WJA elects board for 2014-2015

New York--Andrea Hansen will lead the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) in 2014-2015, the organization announced following its recent elections.

Hansen, of LuxeIntelligence in New York City, is the WJA’s new president while Brandee Dallow, of the Julius Klein Group, is president-elect. Hansen succeeds Sterling Jewelers’ Tryna Kochanek, who now has the title of immediate past president, in the role.

Kristie Nicolosi, of The Kingswood Company in Columbus, Ohio, continues in her position as WJA treasurer.

“I am honored to lead WJA through the next two years,” Hansen said. “We have selected the theme of ‘Connect and Transform’ for 2014 and these words will guide our annual educational efforts and will also center our networking, mentoring and leadership training around a common theme.”

When discussing a theme, the word “transformation” came up continually, as the jewelry industry remains in a state of transformation, and the WJA wants to address the challenges businesses face in understanding new consumer habits in this omni-channel marketplace.

In addition to the election of Hansen and Dallow, the WJA also announced that seven professionals have joined its board for the first time: Katie Dominesey of Frederick Goldman in New York; Suzan Flamm of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee; Andrea Hill of StrategyWerx, Campbellsport, Wisc.; Regina Leadem of GE Capital, Madison, Conn.; Nancy Moeller of RF Moeller Jeweler in Minneapolis; Allison Neumann of Allison Neumann Studio in San Diego; and Orit of The O Group in New York.  

Among those who will serve on the WJA’s Executive Committee are: Vice President of Administration Kendra Bridelle of LusciousS International, Inc.; Vice President of Chapter Affairs Becka Johnson Kibby of The Edge Retail Academy; Vice President of Communications Peggy Jo Donahue of MJSA; Vice President of Education Dominesey; Vice President of Events Natalie Humphrey of Forevermark US Inc.; Vice President of International Relations Lita Asscher of Royal Asscher of America; Vice President of Leadership Development Hill; Co-Vice President of Membership Development Cindy Edelstein of Jeweler’s Resource Bureau; Co-Vice President of Membership Development Fran Pennella of Benali Consulting LLC; Co-Vice President of Sponsorship Diane Warga-Arias of DWA Communications; Co-Vice President of Sponsorship Anna Martin of Standard Chartered Bank; and Vice President of Scholarship Ann Arnold of Arnold Advisory Group.

The three regional directors for the WJA are: Desiree Hanson of Luxury Prive, (Eastern, ex-officio), Janel Russell of Janel Russell Designs Inc. (Central, ex-officio), and Jenny O. Calleri of