Photo courtesy of WoodStone Jewelry & Jane E . B . Simmons | continued on pg 24 |
In her mid-50s , Cindi Bernioehr changed careers , transitioning from working as a successful high-powered corporate sales strategist to being the designer and creator of her own WoodStone Jewelry line . It was in September 2008 when Cindi began thinking about tackling a mid-life career change . At the time , Cindi was a Wyndham Worldwide Vacation Ownership executive . She had been with the company since May 1999 . Throughout her corporate career , Cindi was in sales , call centers , and marketing , starting in 1984 when she joined Resort Condominiums International in Indianapolis , Indiana . During her sales career , she “ made jewelry as a hobby to relive job stress .” Then , “ I began to making more and more jewelry ,
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realizing I was designing with a sense of sheer joy and loving every minute .”
Jewelry had been “ an inner interest ” of Cindi ' s since her teenage years . “ Back in Indianapolis , I took jewelry and fabric design along with art classes , while attending Pike High School because I thought it all sounded like fun . And it was ,” she said .
“ Little did I know then that in my middle age , I would make this ‘ fun ’ into a moneymaking business — creating beautiful jewelry by ultimately making my ‘ passion ’ into my own company .” She said : “ I had been waiting for a sign to give me the push to leave my successful career in sales and pursue my heart ’ s love of making my own jewelry pieces .” The ‘ sign ’ came with the Stock Market Crash in the fall of 2007 .
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After the sharp decline in real estate with the Stock Market Crash , “ the economic downturn caused the company to begin reducing some sales operations . I seized the opportunity a year later when the company offered a pay incentive to leave my executive position .” “ I saw this as my opportunity to logically make my move ,” Cindi said . She sought to take “ some initial steps to make the transition ” from being a corporate sales strategist to a jewelry designer creator . Cindi took classes and courses to branch out further her jewelry techniques and skills .
“ I started taking classes in metal working , clay , and mixed media . I began to work with base metals , gemstones , and fired glass . I recently have expanded into silk ribbon and ceramics . I strive to come up with new ideas , and continue to learn
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