaugh Jewelers in Defiance, Ohio.
IJO’s current vendor board members for 2025 include:
Allison Peck of Brevani/Color Merchants in New York, New York;
Todd Bazar of Imperial Pearl in East Providence, Rhode Island; and
Brecken Farnsworth of Parlé Jewelry Design in Pocatello, Idaho.
For more information on IJO membership, call Penny Palmer at 800-624-9252.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry StoreAuthorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in EnglishLotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ RingThe ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ OutlookThe Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.
Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsMar 27, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring Linked to Witch Trial Judge Goes Unsold at Auction However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand AmbassadorThe Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean MoreNatural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco WatchesThe “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.
MajorsMar 26, 2025
QVC Group Appoints New PresidentAlex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2025
Jewelers of America Announces New Funding Initiative The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.
AuctionsMar 25, 2025
Christie’s To Auction 35-Carat Sapphire, 13-Carat RubyThe ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.
CrimeMar 25, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Earrings Swallowed Following Grab-and-Run Theft RecoveredThe two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.
ColumnistsMar 25, 2025
The Smart Lab: Using Short-Form Videos to Sell More JewelryThe time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.
CollectionsMar 24, 2025
Pomellato’s Latest ‘Nudo’ Collections Revamp its Classic DesignFrom striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.
MajorsMar 24, 2025
4 Top Executives to Depart Signet Jewelers Amid TurnaroundThe jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.
WatchesMar 24, 2025
Sotheby's Now Offers Watch Repair ServicesThe auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.
FinancialsMar 21, 2025
Swarovski Says Its Lab-Grown Diamond Sales Doubled in 2024The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.
SourcingMar 21, 2025
BrankoGems To Hold Conference in MontanaThe event, set for June 13-15, will feature educational presentations and guided visits to the state’s sapphire mines.
TrendsMar 21, 2025
Piece of the Week: Marrow Fine’s ‘Til Death’ RingAfter the black enamel band became a best-seller for the brand, it has now launched an enamel ring personalization program.
Events & AwardsMar 20, 2025
JCK Rocks to Feature Snoop Dogg, Jason DeruloThe rapper and singer-songwriter will perform at Tao Beach on June 8.
TechnologyMar 20, 2025
Chris Ploof, Severine Ferrari Launch YouTube Video Series“Conversations with Chris Ploof” covers tips for men buying wedding bands, behind-the-scenes footage of Ploof in his studio, and more.
Lab-GrownMar 20, 2025
Beyond Jewelry: Possibilities in the Lab-Grown Diamond SectorAs lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.
FinancialsMar 19, 2025
Signet Jewelers to Close Stores, Cut Staff Amid Declining SalesThe moves are part of the retailer’s new turnaround plan, “Grow Brand Love,” which also includes emphasizing brand loyalty over store banners.
CollectionsMar 19, 2025
Jessica McCormack’s New Collection Elevates Office WearThe “Rush Hour” campaign stars Zoë Kravitz in bold, wearable pieces designed to make a statement in the workplace.
WatchesMar 19, 2025
Breitling Acquires Another Watch Brand From the 1800sBreitling is reviving Gallet, which was founded in 1826 and is known for making watches used in the early days of long-distance travel.
