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Jewelers of America Honors 40 Rising Stars in Its 2026 '20 Under 40' Program

Group portrait of young professionals honored by Jewelers of America.
Group portrait of young professionals honored by Jewelers of America. - nationaljeweler.com

Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has unveiled the recipients of its prestigious 2026 '20 Under 40' program. This initiative, launched in 2022, celebrates emerging talent within the jewelry industry, specifically recognizing professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication.

This year's program features two distinct lists: one honoring 20 individuals from jewelry retail members and another, introduced last year, spotlighting 20 professionals from jewelry supplier members. This dual recognition underscores the collaborative spirit and diverse contributions that drive the jewelry community forward.

David Bonaparte, president and CEO of Jewelers of America, expressed his enthusiasm for the selected group. 'We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s 20 Under 40 class, an inspiring group of professionals who represent the next generation of leadership in our industry,' Bonaparte stated. 'By continuing to recognize both retailers and suppliers, the program highlights the collaboration and creativity that fuel the jewelry community.'

Recognizing Retail Excellence

The 20 retail honorees represent a wide array of roles and businesses across the country, showcasing their commitment to advancing jewelry retail. Among them are:

  • Bobby Bengivengo Jr., owner at Cellini Design Jewelers in Orange, Connecticut
  • SJ Boardman, senior sales consultant and social media marketing manager at Summerwind Jewelers & Goldsmiths in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  • Kyle Bullock, owner at Bullock's Jewelry in Roswell, New Mexico
  • Lauren P. Clawson, store manager and advertising & marketing advisor at Huntington Fine Jewelers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Baileigh Daoud-Soricelli, managing partner and director of marketing at Daoud's Fine Jewelry in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Shelly Devine, Graduate Gemologist and certified appraiser at Devine & Co. Private Jeweler in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
  • Karen Fox, shop manager at Fox Fine Jewelry in Ventura, California
  • Taylor Frank, president at Eiseman Jewels in Dallas, Texas
  • Charlie Green, director of stores at Lux Bond & Green in West Hartford, Connecticut
  • Morgan Hancock Lewis, director of marketing at Merkley Kendrick Jewelers in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Griffin Holbeck, vice president of sales and store director at Korman Fine Jewelry in Austin, Texas
  • Brittany Kelly, manager and designer at David Adams Fine Jewelry in Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Tony Maggio, owner at Reflections in Gold in Venice, Florida
  • Sylvan Eugene Needham V, assistant manager at S.E. Needham Jewelers in Logan, Utah
  • Mackenzie Nguyen, director of retail & e-commerce at Ylang 23 in Dallas, Texas
  • Sara Beth Brown Prendeville, president at Brown & Co. in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Sarah Martin Rowe, founder and principal designer at The Leake Co. in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Victoria Ruta, engineer technician at Tiffany & Co. in New York, New York
  • J.C. Sanders, owner and jeweler at Sanders Jewelry in Andalusia, Alabama
  • Olivia Wickersham, director of sales & operations at The Bevy in Denver, Colorado

Spotlighting Supplier Innovation

The 20 supplier honorees demonstrate the critical role these professionals play in supporting the broader jewelry ecosystem. This year's recognized suppliers include:

  • Laura Berardocco, sales director and senior vice president at Roberto Coin Inc. in New York, New York
  • Domenique Collins, strategic partnerships & roadmap at Adaptive in Saratoga Springs, New York
  • Rohan Desai, operations manager at Star Gems in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Elliot Dilamani, vice president of global sales at Dilamani in Great Neck, New York
  • Javier Garza, founder at Xavier Jewelers in Austin, Texas
  • Josh Genovese, vice president at Child-Genovese Insurance Agency, Inc. in Hingham, Massachusetts
  • Melanie Goldfiner Goldberg, chief marketing & business development officer at Rahaminov Diamonds, Inc. in Los Angeles, California
  • Sarah Haugaard, co-founder and creative & operations director at Lionheart in New York, New York
  • Hiba Husayni, founder and designer at Zahn-Z in New York, New York
  • Nicolai Israileff, co-owner at ASBA USA in Sarasota, Florida
  • Gaurav Khandelwal, chief operating officer at Union Gems in Houston, Texas
  • Steven LeVian, manager of couture at Le Vian Corp. in Great Neck, New York
  • Casey Perez, founder and designer at Casey Perez in Brooklyn, New York
  • Meir Saban, president at Saban Onyx in New York, New York
  • Olga Shatrova, designer and founder at Olga Shatrova LLC in Irvine, California
  • Stella Song, founder and CEO at Stella Song Designs in Irvine, California
  • Nicole Stern, co-founder and vice president at Everspark in Great Neck, New York
  • DeAndre Williams, senior account executive at Aurora Payments in Tempe, Arizona
  • Ersin Yildirim, owner and CEO at Golden Planet USA Inc. in New York, New York
  • Gabriella Zwirn, founder and designer at Nur Jewels in Carlsbad, California

The selection process involved a panel of esteemed industry judges who evaluated nominees based on their professional achievements, innovative approaches, leadership capabilities, and commitment to the jewelry industry. Each recipient also exemplified adherence to the Jewelers of America Code of Professional Practices and maintained the highest ethical standards.

The '20 Under 40' program, sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Group and Synchrony, continues to be a vital platform for recognizing and nurturing the talent that will shape the future of the fine jewelry marketplace.

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