Black in Jewelry Coalition Names New Board Members

By Karen Dybis | January 22, 2026

The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC), which celebrates its fifth year in 2026, has appointed five new members to its board of directors.

Thomas Davis (pictured) joins the BIJC board as vice president, while Monalisa DePina will serve as BIJC secretary. Other new board members are Jamie Batiste, Namwezi Nicole Batumike, and Lavina Hunt-Lewis.

“Black in Jewelry Coalition was founded on the belief that community is our greatest strength. Welcoming these new board members builds on our ongoing work to strengthen partnerships, deepen representation, and create real, lasting pathways for professional growth across the jewelry, gem, and watch industry,” BIJC president and cofounder Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez said in a Jan. 21 statement.

Founded in August 2020, BIJC will continue expanding its national and international programming this year, with industry events and professional development initiatives as well as cross-sector partnerships designed to increase access and visibility for Black professionals at every stage of their careers, the statement added.

The new board members offer a range of expertise in areas including advocacy, business development and communications, adding to the nonprofit’s efforts to advance Black professionals within the gem, jewelry, and watch industry, BIJC said in the statement.

Davis, BIJC’s new vice president, is director of business development at Select Jewelry and Simone I. Smith. His expertise spans corporate management, specialty retail, manufacturing, merchandising, sales, and celebrity branding—including high-profile collaborations on jewelry lines from Project Runway contestant Korto Momolu and TV personality Leeza Gibbons.

Monalisa DePina BIJC — *Monalisa DePina*

DePina, retail account manager for the JCK Las Vegas and JIS Miami trade shows, has over 20 years of experience in the jewelry industry, specializing in retail and events. She focuses on building meaningful relationships with retailers, helping elevate their experience at major industry shows, driving engagement, supporting retailer success, and enhancing event experiences for buyers and exhibitors alike.

Batiste will serve as head of the BIJC board’s communications team. She is the founder of Rejected Hearts Club, a storytelling-driven jewelry brand rooted in connection, healing, and empowerment. Prior to entering the jewelry industry, Batiste worked in medical device sales and radio and television.

Namwezi Nicole Batumike BIJC — *Namwezi Nicole Batumike*

Batumike joins the BIJC board as its international committee chair. She is a gender and responsible sourcing specialist at the Congolese nonprofit Panzi Foundation, where she has worked on developing its ethical jewelry brand through initiatives aimed at creating traceable and inclusive mine-to-market approaches with local and international partners. Her job also involves working with international companies and policymakers to address societal inequalities and conflict-related sexual violence as they relate to the mining sector. Batumike holds master’s degree in African studies from Oxford and in Africa mineral law from the University of Cape Town.

Lavina Hunt Lewis BIJC — *Lavina Hunt-Lewis*

Board member Hunt-Lewis is the vice president of regional operations at Signet Jewelers, where she has worked for more than 13 years. She began as a seasonal sales associate at Zales Outlet in 2012 and later previously served as a store manager and a district manager. Hunt-Lewis leads Signet’s Operational Excellence, dedicated to elevating team member and customer experiences, and serves as an executive sponsor in Signet’s Black Employee Network.

(Photos courtesy of Black in Jewelry Coalition)