National Jeweler inducts three outstanding retail jewelers into its Retailer Hall of Fame

This year, National Jeweler honored two single-store independent jewelers along with one multi-store independent. The 2019 inductees are Cathy Calhoun of Calhoun Jewelers, Julia and David Gardner of David Gardner’s Jewelers & Gemologists, and Judy and Steve Padis of Padis Jewelry.

 â€œWe are thrilled to welcome five jewelers into the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame this year. We think this year’s class includes some of the brightest and most forward-thinking independent jewelers in the business today,” says National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.

Cathy Calhoun, Calhoun Jewelers, Royersford, Pennsylvania:
She is a past president of the American Gem Society (2010 to 2012), and the organization awarded her with the first Sallie Morton Guild Award in 2014 and its Robert M. Shipley Award in 2017. She also was named the Pennsylvania Jeweler of the Year in 2009 by the Pennsylvania Jewelers Association. Calhoun serves on the board of directors for Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Jewelers for Children, the Diamond Empowerment Fund and Jewelers of America.

 David and Julia Gardner, David Gardner’s Jewelers & Gemologists, College Station, Texas:
The couple is very active in its community, engaging in more than 400 partnership big and small to help various organizations raise money and serving on numerous boards and in various organizations both inside the industry and out. The store itself has won numerous awards, including the Lifetime Business Achievement Award from the Bryan Rotary Club, and has been voted Best in Jewelry by the Brazos Valley community for 17 years.

Steve and Judy Padis, Padis Jewelry, San Francisco area:
Padis Jewelry opened in 1974, specializing in loose certified diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry. Over the year, the business has grown to three showrooms in San Francisco and a fourth store in St. Helena, California, with a fifth location, a Forevermark store, in the works. It currently is operated by Steve, Judy and their daughter, Alexis.