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Shining Stars
The WJA Shining Star Awards are a way to give back to our hard-working WJA members. This award is designed to highlight the efforts of WJA members who give so much time to their chapters but might not get recognized on a national level. Each of the 11 chapters chooses its own Shining Star who is awarded with a ticket to the Women in the Know Conference in New York City and up to $500 for airfare and hotel. Here are this year’s award recipients:
Lisa Schoening, Los Angeles Chapter
Lisa Schoening is an instructor at the Gemological Institute of America’s Los Angeles branch, and has taught at GIA’s campuses in California, New York and Italy for nearly 18 years. She has also played an active role in developing and teaching classes in sales and gemology for jewelry industry professionals at trade shows across the country. Lisa earned her Graduate Gemologist diploma in 1983 and worked for an independent retailer in Los Angeles before joining GIA in 1990. In 2003, she was awarded her Master’s Degree in Adult Education from Britain’s Open University. She is also an AGS Certified Gemologist. Lisa lives in Los Angeles where she is active in several community and architectural preservation organizations. She encourages her students to get involved in WJA while they are in school, and as the Events Chair for the Los Angeles Chapter, frequently draws on their energy and enthusiasm to help pull events together.
Marilyn Liebman , Metropolitan Chapter
Marilyn Liebman entered the jewelry industry when, after 31 years of teaching elementary school, she retired and went in search of her dream job: “to go on the road with a line.” With the help and encouragement of her husband, Steve (a jewelry industry veteran himself), she soon found herself representing several lines. Shortly afterward, Linda Zimmer introduced Marilyn to WJA, and along with several other members they started the successful “Chew Chat & Chill” dinners that ultimately evolved into the Metropolitan Chapter. An introduction in 1998 to Barbara Mooty, then director of advertising at AJM Magazine (now MJSA Journal), led Marilyn to her current position as the magazine’s Sales Account Executive for the New York and Mid-Atlantic regions. According to Marilyn, “This has been much more fun [than being on the road with a line]. It is safer than chasing down highways or getting stuck in ladies’ rooms with bags of jewelry, and definitely better than sleeping on the Red Eye out of Las Vegas with a bag of diamond jewelry for a pillow.” Marilyn has served on the WJA National Board and as treasurer of the Metropolitan Chapter, and is also a Past President of The Golden Circle Club of NY.
Karen McKinney , Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Karen McKinney, a consultant with International Jewelry Manufacturing (IJM) and a specialist in emerging
markets for large volume jewelry buyers, has been named the Shining Star of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
In her professional position with IJM, Karen serves as an account manager for select gemstone jewelry buyers developing product knowledge, analyzing current trends, and identifying specific requirements – providing uninterrupted service from concept to completion. As the chapter VP of Events, with her expertise in marketing and management, she has brought professional leadership to the chapter for the last few years. She has been responsible for creating and perpetuating the chapter’s premier dinner networking event in the city of Philadelphia. This remains the chapter’s most successful event to date.
Julie Schwalbe, Midwest Chapter
A native of Decatur, Illinois, I have had a lifelong love of clothing and jewelry. I graduated from Purdue
University with a major in Retail Management and a minor in Marketing. After seven years as a grain
broker, I became a stay-at-home mother and community volunteer. I have worked with such organizations as Race for the Cure, Lutheran School Association in Decatur and Decatur Memorial Hospital. I was a board member of the Children’s Museum of Illinois from 1997-2003 and have been a member of the Board of Trustees of Millikin University since 2003. Also in 2003, my dreams began to be fulfilled as I earned my G.G. from GIA and became owner and President of Forever Facets, Inc., a fine jewelry private consulting and retail sales business. At this same time I also joined the Women’s Jewelry Association-Midwest Chapter and in 2006 became a board member.
In 2005, I was nominated for WJA’s Rising Star Award and in 2006 I was nominated for their Woman Making a Difference Award. Each time, it has been extremely humbling to me to be in the company of women who have done great things for the industry for much longer than I. I am also a member of the American Gem Trade Association, Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, and the GIA Alumni Association. Because I have been so blessed in both my personal and professional lives, I feel strongly about giving back by donating jewelry and profits to various charitable organizations. The better my business does, the more I can share with others—what an incentive!
Belinda Duva , New England Chapter
Belinda has been an active member of the New England Chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association for
over 10 years. In that time, she has served on the board and various committees. Belinda currently serves as
the Vice-President of the New England chapter. As Vice-President, Belinda has played an active part in the
growth of the chapter, while organizing the chapter’s events throughout the year. Being in charge of the
committees and overseeing our annual Holiday Party, our raffle and silent auction surpassed all others under
Belinda’s guidance. Belinda has attended and promoted the Women in the Know Conference for the last several years and strongly believes in empowering women to reach and exceed their goals. Belinda began her career in 1984 at Presentation Box & Display a division of International Packaging, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Interpak has been unparalleled in the jewelry industry for the last 50 years serving thousands of accounts. She has recently completed the Dale Carnegie Sales Advantage Course and continues to meet her strategic goals and initiatives.
Over the last 24 years, she has been promoted within the company and is currently the National Accounts
Sales Manager. She is responsible for trade shows, new catalogs, and introducing new products. A Rhode Island native, Belinda enjoys boating and is a member of the Wickford Shipyard Yacht Club while also indulging in other outdoor sports with her husband Gary and daughter Sophia.
Tiya Asavarahapun, Pacific Northwest Chapter
Tiya Asavarahapun has been surrounded by the jewelry industry since birth, after studying finance and
international business at the University of Washington she entered the workforce in investments. Finding it unfulfilling, she approached her father Paul Asavarahapun about coming on board at the family business,
Bae Imports. So in 2001 the journey began, she is involved in all the day to day operations of the wholesale
colored stone company including buying, selling, management and marketing. She has been integral in developing a new website for the company and forecasting new methods for business building in these ever changing times. And although there is still a lot to learn, she feels WJA is a great way to accomplish some of that. She currently resides in Seattle WA and recently got married!
Diane Flora , Rocky Mountain Chapter
Diane Flora is the Director of Education at the American Gem Society. She plans, directs, and coordinates
the educational programs of the AGS both for completion of titleholder requirements and continuing
educational opportunities for the members. Diane has been a member of the American Gem Society since 1977, earning the prestigious title of Certified Gemologist in 1988 and Certified Gemologist Appraiser in 1992. She is also a GIA Graduate Gemologist. Before joining AGS in 2002, she was an instructor of extension education for the Gemological Institute of America, where she presented courses in diamond grading, gem identification, and colored stone grading. She also developed and presented courses in pearl grading, synthetic diamond, and synthetic and treated gems. Prior to GIA, she was the co-owner of two AGS member retail jewelry stores — Flora Jewelers in Decatur, Illinois, and Alderson Flora Jewelers in San Diego, California. Since 1934, the mission of the American Gem Society has been to maintain high educational standards of its members and promote ethical business practices that protect the consumer. Proven ethics, knowledge, and consumer protection — the AGS is committed to strengthening public confidence in the jewelry industry, enhancing the success of all.
Au-Co Mai, San Diego Chapter
Au-Co Mai founded Emitations.com with a vision to launch a unique, branded jewelry line that resonated
with celebrity-conscious consumers. From her experience in traditional and online retail management, she
created a “Customer-First” service philosophy by providing a personalized, sophisticated, and consistent
customer-service experience. A true entrepreneur at heart, Au-Co grew up working for a family business and graduated with an Economics degree from University of California- San Diego in 2000. Before starting Emitations, she held several positions in the dot-com industry. Au-Co has received recognition from 944 magazine as one of San Diego’s Leading Ladies and in 2006 was a nominee for the 13th Annual Women Who Mean Business Award. In her scant down time, Au-Co enjoys salsa dancing, skiing, and scanning celebrity magazines. Although Au-Co admires the classic, timeless styles of Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, she is up on current jewelry trends like crossbone skulls and her “incredible hunk” necklace. She digs the humor in elegant yet rebellious jewelry pieces. Au-Co has completed several courses in GIA’s School of Business in 2003, including Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Retail Management, as well as Ethics and Law in 2005. She has been a speaker at GIA Career Fairs and participated in a panel titled “The Great Internet Debate” at the Institute’s 4th International Gemological Symposium in 2006. Au-Co is an active Board member for the San Diego Women’s Jewelry Association and is in involved in designing member programs, event management planning and was responsible for launching the first WJA San Diego chapter website.
Arathi Ramappa, Southeast Chapter
Arathi Ramappa began her career in information technology at Ocwen Federal Bank and then later moved
to Global Servicing Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch. During these years she went from developing applications to managing the business process outsourcing of specific functions to India. She later moved to Frankfurt, Germany with Global Servicing Solutions LLC and managed the technology infrastructure set-up, maintenance, and application development for offices in Frankfurt, Beijing, Taipei, Tokyo, and Toronto. After a number of years she decided to venture out on her own and in 2007 she created Jayati Technologies which assists businesses and organizations achieve their business goals by leveraging information technology. Having a love for jewelry and gems she decided that one focus of Jayati Technologies was to bring technology solutions to businesses in the jewelry industry. In addition, she decided to pursue GIA’s Graduate Gemologist Degree. She completed her Graduate Diamonds in 2007 and is now working on Colored Stones. She is currently planning to work with jewelry designers and sell jewelry on-line. Arathi is a proud member of WJA and is the Vice President of the Southeast Chapter.
Sherrie Betham , Southwest Chapter
Sherrie Betham is a Senior Account Executive at Chippenhook Corporation, the international award-winning Texas-based designer and manufacturer of jewelry displays, visual merchandising concepts, store fixtures and custom packaging for the jewelry and specialty retail industries. Sherrie has over 20 years experience in the jewelry, packaging and visual merchandising industry. With Chippenhook, she has been actively involved in the expansion of the company through: sales management with major accounts, marketing, branding and new product development. She received her Bachelors Degree from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and was awarded a Masters Degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Sherrie is an active member of the South West Woman’s Jewelers Association. In addition she devotes time to volunteer work for community and industry charities.
Janel Russell , Twin Cities Chapter
Janel Russell may be best know as the creator of the Mother and Child® brand of jewelry however, her
personal story of over coming adversity is equally compelling. In 1977 Janel was a recently divorced parent
of a small child with no means of financial support. It was at this time that she reflected back on the positive
experiences she had while attending Alexander Ramsey High School in Roseville, MN and working on jewelry pieces within the art department. She also completed an aptitude test which indicated that she would enjoy watch making. Armed with this information and determined to provide for her son, Janel began taking jewelry manufacturing and design courses at the Minneapolis Area Vocational Institute. This is where she met Mr. Ray Grobe who was not only a great instructor, but was also very encouraging and supportive of Janel during this challenging time in her life. Shortly after completing jewelry school, Janel went to work for Gary Bonstrom the owner of G. Allan Jewelers in Minneapolis, MN. This was a great place for Janel to begin her jewelry career. She was able to earn a wage for her efforts in addition; Mr. Bonstrom encouraged her to work on her own designs for clients after hours. Through the support of her father and the love that she had for her son, Janel’s beautiful design was born. As soon as her friends and family saw what she had created, they not only were impressed, but they wanted to have one for themselves. Shortly thereafter Janel signed her first production and distribution agreement with Kirchner Corporation who began marketing Janel’s Mother and Child®brand. As of this writing: well over a Million families throughout the world have expressed the love that they have for each other through Janel’s Mother and Child®jewelry. Today Janel operates her own retail jewelry business, offering custom design by appointment with additional retail services. Janel serves the jewelry industry on various committees and responds to a constant stream of designers who would like to learn from her success. She is an active supporter of the Como Park Conservatory Society in addition to numerous non profits that help children with learning disabilities.
Click here to view the 2006 Shining Stars.
Click here to view the 2005 Shining Stars.
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