Independent Jewelers Organization Refreshes Board

The Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), an alliance of US retailers, has named seven members to its board of directors for a three-year term that began January 1.

The board comprises 10 representatives of the retail sector and three vendors, the group said Thursday.

The IJO describes itself as an “elite group of retailers” that can prove creditworthiness and meet certain minimum revenue requirements, according to its website. It organizes two conferences of members each year. Its president and CEO is Jeff Roberts.

The board’s new retail members are:

Stephen Barnes, Barnes Jewelers, Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Cindi Haddad-Drew, Cindi’s Diamond & Jewelry Gallery, Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Rick Sanders, Sanders Jewelers, Gainesville, Florida.

Tia Daniel, Conti Jewelers, Endwell, New York.

Scott Stambaugh, Stambaugh Jewelers, Defiance, Ohio.

Joanne Osborne, Osborne Jewelers, Goodyear, Arizona.

The new vendor member is Brecken Farnsworth of Parle Jewelry Designs in Pocatello, Idaho.

The continuing retail members are:

Nathan Regan, Burnell’s Fine Jewelry, Wichita, Kansas.

Kari Johnson Smith, Champaign Jewelers, Champaign, Illinois.

Janelle Mead, Harris Jewelers, Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Daniel Widmar, Rasmussen Diamonds, Racine, Wisconsin.

They join existing vendor members Jeff Wynkoop of Quality Gold in Fairfield, Ohio, and Kyle Pancis of Pancis Gems in Morris Plains, New Jersey.

The following retail members are leaving the board:

Jim Messier, Arthur’s Jewelry, Bedford, Virginia.

Sherri Erickson, Erickson Jewelers, Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Kelly Silva, House of Silva, Wooster, Ohio.

Travis Piper, Piper Diamond Company, Vincennes, Indiana.

Barb Binkley, Cooper & Binkley Jewelers, Brighton, Michigan.

Elena Davis, Towne Square Jewelers, Charleston, Illinois.

Vendor member Craig MacBean of Ostbye in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is also exiting the board.

Image: IJO board members. (IJO)