New board members include: Kristyn Beausoleil, national director of partner development, Forevermark; Susan Chandler, chief merchandising officer, Citizen Watch America; Morgan Miller, account executive, Couture Show; Tina Olm, director enterprise business development, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group; Jacqueline Raffi, vice president of business development (retail and national accounts), Hearts On Fire; Monica Stephenson, president, Anza Gems, and Tonia Zehrer, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer, Signet Jewelers.

Among the officers, Jacqueline Cassaway, vice president of merchandising, Starboard Cruise Services, takes the position of WJA president elect.

“We welcome our new board members and congratulate Jacqueline Cassaway on her new position on the executive committee as president-elect,” says WJA President Jenny Luker. “These committed volunteers are the backbone of WJA’s work, and we are grateful they are bringing their insights and experiences to our board.”

Remaining as officers on the executive committee with Luker are Treasurer Sara Yood of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee; Corporate Secretary Rebecca Moskal of Communique; Vice President of Chapter Affairs Lauren Thompson of Jewelers of America; and Past President Brandee Dallow, of the Responsible Jewellery Council and Fine Girl Luxury Brand Building & Communications.

Other WJA Board members continuing their service include: Molly Bell of Rio Grande; Kendra Bridelle of Freida Rothman; Regina Ciarleglio of Jewelers of America; Craig Selimotic Danforth of Jewelers Mutual; Katie Dominesey of JCK Events; Monica Elias of Elias World Media; Rebecca Foerster of Alrosa North America; Myriam Gumuchian-Schreiber of Gumuchian; Hayley Henning of Greenland Ruby; Debbie Hiss of Debbie Hiss Consulting; Allison Neumann of Allison Neumann Studio; Michelle Peranteau of Harry Winston; Maren Rosen of Stuller; Benjamin Smithee of The Smithee Group; and Clare Ullman of Clare Ullman Designs.

The WJA board’s U.S. regional directors, who will continue in the role of bridging communications between the international board and each of the WJA chapters, include: Sara Commers of Commers Custom Jewelers (Central); and Jen Cullen Williams of Luxury Brand Group (Western).

Serving ex-officio on the WJA board is independent contractor Brenda Gamba, who is president of the WJA Foundation board, which manages the WJA grants and scholarships program as a separate 501(c)(3) organization.

WJA also said farewell to a number of outgoing board members: Danielle Ingwer Cohen of Leo Ingwer, who served as U.S. regional director (Eastern); Peggy Jo Donahue of Peggy Jo Donahue, Writer, who served as communications director; Desiree Hanson of Urban Expositions; who served as vice president of chapter affairs; Kristie Nicolosi of The Kingswood Company, who served as treasurer, and Erin O’Donnell of Emerald Expositions.

“We thank these dedicated and long serving board members.” says WJA Executive Director Bernadette Mack. “They have worked with WJA to achieve new goals across the years, and we wish them well in all their future endeavors.”