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Southern Jewelry Travelers Association

75 Years of Stewardship for the Southern Jewelry Trade

The Southern Jewelry Travelers Association is the nonprofit trade organization behind the Atlanta Jewelry Show. For more than seven decades, the Association has brought together manufacturers, wholesalers, sales professionals, and retailers to conduct real business, build relationships, and uphold professional standards across the jewelry industry in the Southeast.

Founded by jewelry travelers who believed that the industry was stronger when it gathered in person, SJTA continues that mission today by producing one of the longest running jewelry trade shows in the United States and by serving as a member governed association dedicated to the common interests of the trade.

About SJTA

The Southern Jewelry Travelers Association, Inc. is a nonprofit trade association organized as a 501(c)(6). The Association exists to create and foster the shared business interests of its members and to encourage closer professional relationships among those engaged in the sale and distribution of jewelry and allied lines.

From its earliest days, SJTA has focused on practical outcomes. Bringing qualified buyers and sellers together. Supporting ethical business practices. Cooperating with related organizations to strengthen the jewelry industry as a whole. The Atlanta Jewelry Show remains the primary expression of that mission, but the Association itself exists year round in service of its members.

SJTA Board of Directors

  • Board Directors
    • Raaj Lalwani
    • Allan Cagle
    • Larry Rodgers

Board Advisors

  • Steve Berkowitz
  • Konrad Darling
  • Lou Mazza
  • Sam Mulani
  • Jamie Schaller
  • Michael Pavlakos
  • Dalton Powell

Ross Wesdorp

President

Allison Peck

Executive Vice President

Joseph Tsui

Secretary/Treasurer

Mike Kim

Vice President

The Southern Jewelry Travelers Association is governed by industry professionals who volunteer their time to serve the membership and steward the future of the Atlanta Jewelry Show.

Mission & Purpose

The purpose of the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association is to promote the welfare of its members and the jewelry industry by fostering collaboration, professionalism, and high ethical standards. As outlined in the Association’s governing documents, this includes supporting worthy enterprises that benefit the trade collectively, encouraging responsible business conduct, and providing a structured forum where members can meet, transact, and govern their shared interests

This is not an advocacy organization in the political sense, nor a commercial show company. It is a member led trade association whose primary responsibility is stewardship of the marketplace it convenes.

Relationship to the Atlanta Jewelry Show

The Atlanta Jewelry Show is produced by the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association as its primary industry event. While the show operates under its own brand, it is wholly owned and governed by the Association.

This relationship ensures that decisions about the show are made with the long term health of the industry in mind, prioritizing the needs of exhibitors, retailers, and the broader jewelry community.

Governance & Structure

SJTA is governed by a Board of Directors elected from the membership. Officers and directors serve defined terms and operate under a formal constitution and bylaws that establish responsibilities, voting rights, and oversight.

The Association is headquartered in the greater Atlanta area and holds its annual membership meeting in conjunction with the Atlanta Jewelry Show. Major decisions affecting the Association and the show are made by the Board and membership in accordance with those governing documents.

This structure ensures that the Association remains accountable to the industry it serves rather than to outside commercial interests.

Membership

Membership in the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association is open to qualified individuals and companies engaged in the manufacture, wholesale distribution, and sale of jewelry and allied products and services. Members enjoy the ability to participate in Association governance, exhibit in Association-sponsored shows subject to guidelines, and contribute to the ongoing direction of the trade environment that the Association supports

For generations of jewelry professionals, SJTA has served as both a gathering place and a steady hand. As the industry continues to evolve, the Association remains committed to thoughtful stewardship, professional integrity, and the simple but powerful idea that strong relationships are still at the heart of good business.

Become a Southern Jewelry Travelers Association Member

Membership affords the member (or the member's company of record) the opportunito to exhibit at the Atlanta Jewelry Show.

Apply to Join