WJA Refreshes Its Board, Executive Committee

RAPAPORT… Susan Chandler has taken over as president of the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) following her selection as president-elect a year ago.

Chandler, who is chief merchandising officer for Citizen Watch America, will occupy the position in 2022 and 2023, the WJA said last week. She has also joined the executive committee of the New York-based organization’s board.

The other new committee members are:

• Nan Palmer of FACEts Consulting and LuxeRox (treasurer)
• Raquel Alonso-Perez of Harvard Mineralogical and Geological Museum (vice president of chapter affairs)
• Jacqueline Raffi of Hearts On Fire (corporate secretary)

Jacqueline Cassaway, who was president before Chandler, will also serve on the committee.

Meanwhile, six people have been elected to the WJA board:

• Aida Alvarez, senior vice president at Roberto Coin
• Shauna Brook, founder and CEO of Shauna Brook Marketing & Communications
• Donna DeLucia, vice president of technical sales at Guild + Facet
• Tanya Parikh, CEO and founder at Janvier LA
• Mark Smelzer, chief content executive at Jewelers Mutual Group and its business-to-business website, The Zing Report
• Victoria Wieck, designer and on-air guest at ShopHQ, and host of the Million Dollar Passion podcast

Outgoing board members are:

• Molly Bell of Rio Grande
• Monica Elias of Elias World Media
• Jenny Luker of Platinum Guild International USA
• Craig Selimotic-Danforth
• Benjamin Smithee of The Smithee Group
• Lauren Thompson of JCK
• Tonia Zehrer of Signet Jewelers

Image: Susan Chandler. (WJA)