Women’s Jewelry Association Overhauls International Board

The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) has added seven new members to its international board of directors for 2023.

The directors’ tasks will include creating events that benefit WJA members, the organization said last week.

“By launching an open call for board nominations last fall, we were able to attract more diverse leaders from inside and outside our industry,” WJA president Susan Chandler noted. “Our board members are serving the organization at a pivotal time, and we are confident our esteemed board will help WJA continue to advance its fundraising and membership goals and deliver high-impact programming to the industry in the years to come.”

The new board members are:

Rebecca Boyajian, director of business development at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

Monica Elias, CEO of Elias World Media

Rachel Goldflam, vice president and CEO of Springer’s Jewelers

Lotanna Amina Okpukpara, director and gemologist of Mina Stones

Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos, vice president of Code of Origin and trade services at De Beers

Ted Taylor, director of individual giving at Harlem School of the Arts

Gabrielle Grazi, vice president of retail strategy at the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), who has joined the board as part of her position as president of the WJA Foundation

Several directors are also leaving the board. They are:

Brandee Dallow, chief communications and sustainability officer at Grandview Klein Diamond Group

Myriam Gumuchian-Schreiber of Gumuchian

Jen Cullen Willians of Jen Cullen Williams Communications and Consulting

Sara Yood of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC)

Image: A jewelry display. (Shutterstock)