(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – The Natural Diamond Council announces the appointment of Gabrielle Grazi as its vice president, retail, effective June 1, 2020. Grazi, who will be based in New Jersey and report to Kristina Buckley Kayel, NDC’s managing director North America, spent the last seven years with Signet Jewelers.
The vice president, retail, is a new NDC position in charge of establishing the NDC as the natural diamond authority among the trade audience within North America. In her position, Grazi will steer retailer strategy, ensuring strong trade activation and amplification around all content and marketing initiatives. In addition to advancing the e-learning and trade marketing activities, Gabrielle will provide leadership for key trade conferences and events and will centralize communication with all major trade organizations.
“Gabrielle brings a wealth of experience and powerful insight from her last role, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team. Her leadership will bring immense value not only to the NDC but to the collective industry as we work toward our common goals,” said Buckley Kayel.
Grazi added, “I’m honored to be joining the Natural Diamond Council at such an extraordinary time. I’m confident and excited about the mission and vision of NDC and Only Natural Diamonds and look forward to partnering with retailers to leverage our content, tools and resources to reassert the diamond dream in an impactful way directly with their customers.”
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
