Meeting new people and forming meaningful business relationships is the hallmark of the Women's Jewelry Association and its world-wide network of members.
Pictured, from left:
Programming VP: Julia Prout
Chapter Sponsorship: Susan Derouin
Treasurer: Maureen Murphy
Immediate Past President: Kerilyn Rodi, Armbrust International
Membership VP: Joanne Gadwah, JMT Epoxy
President: Christine McDermott, Tri-Bro Manufacturing
At Large: Regina Ciarleglio, Jewelers of America
Communications VP: Jaclyn St. Laurent (not pictured)
Each year, we host two signature events: Providence Jewelry Night Out, a celebration of women in our industry held in concert with WJA chapters around the world, and our Annual Holiday Party. In 2019, we also offered a wide array of educational and networking events to empower women and foster community in the local jewelry industry. Those included a paint and wine night; several Rock Your Network cocktail parties; a spring In the Know featuring a guided walking tour of Providence’s Historic Jewelry District; and a fall In the Know, featuring a tour of the Gorham Silver exhibit at the RISD museum, followed by a cocktail party and expert speaker at the University Club. In 2020, our focus shifted to virtual events, such as a Halloween Bingo and a holiday recipe swap.
While we continued to focus on virtual events in the first half of 2021, we were thrilled to welcome you back in person for Jewelry Night Out in September and a tour of the Providence Jewelry Museum in November. We will be planning a full slate of events for 2022. If you ever have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to reach out to any one of our board members.
Because of our affiliation with the national WJA, our members can take advantage of numerous scholarship and grant opportunities. Since 1996, the WJA has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to students in some of the best jewelry programs in the country. These include Fashion Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Rhode Island School of Design.