Majors

The 2015 WJA Awards for Excellence nominees are …

MajorsJun 11, 2015

The 2015 WJA Awards for Excellence nominees are …

The list of nominees for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 2015 Awards for Excellence are out, but the winners won’t be announced until next month.

New York--The list of nominees for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 2015 Awards for Excellence are out, but the winners won’t be announced until next month.

Last year, the WJA kept the names of winners a secret until the night of its annual gala, and the organization is continuing that tradition this year. 

The WJA’s 2015 Awards for Excellence gala is scheduled for Monday, July 27 at Chelsea Piers in New York. The evening will include the traditional raffle held to raise money for the scholarships and grants the WJA awards to women in the jewelry industry. For more information or tickets, visit WomensJewelryAssociation.com.

As announced in January, at the gala the WJA also will honor J.C. Penney’s Pam Mortensen with its Lifetime Achievement Award and C. Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers with the Ben Kaiser Award, which goes to a man who has helped women advance in the jewelry industry. In addition, Gumuchian will receive the Corporate Award.

The nominees are: 

Category I – Design
Emily Armenta, Emily Armenta
Pamela Froman, Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry
Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan
Monica Rich Kosann, Monica Rich Kosann

Category II – Manufacturer/Dealer/Supplier
Karishma Javeri, SDC Designs LLC
Sylvie Levine, Sylvie Collection
Zina Sherman, Zina Sterling
Laurie Watt, Mayer & Watt

Category IIIa – Retail, 15 doors or more
Lisa Bridge, Ben Bridge Jewelers
Eve Rogers, Graff

Category IIIb – Retail, fewer than 15 doors
Ellen Hertz, Max’s
Veronica Guarino, Louis Anthony Jewelers
Tara Silberberg, The Clay Pot
Melissa Quick, Steve Quick Jeweler

Category IIIc – Non-Traditional Retail
Alexis Clarbour, Portero
Amy Jain/Daniella Yacobovsky, BaubleBar
Beth Gerstein, Brilliant Earth
Deborah Nicodemus, Moda Operandi
Ruth Thuston, Circa

Category IV – Sales
Amy Levine, Gurhan
Tina Bruno, Stephen Webster
Jennifer Shanker, Muse Showroom

Category V – Marketing & Communications
Kirsten Darrow, Fred Meyer
Donna Jolly, American Gem Society
Rebecca Moskal, Communique LA
Colby Shergalis, Forevermark

Category VI – Editorial Media
Sarah Lisitski-Gerrish, Redbook magazine
Eileen McClelland, InStore magazine
Danielle Miele, Gem Gossip
Monica Stephenson, iDazzle

Category VII – Special Services
Donna Borrelli, JCK
Cindy Chandler, Smart Jewelry Show
Becka Johnson Kibby, The Edge Retail Academy
Heather Smith Nunez, Cartier

Category VIII – Watches
Audrey Bogdonoff, Gucci
Agnes Campanile, Swatch Group/ Omega
Jeanine Drtina, Cartier
Michelle Peranteau, Baume & Mercier

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

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