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Gesswein Hires Longtime Bench Jeweler, Educator Ann Cahoon
Cahoon was appointed strategic account and educational program manager at Gesswein, which recently joined Continental Buying Group.
Gesswein has named Ann Cahoon, a bench jeweler and educator with more than 20 years of industry experience, as its strategic account and educational program manager.
Bridgeport, Conn.—Fine jewelry supplier Gesswein has named Ann Cahoon as its new strategic account and educational program manager.
Cahoon, a bench jeweler and educator with more than 20 years of industry experience, has joined the fourth-generation, family-owned company to strengthen its retail partnerships and expand its educational initiatives, said Gesswein.
“Ann is one of the most respected trainers and bench educators in our industry, and that reputation is well earned,” said Roger Gesswein III, vice president of Gesswein.
Most recently, she was director of manufacturing and repair at Long’s Jewelers in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she provided technical training and hands-on support across five retail locations in greater Boston.
Prior to that, she spent seven years at Boston’s North Bennet Street School, joining as a jewelry making and repair instructor and then moving up to department head, where she directed a full-time training program for students of all levels.
She also previously served as principal goldsmith and designer at Flying Marquis Studio and Chris Ploof Designs, and was a writer and lecturer for the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA).
Cahoon was also a regular presenter in the “Live at the Bench” series and technical co-editor of the MJSA Press book “Secret Shop Weapons.”
In her new role, she will lead Gesswein’s plan to develop its relationships with independent retail jewelers, custom repair shops, and trade accounts nationwide.
Cahoon will advise the supplier’s clients on shop layout and equipment along with connecting front-of-house and back-of-house operations to help retailers build up their repair and custom departments.
She will also expand Gesswein's educational offerings, building on-site workshops and hands-on bench training, as well as developing apprenticeship and mentoring programs so that retailers can attract and retain bench jewelers.
Cahoon will also build partnerships with trade schools, university jewelry programs, and industry associations.
She will represent Gesswein at trade shows and industry events nationwide and provide backup technical support alongside its senior technical team.
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Cahoon, a bench jeweler and educator with more than 20 years of industry experience, has joined the fourth-generation, family-owned company to strengthen its retail partnerships and expand its educational initiatives, said Gesswein.
“Ann is one of the most respected trainers and bench educators in our industry, and that reputation is well earned,” said Roger Gesswein III, vice president of Gesswein.
Most recently, she was director of manufacturing and repair at Long’s Jewelers in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she provided technical training and hands-on support across five retail locations in greater Boston.
Prior to that, she spent seven years at Boston’s North Bennet Street School, joining as a jewelry making and repair instructor and then moving up to department head, where she directed a full-time training program for students of all levels.
She also previously served as principal goldsmith and designer at Flying Marquis Studio and Chris Ploof Designs, and was a writer and lecturer for the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA).
Cahoon was also a regular presenter in the “Live at the Bench” series and technical co-editor of the MJSA Press book “Secret Shop Weapons.”
In her new role, she will lead Gesswein’s plan to develop its relationships with independent retail jewelers, custom repair shops, and trade accounts nationwide.
Cahoon will advise the supplier’s clients on shop layout and equipment along with connecting front-of-house and back-of-house operations to help retailers build up their repair and custom departments.
She will also expand Gesswein's educational offerings, building on-site workshops and hands-on bench training, as well as developing apprenticeship and mentoring programs so that retailers can attract and retain bench jewelers.
Cahoon will also build partnerships with trade schools, university jewelry programs, and industry associations.
She will represent Gesswein at trade shows and industry events nationwide and provide backup technical support alongside its senior technical team.
Cahoon is an active voice in jewelry manufacturing education, presenting twice at the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, including “Bench Myths” in 2014, and “Bench Myths Revisited” in 2018.
She is a founding board member of The Jewelry Manufacturing Symposium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces the U.S. jewelry industry’s premier technical education and networking conference.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors in metalsmithing/jewelry and ceramics from Maine College of Art and a certificate in jewelry making and repair from North Bennet Street School.
“She has spent her career helping jewelers get better at the bench—as an instructor, a department head, a speaker, and a published author,” said Roger.
“Bringing that expertise in-house lets us go well beyond selling tools: we can help our retail and trade customers build stronger shops, train, and retain bench talent, and grow their repair and custom business. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on the team.”
Gesswein also recently announced that it has joined Continental Buying Group (CBG) as a supplier member.
As part of the CBG retail network, Gesswein will be the go-to resource for tools, equipment, and bench technology.
Gesswein will also share its technical expertise via CBG community events attended by its team members.
“Independent jewelers have always been at the heart of what we do. CBG gives us a direct way to work with a strong group of retailers who care about craftsmanship and the quality of their bench work,” said Roger.
Gesswein will exhibit at both CBG events next year, including CBG Miami, running from Jan.18-20 at the Marriott Turnberry, and at CBG Las Vegas, running from June 1-3 at Caesars Palace.
“CBG is selective about who we invite into the group, and Gesswein is exactly the kind of partner our retailers ask us for,” said Joe Murphy, CEO of Continental Buying Group.
“Our members are independent jewelers who build and repair at the bench every day. Gesswein brings deep expertise to that work, and we are excited to put that knowledge in front of our retailers.”
Founded in 1914, Gesswein is headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with facilities in Canada, India, and Thailand, serving those in jewelry manufacturing, mold and die polishing, and other metalworking trades.
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