Jewelers of America (JA) has announced its 2025 “20 Under 40” list — now expanded to honor 40 emerging professionals in the jewelry industry.
💡 Launched in 2022, the program originally spotlighted young talents in the retail jewelry space. This year, JA has added a new supplier category, recognizing professionals working in jewelry design, manufacturing, supply, and services.
The 2025 list includes 20 professionals from retail and 20 from the supplier side of the industry.
💼 Retail Honorees
Daniel Arik – Co-owner, Happy Jewelers, Fullerton, California
Cece Baggott – Chief Strategy Officer, The Vault Nantucket, Boston
Lauren Boc – Founder & CEO, Hera Fine Jewelry, Brooklyn, New York
Fallon Bock – Vice President & Head Buyer, Bachendorf’s, Dallas-Fort Worth
Chase Brinson – Owner, Ed & Ethel’s Fine Jewelry, Christiansburg, Virginia
Chae Carter – President & Owner, Carter’s Collective Fine Jewelry, Mississippi
Robert Chorost – CEO, Precious Metals Refinery, Tucson, Arizona
Helen Fuqua – Bench Jeweler, Christopher’s Fine Jewelry, South Carolina
Vanessa Guarino – Director of Social Media, Louis Anthony Jewelers, Pittsburgh
Ricardo Guerrero – Manager, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Bellevue, Washington
Peter Hannes IV – COO, Craig Husar Fine Diamonds & Jewelry Designs, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Iris Jarvis – Vice President, Young Jewelers, Jasper, Alabama
Kathleen Thompson Kimball – CEO & President, George Thompson Diamond Co., California
Chelsea Holtzman Lawrence – Chief Marketing Officer, CD Peacock, Oak Brook, Illinois
Joseph Meadows – Creative Design Manager, David Douglas Diamonds and Jewelry, Marietta, Georgia
Mike Nekta – Partner, Leon Diamond, New York
Mallory Shelter – Owner, Shelter, Washington, D.C.
Megan Sherrer-Neel – GIA Graduate Gemologist & Sales Manager, Lou’s Jewelry, Montgomery, Alabama
Chris Wattsson – Owner & Bench Jeweler, Wattsson & Wattsson Jewelers, Michigan
Rose Wong – CEO & Founder, Kolohe Jewelry, Honolulu, Hawaii
🏭 Supplier Honorees
Allyna Ahrens – Director of Sales, Aurora Payments, Tempe, Arizona
Aaron Ariel – Co-founder, Dialog Solutions Inc., Vancouver, Canada
Dakota Badia – Co-designer, Buddha Mama, Miami
Mathew Behnam – President, Everspark, Great Neck, New York
Cecily Bowen – National Sales Director, Hearts On Fire and Memoire, Boston
Fernanda Durmer – Owner & Designer, Universal Deco, Denver
Vanessa Fernández – Jeweler & Artist, Vanessa Fernández Studio, Miami
Kiran Golakiya – COO, Dharm International LLC, New York
Nichole Guillory – Public Relations & Social Media Manager, Stuller Inc., Louisiana
Joy Haugaard – Creative Director & Co-founder, Lionheart, New York
Joshua Israileff – Co-owner, ASBA USA Inc., Sarasota, Florida
Jean Kee – Vice President of Design, John Hardy, New York
Jonathan LeVian – Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Le Vian, Great Neck, New York
Haim Medine – Creative Director, Mark Henry Jewelry, New York
Raja Mehta – President, AG Gems, Los Angeles
Trevor Mendelsohn – Vice President of Merchandising & Sales, Robert Procop, Beverly Hills
Paras Pandya – Managing Director, Ashi Couture, New York
Jordan Peck – Head of Operations, Brevani, New York
Romy Schreiber Gow – Art Director, Gumuchian, New York
Ross Wesdorp – Senior Director of Sales & Co-owner, Jewel-Craft Inc., Erlanger, Kentucky
✅ Candidates were evaluated on their professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, commitment to the highest ethical standards, and alignment with JA’s Code of Professional Practices.
🎉 “We’re proud to include supplier professionals for the first time in the 20 Under 40 list,” said David Bonaparte, President & CEO of Jewelers of America. “The 2025 class truly represents the future of fine jewelry, and we’re honored to recognize their success.”