Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.
Appointments: Stuller Names New VP of Business Solutions
Stuller hired Doug Menefee to be responsible for the Gemvision and TDM Solutions’ development and support teams, while Borsheims and MJSA announced personnel additions as well.
New York--Stuller Inc. has hired technology innovator and advocate Douglas Menefee as vice president of business solutions.
He will be responsible for the Gemvision and TDM Solutions’ development and support teams.
Menefee previously worked for the Schumacher Group and Amazon Web Services. He also has received multiple awards, including being named one of MIT Technology Review’s “Top 100 Technology Innovators,” and published articles in publications such as CIO magazine, The Wall Street Journal’s resource for IT professionals.
“Doug, a Lafayette (Louisiana) native, brings with him more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurism and information technology,” Stuller President and COO Danny Clark said. “With a career history in strategic planning and the development of innovative technologies, we felt he would be a great fit to evolve our software solutions.”
MJSA elected Steven Cipolla as chair of its board of directors, succeeding Ann Arnold, who now is chair of the MJSA Education Foundation.
Cipolla currently is the president of Warwick, Rhode Island-based National Chain Group, which has grown from a supplier of pendant and fashion chain into a full-service, fully integrated contract manufacturer and supplier under his leadership.
The company now has a combined total of 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space in six locations, with divisions including James A. Murphy & Son, Standard Chain, National Fabricated Products, National Research & Development, and Colorado Casting.
In addition to being a member of the MJSA board since 2013, Cipolla also serves on the board of the Providence Jewelers Club and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York.
The MJSA also elected Richline Group President Dave Meleski as secretary; Stuart Lee, executive vice president of merchandising at Signet Jewelers Ltd., as vice chair; and Edward DeCristofaro, president of LDC Inc., as officer-at-large.
Lee Krombholz, president of Krombholz Jewelers/Just Like You Designs, will continue to serve as a vice chair, while Myron Toback Inc. President Michael Toback remains as treasurer.
Omaha, Nebraska-based Borsheims Fine Jewelry & Gifts welcomes Andy Brabec as its new director of e-commerce and Lisa Hansen as gift buyer.
Brabec will be responsible for overseeing the Borsheims website and the team that manages it.
He comes to Borsheims with several years of experience in marketing and web marketing and also is involved in the American Marketing Association as well as volunteers with the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.
Hansen, meanwhile, will be responsible
Her prior positions have given her expertise in developing new product, building catalogs and selecting product from trade shows, the retailer said.
Hansen also volunteers with Camp You Can, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, and the Open Door Mission.
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