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Every piece has a story… Learn more about our magical and badass crew of women who bring CMD jewelry to life.
At CMD, we believe that how something is made is just as important as the design itself. Our team of four women is the heartbeat of this very process. We collaborate daily across three states to bring CMD jewelry to life. From design sketches to final polishing, every piece passes through our hands with intention, precision, and love.
We’re a small crew — just four women (and one furbaby, Miglia aka Migs). I think of us as the four pillars, as every person plays a vital role in shaping CMD’s story and keeping this small biz running. Together, we design, craft, photograph, write, code, market, and ship each piece of jewelry you see online and in-store. Every piece travels through our hands, screens, and hearts before arriving in yours. When you support CMD, you're supporting us — the humans, (the doggo) and the dreams behind the scenes.
Let’s reintroduce the powerhouse women that make up The CMD Team.
CMD started with one woman, a hammer, and a dream. I built CMD from the ground up with my savings from waiting tables at Zuni Café in San Francisco. Now twenty years later, I’m still the visionary behind each and every design. I’m the people person, the schlep master, the community builder, and the creative force that brings passion and persistence to my everyday life. Most design ideas — like our Framework Ring or the newer Colleen’s Pinky Stack — begin as scribbles in my sketchbook and flashes of inspiration mid-shower or on a beach walk. It’s still kind of wild how creativity works… no real rhyme or reason. Perhaps it’s an outside force?
I’m also behind the lens on our Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and occasional Youtube sharing the magic and story behind each piece. I personally host you in The CMD Shop during my Open Hours, via appointments (virtually or in-person), or on social media. Don't be surprised to get a handwritten note from me in your CMD shipment or a personal response when you contact customer service. I sure do wear a lot of hats!
Fun Facts: I am an avid traveler and feel my best when I’m on the move. I’m on the go so much that my friends call me the Energizer Bunny. Don’t be surprised to find me on the dance floor at a club in New York or checking out live shows around Asbury Park. Music and dance is my therapy. I’m also an avid cook, meditator and nature lover... spending time outdoors or decompressing in my tub.
Ary is CMD’s production backbone. A master jeweler with an eye for systems, Ary ensures every ring, bracelet, earring, and necklace meets our high standards for quality and care. Once I finalize a design, Ary figures out how to make it reproducible — tweaking measurements, creating production guides, and ensuring smooth fabrication across the board. Ary also assists with ideation and when I have a concept, she brings it to life in the studio.
Ary also leads our production studio in Trumansburg, NY (lovingly called “T-Burg”), where every CMD piece is handmade to order. Ary’s problem-solving skills and calm composure help us stay on track, especially when we are super busy.
Fun Facts: Aryana is the reason CMD found its way to Upstate New York. She's also a dedicated mom to a remarkable little girl. Ary juggles work, family, and studio life with unmatched grace. She also has her own jewelry line outside of CMD… she’s incredibly talented!
I recently wrote a blog all about Ary, and the impact she’s had on CMD. Read it here.
Sam is our Wonder Woman. She joined CMD at 19 with zero jewelry experience, but I saw her potential — and she’s since become one of the most prolific and precise makers on the team. Sam helps prototype new pieces, refine product details, and brings energy, creativity, and drive to everything she touches. She creates spec sheets (we call them recipe cards) for each design and works between her home studio in Cortland and the T-Burg space.
Sam and I meet regularly to work together on product development, and she’s left to the big task of building the real thing — testing fit, finish, and stackability. If a piece becomes a best-seller (like the Libra and Leo Rings), chances are Sam was there from the very beginning, helping bring it to fruition.
Fun Facts: One of the reasons I hired Sam is she is extraordinarily good with her hands. She knows how to do everything under the sun with her creativity…gardening, cooking, singing, tattooing, restoring antique furniture…and the list goes on and on.
Kelsey is CMD’s digital architect — she built the CMD website and maintains every product listing, collection, page, and banner you see. She writes blogs, social content, and pulls together the marketing package for every launch, email promotion and text broadcast.
After I photograph each piece, Kelsey works her magic — polishing the images to perfection, writing the product descriptions, blog, and broadcast material for every launch. She builds out the full customer experience so you can discover each piece online. She's our go-to for all things tech and is the bridge that connects our handcrafted jewelry to the digital world that enables you to find it!
Fun Facts: Kelsey is our in-house astrologer. She can tell you all about your chart and is the brains behind the popular Zodiac Collection. She’s also one of the most tech savvy gals I know and is also my go-to person when I have a question about skin care and health!
Migs is the fifth member of the team — in tail-wagging form. She’s CMD’s resident mood-booster and my unofficial retail assistant. She’ll happily keep you company while you shop… though she’s really hoping you’ll pause for a belly rub or treat. Tips aren’t required, of course — but she does consider them the highest form of customer appreciation.
Fun Facts: Born in San Francisco, Miglia crossed the country with me back in 2020 and now proudly calls the Jersey Shore home. She’s a true beach girl at heart, but also loves our visits to T-Burg, where she can romp through the woods. An avid traveler, she and I clocked over 8,000 miles together last summer in a van. (Read all about that adventure here.) Migs is my right hand woman, my protector and truly the CMD team mascot — catch her regularly making cameos on our socials.
Our team is built on shared values — curiosity, creativity, hard work, and heart. We’ve worked hard to create a supportive, zero-drama environment where everyone is trusted to do what they do best. As I shared in a past blog post, Strength in (Small) Numbers, we thrive because we respect and support each other — and we truly believe in what we’re building.
From fabrication to fulfillment, CMD is proudly woman-owned and woman-run. Every single step of our process — from sketch to shipment — is completed by one of us. No outsourcing. No guesswork. Just four women (and one shop pup) working in sync to bring you jewelry you’ll cherish for years. We may be spread out across three different states, but our connection is seamless — and our commitment to our craft runs deep.
Thank you for supporting this small, intentional, and mighty business. We wouldn’t be here without you.
xo,
Colleen
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