Southern Jewelry News

Each year, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) honors one member from each WJA chapter with a Shining Star Award to recognize the recipient’s service, passion, and commitment to their WJA local chapter. The 2010 Shining Star Award winners are:

Kathy Bernu, Christian Family Jewelers/Kathy Bernu Design, Woodbury, Minn. (Twin Cities Chapter)

Liz Emrich, Liz Emrich Designs, Oakton, Va. (DC Chapter)

Merrill Essex, G.G., Essex Antiques & Collectibles, Evanston, Ill. (Midwest Chapter)

Katherine Gramas, G.G., MJ Christensen Diamonds, Henderson, Nev. (Rocky Mountain Affiliate)

Karen Janowski, Tiffany & Co., New York, N.Y. (Metro Chapter)

Sandra Jerde, R.J., Ben Bridge Jeweler, Seattle, Wash. (Pacific Northwest Chapter)

Sissy Jones, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Pine Bluff, Ark. (Southwest Chapter)

Kathy Loewenstern, kathy lo rocks, San Francisco, Calif. (Northern California Chapter)

Kalli Nicholas-Haeflein, WinterberryCards.com, Perkasie, Pa. (Mid-Atlantic Chapter)

Kerilyn Rodi, Providence Chain, Providence, R.I. (New England)

Judi Shechter, G.G., C.G., A.J.P., Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, Calif. &

Veronica Clark-Hudson, G.G., Gemological Institute of America, Culver City, Calif. (both from the Los Angeles Chapter)

Kimberly Vagner, G.G., Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, Calif. (San Diego Chapter)

The Women’s Jewelry Association honored 13 members with its Shining Star Award during the association’s recent conference in New York City. (l-r) Sue Elliott, G.G., WJA vice president of chapter affairs, Kalli Nicholas-Haeflein, Judi Shechter, G.G., C.G., A.J.P., Veronica Clark-Hudson, G.G., Karen Janowski, (back) Merrill Essex, G.G., (front) Kimberly Vagner, G.G., Kerilyn Rodi, Liz Emrich, and Kendra Bridel Weinman, WJA president. Absent are Kathy Loewenstern, Kathy Bernu, Katherine Gramas, G.G., Sandra Jerde, R.J., and Sissy Jones.

The Women’s Jewelry Association, founded in 1983, is the preeminent association of professional women in the jewelry, watch and related businesses. Members benefit from educational and networking opportunities, scholarships, grants, design competitions, annual business conferences, and recognition programs.  For more information visit www.womensjewelryassociation.com or call 212-687-2722.