Jan Albach Jewell has always found personal satisfaction in having control over her destiny. Her sense of design is insightful and bold which she has applied to each unique application, while employing the logical elements of entrepreneurship to accomplish her dreams.
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As a goldsmith, Jan works with individuals to design a piece of jewelry that communicates the unique personal style of each client. A graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a specialization in metalsmithing, Jan also apprenticed with a goldsmith in Copenhagen, Denmark. She founded her company in 1979 and has designed and manufactured custom-made fine jewelry for clients in New York, Houston, Boston, Honolulu, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay area. Jan works with international gem dealers to source high quality gemstones, and also enjoys utilizing gold and gems provided by her clients.
In 1992 Jan and Mike Jewell conceived a new company concept called Birthday Express. Offering children's party supplies, they formally launched in 1994. The company grew rapidly manufacturing proprietary products, acquiring Great Days Publishing and Storybook Heirlooms, later launching Toyland Express, Celebrate Express, and 1st Birthdays.
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Supervising a creative team of over a dozen artists, Jan was responsible for merchandising, graphic illustration and product development, as well as marketing materials including the company’s catalog and website.
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In 2004 the company completed its Initial Public Offering, going public on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BDAY. In little more than a decade Celebrate Express, Inc. had grown from a small catalog operation into one of the leading mail-order children's party goods suppliers in the United States.
Jan Jewell owns and manages a vacation rental property in Hawaii, on the north shore of O'ahu, just minutes from the famed Banzai Pipeline surf break. Surrounded by some of the finest and most pristine beaches, dramatic waves, and romantic sunsets in the world, the North Shore’s natural beauty blends in harmony with the simple elegance and casual lifestyle found at the Ocean Villas.
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