PodcastsAug 20, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
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Impacting Tomorrow Today
How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
Brought To You By Jewelers of America
This story first appeared in the print edition of the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame. Click here to see the full issue.
The jewelry industry is up against more challenges than it has faced in decades.
It is confronted by tariffs, supply chain disruptions, rising gold prices, aging skilled professionals, a lack of new talent, and a digital evolution. Despite these challenges, there are young professionals throughout the jewelry industry that are leading by example and creating unparalleled levels of excellence that are pushing the industry forward.
Jewelers of America’s 2025 Class of 20 Under 40 is comprised of two lists–one retailer and one supplier–that celebrate rising professionals who exemplify leadership skills and a commitment to the jewelry industry.
This year’s class proves that the industry is in good hands as they address these challenges head on and make a huge impact early in their careers.
Here is what the 20 Under 40 group has to say on identifying challenges, tackling staffing, and how they see their personal impact.
Q1: How is your company attracting and retaining quality employees that impact its success?
Lauren Boc, Hera Fine Jewelry
Great people want a great work environment. We set our staff up to succeed with autonomy, growth opportunities, and a healthy work-life balance. I'm really proud of how supportive our team is, celebrating each other's successes and pitching in to help when needed.
Fallon Bock, Bachendorf’s
At Bachendorf’s, we focus on building skills, growing careers, and fostering a culture where people feel invested in their work. We retain employees by offering opportunities for advancement and continuous training, [along with] a supportive environment that values collaboration and personal development. Our leadership is actively involved in guiding and supporting the team, ensuring everyone has the resources and direction needed to succeed.
Kiran Golakiya, Dharm International LLC
We prioritize a culture of growth and recognition, offering clear career development paths and investing in ongoing training. We take care of the well-being of employees and holistic development of [their] children. By aligning individual strengths with company goals, we foster a sense of purpose that keeps our team motivated and committed.
Nichole Guillory, Stuller
At Stuller, we attract and keep great people by making sure they feel valued and empowered every day. Our Stuller S.E.R.V.E. initiative helps us support each other and grow as a team. Stuller is powered by its employees, their creativity, energy, and commitment to making every experience exceptional.
Joy Haugaard, Lionheart
At Lionheart, we attract and retain quality employees by fostering a culture of creativity, diversity, and growth. We train talent from entry level, providing mentorship and opportunities to develop their skills, ensuring they feel valued and proud to grow with us. My team is truly my village, and I couldn’t do this without them. Having started in the jewelry industry at 16, I learned from the incredible craftsmen in the back and the strong, skilled women running the show—I deeply cherish those lessons and bring that same spirit of mentorship and empowerment to my own team.
Iris Jarvis, Young Jewelers
At Young Jewelers, we’ve created an intentional onboarding experience that extends from day one through the first year, including expectations, brand values, and personalized check-ins at key milestones. Every new team member receives a roadmap that outlines our store’s history, standards of service, and how their role contributes to the larger legacy of our 77-year-old family business. We prioritize building a culture of mutual respect across departments, which helps with time management and creates an environment where collaboration flourishes. From team-building activities to meaningful mentorship, we strive to make each employee feel both valued and empowered.
Jonathan LeVian, Le Vian
At Le Vian, we treat our team like family. We create purpose-driven careers—not just jobs—by inspiring passion, offering mentorship, and empowering every individual to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Jordan Peck, Brevani
We’re lucky that most of our staff has been with us for a long time. However, with new team members, we’re really trying to think outside of the box and find candidates from outside the jewelry industry that have similar experience [and] teach them how to apply their knowledge to our industry’s needs. We’re finding that while onboarding takes a little longer, it’s resulting in people who are excited to make a change, learn a new industry, be part of a growing company, and bring an outside perspective.
Megan Sherrer-Neel, Lou’s Jewelry
The reality to hiring in a family-owned business is that it is the most difficult part of running any business in any industry. There is no need to sugar coat that hiring and retaining employees is more difficult now than it has been in 50 years. There is not a line of qualified employees waiting for us to call. We have learned that proper training, education, benefits, and sharing the love of the jewelry industry is what will help retain employees. The problem is finding the right person that will mesh well with those who are already working with you. We are currently looking for the next "right person." It's not a rushed process, but rather one that will be met with patience and time.
Chris Wattsson, Wattsson & Wattsson Jewelers
We have been able to attract and retain quality employees through performance-based sales bonuses, and prioritizing work-life balance. Three years ago, we started the tradition of paying the team and closing the store from Christmas through New Year's. That has been a game changer. The team comes back refreshed and ready for the new year after the grueling holiday season.
Q2: What is the impact you want to leave on the industry/What do you want your legacy to be?
Dakota Badia, Buddha Mama
We hope to continue creating joyful and unique pieces which hold a special sentiment, talismans that bring happiness and good energy, and an aesthetic that allows one to express themselves. The dream would be a legacy encompassing a line that designs with a full heart and a meaningful ethos.
Cece Baggott, The Vault Nantucket
I hope to leave a legacy of redefining the fine jewelry retail experience—one that blends exceptional design, meaningful storytelling, and genuine connection. By championing emerging designers and building authentic relationships with clients, I aim to inspire a more connected, thoughtful, and innovative future for the industry.
Fernanda Durmer, Universal Deco
Rooted in my personal ethos of kindness, I hope to be remembered as an iconic jewelry designer whose one-of-a-kind pieces are celebrated as art. I want women and minorities from humble beginnings to see that it is possible to build a career in the arts, even when faced with limitations. By leading with kindness and creating authentically, I believe our work can leave a lasting impact and inspire others to pursue their own paths with courage.
Vanessa Fernández, Vanessa Fernández Studio
I hope to inspire the next generation of jewelers and designers to create with intention and passion. I want independent bench jewelers to feel supported—and I’ll help in any way I can. If I leave behind a legacy, I hope it’s one of generosity and encouragement: that I uplifted young designers, stood by my fellow artists, and remained devoted to fine color, unique diamonds, and preserving the art of handcrafted jewelry.
Romy Schreiber Gow, Gumuchian
As a woman leading a fifth-generation family business, I feel a deep responsibility to preserve the craftsmanship, ethics, and excellence that define our brand, while also reimagining what luxury means for a new generation.
Vanessa Guarino, Louis Anthony Jewelers
Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind—it’s the relationships you built along the way that live on in others. Through genuine connection, you become woven into the story of a family, shaping its future as much as its past. True legacy means being remembered not just for what you did, but for how deeply you cared and how you treated people.
Peter Hannes IV, Craig Husar Fine Diamonds
For me, it's continuing my family's legacy. My great-grandfather went to watchmaking school after WWII on the GI Bill, I'm the fourth generation of his family to be in this business and I hope to continue with my own children someday. I want my legacy to continue on that tradition, [while] finding my own path away from the family store and still having success.
Chelsea Holtzman Lawrence, CD Peacock
I love creating a community with other family-owned jewelers and learning from fellow women in leadership roles. For CD Peacock, the business is 188 years old, so finding a way to maintain reverence for our legacy while re-envisioning the brand is a thrilling challenge. The cornerstone of our business is finding impactful ways to give back, and I hope my legacy reflects my passion and commitment to making a difference through philanthropic partners and, hopefully, in the future, creating our own foundation.
Kathleen Thompson Kimball, George Thompson Diamond Company
I want to build a strong, sustainable business that my kids could take over—if they want to. More broadly, I want to help prove that small businesses are the backbone of our economy: we create jobs, support families, and keep dollars circulating in the communities we call home.
Ross Wesdorp, Jewel-Craft Inc.
As one of the fourth-generation owners of Jewel-Craft and a fifth-generation jeweler, my hope is to put our generation’s stamp on the company and the industry. Jewel-Craft is needed now more than ever with the shortage of bench jewelers. We want to continue to grow that capacity to make sure no retailers have a shortage of help. Our vision is to set the standard for quality and craftsmanship; we are the destination for the world’s finest jewelers to thrive and excel.
Q3: What is the biggest issue facing the industry right now that is going to have a long-term impact, either positively or negatively?
Allyna Ahrens, Aurora Payments
Digital disruption is reshaping how customers shop and how retailers manage their operations. The businesses that invest in tech-enabled tools while keeping personalized service at their core will be the ones that succeed long term.
Fallon Bock, Bachendorf’s
The biggest challenge facing the jewelry industry is adapting to shifting consumer expectations, but this also presents a unique opportunity for those who embrace it. Younger generations value personalized experiences, digital engagement, and ethical practices, and those who innovate to meet these demands can lead the way. By aligning our core principles with the expectations of both our legacy and emerging clientele, we not only forge meaningful client relationships but also ensure long-term success and positively shape the future of the industry.
Chae Carter, Carter’s Collective Fine Jewelry
One of the biggest issues facing our industry is maintaining a consistently high-quality customer experience in the midst of rapid technological and cultural change. As apathy becomes more common and team energy is harder to sustain, delivering a true five-star experience—while also managing the tech demands of modern client relations—is an increasing challenge. Customer expectations have skyrocketed: they want everything faster, better, and more personalized, with updates at every step. We’re working hard to meet that by streamlining operations and automating where we can, but I worry many in the industry are moving too slowly. Between the rise of AI, lab-grown diamonds, shifting consumer behavior, and potential policy shifts like tariffs, those who are not being proactive with change may quickly fall behind.
Joshua Israileff, ASBA USA Inc.
As a fellow “young person” who’s been in the industry for more than 15 years, I love seeing the industry shift to more and more younger leaders and seeing this next generation have the opportunity to leave their mark.
Raja Mehta, AG Gems
As lab-grown diamonds and synthetic gems are gaining market share fast, they challenge the perceived prestige and rarity of natural stones in the luxury market. Our goal is to educate and empower clients to understand the lasting value of natural gemstones. When they invest in our pieces, they’re choosing a gem born of the earth, not the lab, because each natural gem has a unique story, natural rarity, and emotional depth that can be passed down for generations.
Trevor Mendelsohn, Robert Procop Exceptional Jewels
Time will tell how the recent reshuffling of tariffs impacts the jewelry industry, particularly U.S. trade in the long term. As a company that manufactures much of our product domestically, we may be less directly affected, but it will be interesting to see how the industry as a whole responds.
Mike Nekta, Leon Diamond
The biggest long-term shift is the move from brick and mortar to online and it isn’t slowing down but high-end jewelry isn’t about speed and convenience. It’s more about experience and craftsmanship. I don’t see the shift as a threat; it’s only a problem if we fail to adapt. My brand has always embraced technology and digital growth. It’s important to me that we retain the brand’s soul as we scale.
Paras Pandya, Ashi Couture
Blockchain. I feel that verification and authentication is a big long-term challenge and opportunity. As new products enter and consumer trends evolve, it's crucial to develop and support jewelry-specific blockchain initiatives to continue giving consumers the utmost confidence in our industry. This can also help close the gap between traditional retail and digitally native consumers, and craft a complete, compelling story. It's very exciting to see the new blockchain developments in our industry.
Mallory Shelter, Shelter
Rising gold prices are a major concern for both retailers and customers, putting pressure on margins and pricing across the board. At the same time, the internet has created a landscape where customers are seeing wildly different options (some responsibly made, others not) and struggling to understand why one ring is $1,000 and another is $5,000. That disconnect makes it harder to build trust and educate around value. As an industry, we have to do a better job of clearly communicating quality, sourcing, and craftsmanship in a way that resonates with today’s buyer.
Megan Sherrer-Neel, Lou’s Jewelry
With AI consuming creative outlets, the lines of the artistry aspect in the jewelry industry have blurred. The art of creativity and individual design are becoming a thing of the past due to AI. For so many of the next generation this is the "new way of life" and completely accepted as the future. As an individual who earned a college degree before ChatGPT, I am against running designs through a computer automation that is not a creative being.
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