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
PodcastsMay 20, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
Weekly QuizMay 14, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Medal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
IndependentsMay 13, 2026
New Orleans Jeweler Closing Canal Place StoreJack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.
SourcingMay 13, 2026
Smithsonian Acquires ‘Winston Red’ Diamond PaintingReena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.
TrendsMay 13, 2026
State of Design: Only the Innovative Will SurviveThe price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
