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WJA names its ‘Shining Stars’ of 2015
The organization will honor these 12 members who have given extraordinary service to their respective regional chapters at its In the Spotlight event next week.
New York--The Women’s Jewelry Association has named the 12 recipients of its annual Shining Star Awards, which recognize those who have given extraordinary service to their respective regional chapters.\
The 2015 Shining Stars will be honored at WJA’s In the Spotlight event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 in New York immediately following the organization’s In the Know conference.
This year’s Shining Stars are as follows.
Irene Canivet, San Diego Chapter
Canivet is the owner and manager of Inspirata Vita, which provides resources and support to help jewelry professionals and employers with employment and career success. She is the web/communication chair for her WJA chapter.
Patti Geolat, Southwest Chapter
Geolat is an appraiser who also was the interim president and CEO of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. from 2008 to 2009. She has served on the WJA’s international board and is now an active member of the Southwest Chapter.
Karen Golembeski, New England Chapter
The director of sales and marketing for East Greenwich, R.I.-based manufacturer Chronomatic Inc., Golembeski has been involved with the WJA since 1989. She began as a member of the New England Chapter and became membership chair in 1999, co-president from 2004 to 2006, and then president for the following eight years.
Katie Hammond, Midwest Chapter
Hammond is the founder of online fine jewelry magazine Brighter, and is the president of KH Fine Jewelry & Consulting. She currently is vice president of the WJA’s Midwest Chapter.
Sue Karr, Twin Cities Chapter
Karr works on the wholesale side of the industry with Killian Jewelry, and also is the secretary of the GIA Alumni’s Twin Cities Chapter. She joined the WJA’s Twin Cities Chapter in 2010 and co-chairs the membership committee.
Alexis Kletjian, Boston Chapter
Working toward her graduate gemologist diploma from the GIA, Kletjian currently is creating her first collection of jewelry. She is the vice president of the WJA’s Boston Chapter.
Adrienne Krieger, Seattle Chapter
Krieger is the founder of Seattle-based Everling Jewelry, which specializes in custom and one-of-a-kind gold and platinum pieces. She serves as treasurer on the WJA’s Seattle Chapter’s board.
Janet Ma, Los Angeles Chapter
Ma is the founder of Majolie Collections, a Los Angeles-based company established in 2009 that offers handmade fine jewelry. She is treasurer of the WJA Los Angeles Chapter.
Lilly Sinelnik, Colorado Chapter
The owner of This is Lilly, which focuses on graphic design and marketing, Sinelnik joined
the WJA’s Colorado Chapter in 2013.
Lauren Thompson, Metro New York Chapter
Thompson is the communication manager at Jewelers of America, promoting the association’s retail and supplier members to trade and consumer audiences. She is the communications director for the WJA’s Metro New York Chapter and also serves as the public relations chair for the WJA international board.
Clare Ullman, Northern California Chapter
Ullman is the designer behind Clare Ullman Designs, and her pieces are carried in fine jewelry boutiques, jewelry stores and galleries around the country. She is a former president of the Northern California Chapter and now is the Western regional director of WJA’s international board.
Laurie Watt, Ohio-Kentucky Chapter
Watt is a wholesale gemstone dealer and owns a small jewelry gallery in Maysville, Ky. She helped to found the WJA chapter in Los Angeles in the 1980s and now serves on the Ohio-Kentucky Chapter.
In the Spotlight is scheduled for March 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Convene, located at 730 Third Ave. Tickets for both In the Spotlight and In the Know are available on the WJA website.
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