Malyia McNaughton Takes Over as President of BIJC

The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) has appointed Malyia McNaughton as president of its board of directors for 2024.

McNaughton, the owner of jewelry brand Made by Malyia, has been the treasurer of the organization, which is dedicated to advancing diversity in the industry, since its founding in 2020. She is also one of the group’s seven cofounders.

The BIJC also brought on three new board members, it said Monday. They are Jeffery Bolling, district manager at Signet Jewelers; Thomas Davis, director of business development at Select Jewelry; and Pat Dambe, director of marketing and brand development in Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy.

“As we embark on this new chapter and a new year, the anticipation for the initiatives and impactful changes that lie ahead is palpable,” the organization noted. “The BIJC team’s enthusiasm and drive promise a year filled with progress and meaningful advancements.”

Annie Doresca, chief financial officer at Jewelers of America (JA), who has been serving as president, will become treasurer. Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, director of membership and marketing at the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), will be vice president, and Lisa Garris Jones, who is vice president of human resources at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), will take on the role of secretary.