Articles and News

New York, NY--The Women's Jewelry Association and the WJA Foundation, are collaborating through a new nonprofit affiliation agreement in which the WJA president will oversee the direction of the WJA Foundation’s new governing board, alongside the WJA Foundation’s new governing board, which consists of its vice president, treasurer, and VP of communications.

The move, which has been in development since 2022 presents a more cohesive organizational structure for the WJA, according to its leadership, with more opportunities to fundraise for member grants and scholarships. Select WJA Programs, such as The Jewelry Loupe Project, a six-month accelerator project for emerging designers, will become a part of the WJA Foundation, allowing more flexibility and growth options for corporate sponsorships to support initiatives, in addition to scholarships and grants.

Gabrielle Grazi of the National Diamond Council, assumes the new role of WJA national president-elect, after serving as the president of the WJA Foundation.

“With the alignment of the association and foundation we will continue to both provide and maximize opportunities for networking, professional development and financial support for all WJA members,” Grazi says.

Grazi is currently the VP of Retail Strategy & Partnerships at the Natural Diamond Council where her responsibilities include steering retailer strategy, integrating global campaigns and enhancing educational resources within the industry.

Prior to joining the Natural Diamond Council, Grazi spent seven years at Signet Jewelers, where she is said to have elevated operations, talent development, and strategic initiatives. Her tenure as chair of the Signet Women’s Business Resource Group, along with her advisory role on Signet’s Diversity Leadership Team, underscores her dedication to creating inclusive work environments. Her career also includes impactful roles at Liz Claiborne, Juicy Couture, and Limited Too, where she honed her skills in retail, leadership, and team development.

Grazi says she aims to further the WJA's mission by expanding educational initiatives, fostering networking opportunities, and advocating for the professional growth of women in the jewelry and watch industries.

In addition, WJA named the members of the 2024 Foundation board: Nikia Levesque, the VP of marketing at Day’s Jewelers, assumes the role of foundation VP; Annie Doresca, CFO of Jewelers of America, continues on the board as Treasurer; Tiffany Stevens, president, CEO, and General Counsel for Jewelers Vigilance Committee, remains in her role as VP of Communications role.