ADVISORS

Melissa  Manning

Founder & Creative Director Melissa Joy Manning

After majoring in art history at the University of California, San Diego and getting her BA in jewelry design and sculpture at San Francisco State University, Melissa studied traditional silversmithing at the Instituto de Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and European design principles at the University of Barcelona before launching her namesake line in 1997 with less than $1,000. 
Since its inception, the Melissa Joy Manning collection has been known for its beautifully designed, impeccably crafted, and socially—and environmentally—responsible ethos. 

Michele (Mickey) Ateyeh

Michele Ateyeh, also known as Mickey, has been President of Prestige Brands Division of Accessory Network Group, LLC since November 2006. Ms. Ateyeh have full responsibility over the development, sourcing and sales of Ghurka, Calvin Klein, and Isaac Mizrahi. Ms. Ateyeh served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Lambertson Truex. She held prominent positions at some of the world's most recognizable luxury company's including Tiffany & Co, Hermes Paris. Ms. Ateyeh served as Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Angela Cummings Fine Jewelry Inc., until 2003.

Wing Yin Yau

Founder & Creative Director Wwake

Wing Yau is a New York-based designer born in the Pacific Northwest.
Hailing from a background in sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design, she assisted NYC artists and galleries before falling into design. After making a series of necklaces based on textile sculptures,Yau developed WWAKE in 2012 with the intention of merging art with the intimacy of jewelry. WWAKE quickly evolved in its use of materials and has since developed into the full line of fine jewelry that it is today.

Amy DuFault

Sustainability Consultant & Writer

I am a sustainable fashion and lifestyle writer found often on Ecouterre and The Guardian. I have also been published on GOOD, the Huffington Post, Yahoo! News, Organic Spa magazine, TakePart and other online and print publications.
I love writing and couldn’t live without it.
Currently, I am the Director of Digital Content & Communications for the Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator and offer consulting and social media help to natural dye guru Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors.
(I’m lucky, I get to work with really wonderful, really smart people.)
In addition to being the former editor of EcoSalon and an eco-boutique co-owner, I’ve repped for dozens of sustainable fashion designers. Today, you can find me sitting on fashion panels and running events in New York City, promoting local activism to teenagers on Cape Cod and always working as an international switchboard operator connecting as many good people as I can find.

Christina Miller

Sustainability Consulting in Jewelry & the Arts

Christina Miller is a consultant inspiring and mentoring bold social and environmental leadership in jewelry, education and the arts. Miller focuses her work on companies large and small in the jewelry and fashion industries, educational programs and artists looking to be leaders in positive social and environmental action. She is also a professional speaker, workshop leader, community organizer, project manager, mentor, change maker and artist.

Jean Poh

Founder & CEO Swoonery

Jean is the 4th generation in a family of high-jewelry professionals and collectors. She began investing in startups at the age of twenty-eight during her first career as a venture-capital attorney and later left law to work with her father in the jewelry industry. During that time, she earned a graduate degree in diamonds from the Gemological Institute of America, apprenticed with a famous jewelry master, studied jewelry history, and taught herself to design and render jewelry. She began designing one of a kind pieces for private clients and funded the establishment of her jewelry atelier by designing jewelry for established designer brands, brokering international diamond and gem transactions and consulting for an overseas jewelry conglomerate helping them set up their first flagship store in Manhattan.
Swoonery is Jean’s solution to the difficulties and inconveniences that people face when trying to shop for jewelry and the challenges that designers are confronted with in an outdated and inefficient industry. She was compelled by her love of fine jewelry to create a platform for people to connect with exquisitely crafted pieces and experience the true beauty and integrity behind the art of jewelry-making.