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
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
Events & AwardsSep 30, 2026
Jewelers of America, JA New York to Host Networking EventThe event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
Matt Stuller to Receive 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementThe founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
De Beers London Drops Water-Inspired High Jewelry Collection“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
Jessica McCormack Turns to Classic Motif for New CollectionThe “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.
Events & AwardsSep 28, 2026
Guy Borenstein, Troy Underwood Among the Professionals Honored at AGS Conclave 2026The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.
FinancialsSep 28, 2026
Instappraise, Jewelers Mutual Look to Simplify Jewelry InsuranceThrough a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.
