About the Fundraiser

The Women’s Jewelry Association is thrilled to host its third annual Generating Community Impact breakfast fundraiser at JCK Vegas on Friday, May 31st, 2024 from 8:00-9:30am. 

This year, WJA’s event will focus on disability inclusion as it relates to intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Shifting the mindset as an industry to foster greater inclusivity throughout the jewelry supply chain.

Panel

Laurel Rossi 
CEO and Co-Founder
Creative Spirit

Laurel Rossi, is CMO of Infillion and CEO and Co-Founder of Creative Spirit, a 501c nonprofit dedicated to connecting neurodiverse jobseekers with fair-wage employment. Laurel is a strategic, creative, and operational leader with global experience, developing new economy businesses, building brands, energizing teams, and harnessing insights and relationships to generate profitable revenue. In addition to her work with Creative Spirit and Infillion, she is an advisor to boards of directors on marketing strategy, DE&I, business development, digital and performance marketing, and reputation management for Fortune 250 enterprises and start-up ventures.

Since 2017, Creative Spirit’s work has expanded to include training for companies who want to include individuals with disabilities in their DE&I efforts and representation of people with disabilities in media, music, advertising, and film.

Matthew Schamroth
Partner
 M. Schamroth & Sons 

A fourth-generation diamantaire, Matthew Schamroth, is a partner in M. Schamroth & Sons of New York.

M. Schamroth & Sons was founded at the turn of the 20th century in Antwerp, Belgium. Matthew’s great grandfather and grandfather left Antwerp, in 1939, just before World War II. They emigrated to the United States, setting up their business at the World Diamond Tower, at 580 Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan, where it continues to this day.

Since 1995, after graduating from Miami University of Ohio, Matthew has proudly worked alongside his brother, Mitchell. Matthew is an active member of the Executive Board of The Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association (DMIA), the leading organization of America’s premier diamond manufacturers, importers, and dealers. In 2019, he created the Diamond Integrity Committee (DDIC). The mission of the DDIC is to develop, adopt and maintain standards for the diamond industry by providing education and procedural guidelines to diamond professionals regarding the screening of natural diamonds with the use of DVI’s (Diamond Verification Instruments) to ensure there aren’t any laboratory-grown (synthetic) diamonds and other diamond simulants. DDIC’s goal is to protect and preserve the integrity of the diamond supply chain.

Joanna McElnea
Community Manager
Creative Spirit

Joanna McElnea is a passionate and dedicated inclusive marketing and communications leader, driven by her mission to shape a future that embraces fair-wage employment for individuals who are neurodivergent. With a strong focus on fostering an inclusive and accessible online community, Joanna empowers talented individuals with disabilities as a self-advocate with ADHD and dyslexia. She raises awareness about invisible disabilities, mental health, inclusive hiring practices, and the ever-evolving work landscape.

Moderated by Monica Elias
CEO and Executive Producer
Elias World Media

Monica Elias is CEO and Executive Producer of Elias World Media (EWM), a leading multimedia company and long-time jewelry and watch industry partner that works with companies to enhance the visibility of their products, brands, and campaigns.

Monica is an award-winning professional recognized for her expertise in video production and broadcast news media strategy. A passionate storyteller with extensive television experience spanning over two decades, Monica's unique talent lies in her ability to transform ordinary stories into powerful marketing assets that significantly boost brand awareness, engagement, and profitability.

Monica has been recognized as a leader and an advocate for excellence in the communications industry and was named the "Most Innovative Woman of the Year" by Stevie's Women in Business. She has been featured in Forbes, New York Magazine, PR Week, NY Post, JCK Magazine, and PR Daily and invited to speak on numerous industry panels and The Plumb Club's Podcast Series. She has interviewed Fortune 500 CEOs, celebrities, and dignitaries and has covered international red carpets and UN political and economic affairs.

The Elias World Media team has won multiple awards for innovative and impactful content, including 18 Telly Awards, 8 Hermes Creative Awards, and 4 MarCom Awards. Elias World Media works with some of the world's most prestigious companies to produce and broadcast their most important news, stories, and moments. Clients include De Beers, LVMH, Richemont, Chow Tai Fook, Platinum Guild International, Mercedes Benz, L'Oréal Paris, Unilever, Allergan, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson.

About WJA

The Association

WJA's mission is to help women in the jewelry and watch industries advance and develop professionally through networking, education, and leadership development. For more information, visit www.womensjewelryassociation.com

The Foundation

The Women's Jewelry Association Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 corporation created to support WJA's mission of providing educational and business opportunities that allow women to reach their full career potential.

The Foundation accepts gifts from individuals and corporations that are used to positively impact the jewelry and watch industries. Through our multi-dimensional funding framework, the WJA Foundation focuses its charitable giving on general jewelry education & business development; responsible sourcing and sustainability education; diversity, equity and inclusion education.

Thank You to Our Sponsors