MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersIndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership Team
As demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
The Edge Retail Academy has appointed and promoted executives to its leadership team, including, (from left) Ellen Gardner, Jennifer Motes, Mona Lisa Shaffer, and Cindi Haddad Drew.
New York—The Edge Retail Academy, a business coaching and analytics firm serving retail jewelers, is updating its leadership team, appointing new executives while promoting others.
“With growing demand for our coaching program among retail jewelers aiming to accelerate their growth, we’ve expanded our team with seasoned professionals who bring deep industry and coaching experience and a history of delivering results,” said Becka Johnson Kibby, CEO of the Edge Retail Academy, who took on the role late last year.
“These strategic additions enhance our leadership team and position us to deliver even greater value to our clients and the industry.”
As demand for jewelry retail coaching grew, the company established a dedicated business coaching leadership team, said Kibby in a statement to National Jeweler, with plans to hire an additional business coach.
Ellen Gardner has joined the company as vice president of business coaching. She has more than 25 years of business consulting and coaching experience, and has owned multiple businesses.
Previously, she was a consultant for soda shop chain Fiiz Drinks and cookie chain Crumbl, as per her LinkedIn profile.
Gardner has worked with business owners to improve financial and operational performance, and has led national training programs on scaling, forecasting, and return on investment.
Jennifer Motes, formerly a business coach with the Edge Retail Academy, has been promoted to senior director of coach development.
Motes has more than 30 years of experience in the retail jewelry industry, including store ownership, absentee ownership, oversight of multi-store operations, strategic merchandising, and developing high-performing retail teams.
Related stories will be right here …
“With growing demand for our coaching program among retail jewelers aiming to accelerate their growth, we’ve expanded our team with seasoned professionals who bring deep industry and coaching experience and a history of delivering results,” said Becka Johnson Kibby, CEO of the Edge Retail Academy, who took on the role late last year.
“These strategic additions enhance our leadership team and position us to deliver even greater value to our clients and the industry.”
As demand for jewelry retail coaching grew, the company established a dedicated business coaching leadership team, said Kibby in a statement to National Jeweler, with plans to hire an additional business coach.
Ellen Gardner has joined the company as vice president of business coaching. She has more than 25 years of business consulting and coaching experience, and has owned multiple businesses.
Previously, she was a consultant for soda shop chain Fiiz Drinks and cookie chain Crumbl, as per her LinkedIn profile.
Gardner has worked with business owners to improve financial and operational performance, and has led national training programs on scaling, forecasting, and return on investment.
Jennifer Motes, formerly a business coach with the Edge Retail Academy, has been promoted to senior director of coach development.
Motes has more than 30 years of experience in the retail jewelry industry, including store ownership, absentee ownership, oversight of multi-store operations, strategic merchandising, and developing high-performing retail teams.
Mona Lisa Shaffer, formerly the Edge Retail Academy’s senior business coach, has been promoted to director of business coaching operations.
Shaffer also has more than 30 years of experience in the retail jewelry industry, with a focus on leadership and management, sales performance, team development, and inventory optimization.
The company has also hired a new business coach, Cindi Haddad Drew.
She joins the company with more than 40 years of experience in the jewelry industry, including owning and operating her own retail store.
She is the owner of Cindi’s Diamond & Jewelry Gallery in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as per her LinkedIn profile.
Drew is a former client of the Edge Retail Academy. She transitioned to a remote ownership model and helps other jewelry store owners do the same.
Sherry Smith, formerly vice president of coaching strategy and development at the Edge Retail Academy, recently left the company after 14 years, joining the consulting firm The Retail Smiths.
The Edge Retail Academy will be at JCK Las Vegas to share more information about its coaching programs.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
ColumnistsSep 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: Stop Waiting for December to Save Your ChristmasThe stores that have a great December are the ones that made good decisions in August, September, and October, Sherry Smith writes.
AuctionsSep 14, 2026
22 Carats of ‘Sunshine’ Are Up for AuctionThe 22.09-carat fancy yellow “Pragnell Kimberley Sunshine Diamond” is part of the fall jewelry sale at Heritage Auctions.
SourcingSep 14, 2026
Gemfields Sells All Lots at First Emerald Auction in 9 MonthsThe company’s managing director of sales said the results demonstrate “continued strong demand for commercial-quality emeralds.”
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.
SourcingSep 14, 2026
Diamonds Do Good Pledges Support for Eye Care ProgramThe nonprofit awarded a grant to the Gift of Sight initiative spearheaded by South African musician Black Coffee.
Weekly QuizSep 10, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsSep 11, 2026
A Sapphire ‘Stardust’ Ring From Greenwich St. Jewelers The Latine-owned New York jeweler is marking two milestones this year: its 50th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
MajorsSep 11, 2026
The Wishing Place by JTV OpensThe jewelry retail broadcast network has sponsored a new space for Make-A-Wish East Tennessee on its campus in Knoxville.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsSep 11, 2026
The Edge Awards Scholarships to 2 Young Jewelry ProfessionalsThe recipients were recognized at the 24 Karat Club of the Southeastern United States’ annual banquet.
MajorsSep 10, 2026
Lagos Founder Steven Lagos Steps Down as CEO Keith Rolfe, CFO and COO of Lagos, is now at the jewelry brand’s helm while Steven takes on the role of executive chairman.
CrimeSep 10, 2026
FBI Offers $50K Reward for ‘Most Wanted’ Fugitive in $1M Jewelry HeistAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged in the armed robbery of a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and remains at large.
AuctionsSep 10, 2026
Massive Matched Pair of Paraíba Tourmalines Head to Sotheby’sThe “Kat Florence Luminas” will be offered together as one lot and could fetch up to $637,000.
SourcingSep 10, 2026
AGTA Announces 4 Newly Elected DirectorsFour directors were elected to the AGTA board and will serve three-year terms beginning in February.
AuctionsSep 10, 2026
Former Sotheby’s, Christie’s Exec Appointed CEO of Julien’s Auctions Ken Citron joins the celebrity memorabilia-focused auction house ahead of its first week-long series of events in Abu Dhabi.
FinancialsSep 09, 2026
Signet Jewelers to ‘Double Down’ on Blue Nile Amid Strong SalesThe jewelry retailer said it sees opportunity at higher price points, particularly in natural diamonds for bridal and fashion.
SourcingSep 09, 2026
Fura Gems Notes ‘Remarkable’ Interest in Larger Rubies at Latest SaleThe auction, held in Bangkok, was 96 percent sold by lot, with nearly 411,000 carats of Mozambiquan rubies sold.
MajorsSep 09, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Catalog Includes Its New Demi-Fine CollectionFine Jewelry 2027-2028 has more than 900 new styles, including silver, gold-filled, gold-plated sterling silver, and vermeil jewelry.
Policies & IssuesSep 09, 2026
8 Key Changes the FTC Made to the Jewelry Guides: A Refresher Learn more about the new terms for lab-grown diamonds and composite gemstones, and the major changes in store for precious metals jewelry.
IndependentsSep 08, 2026
Ricky Bromberg, Longtime President of Bromberg & Co., Dies at 67 Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.
TrendsSep 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Hot Take on September’s Birthstone With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.
ColumnistsSep 08, 2026
Peter Smith: Humor Is No Laughing MatterLaughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.
MajorsSep 08, 2026
Former Tiffany & Co. Exec Joins Exemplar Luxury GroupGretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
IndependentsSep 04, 2026
Orloff Jewelers Will Soon Unveil a Bigger, Better LocationThe California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.
CollectionsSep 04, 2026
Chelsea Gabrielle Transforms Pilates Reformer Springs Into Ring A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2026
JCK Industry Fund Accepting 2027 ApplicationsThe deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
AuctionsSep 04, 2026
Christie's Names New Global Head of WatchesThe auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
