For Immediate Release
Contact: Penny Palmer, IJO
August 17, 2023
800.624.9252
IJO NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Southport, CT: In General Session at the recent conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) in Cleveland, OH, Owner and Chairman Jeff Roberts announced a new member to the staff, naming Stephen Barnes as IJO’s new President. “For several years I have met with, interviewed and talked with several candidates for this position I wanted to fill, but no one possessed the qualities I was seeking – until recently”, Roberts stated. “I was looking for some new blood to help drive IJO farther. Stephen is a bright, smart and passionate individual with experience in running a successful and profitable retail jewelry store. His added expertise in succession and transition planning only adds to his long list of qualifications, and I have no doubt he will help make IJO a better, stronger, and even more successful organization.”
The announcement was met with a standing ovation by the more than 1,000 members present, as well as countless congratulations and kudos on all forms of social media. Barnes took to the stage and began, “I’m so very fortunate to have had IJO as part of my life for nearly 25 years, and I have met so many amazing people along the way that have mentored, coached, and guided me into who I am today. I owe a great deal of gratitude to all of you in this organization for pouring into me over these years. Through every step of my journey I can see how it has prepared me for such a time as this. And I humbly thank Jeff for this opportunity.”
From among the many congratulatory posts, "Well deserved Stephen. Your time with the Edge Retail Academy, your amazing work ethic, faultless integrity and honesty, commitment to your goals, industry knowledge and your powerful desire to make a positive difference to this wonderful industry and your wonderful people skills, make you the perfect person for this exciting new opportunity. I'm proud to have worked with you and look forward to many more years of our friendship to come. Well done and huge congratulations." David Brown, Owner/President, Edge Retail Academy
Punchmark CEO Ross Cockerham wrote, “Huge congratulations to Stephen Barnes, the new president of IJO! In 2009, Stephen became one of our very first clients by purchasing a jewelry website before we had ever built one. This took an incredible amount of faith, and this same level of faith will prove to be an enormous strength that will surely make him an exceptional president and help this organization to continue being so great.”
And on a personal note, his son Preston Barnes wrote, “Want to give a huge congratulations to my Dad, Stephen Barnes! Dreams are being fulfilled and his hard work paying off. I’m a proud son!”
Barnes added, “The vision of IJO is to enhance the lives of its members through the power of unity. Our goal is to grow stronger together and further solidify the integrity of our industry. Just some of my responsibilities will be to revamp our educational programs, expand the IJO TEAMS, increase the opportunities for the Next Generation group, improve IJO’s technology resources, increase marketing and advertising resources, create an increased program for succession and store transition, and to provide family friendly shows. IJO is a family that cares about each other, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to help make IJO even stronger for each and every member.”