Marc Thurn
Professional German Master Jeweler
MJS Director/Owner, MJS Diploma Programs Instructor
Marc was born 1968 in Idar-Oberstein, the jewelry and gemstone cutting capital of Europe. His training as a goldsmith began in 1984 at the prestigious Munsteiner Atelier in Germany. Where, at the young age of sixteen he was trained by a master goldsmith in the traditional art of goldsmithing. At 19 he had already culminated a three and a half year journey of intense, practical, and technical training that every young student has to endure to become a skilled craftsman in Germany.
In 1988 he received a Journeyman Degree in Goldsmithing and was acknowledged Best Goldsmith from the Chamber of Handicrafts in the Goldsmithing trade in Germany. This same year he was awarded the second prize from the Handicrafts Youth in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Marc moved to the United States in 1991, where he took part in the German-American Internship program by CDS International Inc. in New York City. In 1993 he continued his goldsmithing career at Susan Helmich Designs Inc. and in 2004 became manager for Susan Helmich Fine Jewelry.
Today, he's the owner of Miami Jewelry School, where he enjoys teaching his vast knowledge to his students while keeping one of the oldest and most distinguished trades on the planet alive.
Adriana Wiesner Lyden
Accredited Jewelry Professional
Director of Admissions
Adriana is a graduate of Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) with a degree in Anthropology. She moved to Miami, FL. where she decided to pursue a more creative and fulfilling path. In 2007 she began her Goldsmithing career at Miami Jewelry School where she graduated as Bench Jeweler after taking the MJS Diploma Programs.
In 2008, she was hired by MJS as Mr. Thurn's Excecutive Assistant. Less than a year later she was promoted as Director of Admissions, possition she has held since.
She is a Jeweler and artist also accredited as a Jewelry Professional after receiving her degree from the Gemological Institute of America in 2010 .
In 2011 she became the proud owner of her own jewelry corporation, where she sells her hand-made designs.
Tammy Cohen
Fashion & Accessory Designer
Jewelry Design & Illustration Instructor
Metalsmith and fashion illustrator, Tammy Cohen is a graduate of Miami International University of Art & Design with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Fashion Design. As an undergraduate, she was awarded twice in the Fashion Group Foundation’s Career Day “Dare to Design Your Future” Competition in the Accessories category.
While at the University, she worked as a fashion illustrator model for Professor Lynda De Vita, where she gained continuous exposure to fashion illustration. Post-University, she worked for Shelly Bermont Jewelry, Inc., formerly of Coral Gables, where she worked closely with the designer.
Tammy is currently the Coordinator for Friends of Art of the Lowe Art Museum of the University of Miami. She administers the organization’s year-round activities, including its annual silent-auction fund-raiser, Spring Into Art, and its private collections parties at the homes of some of South Florida’s premier art connoisseurs and collectors. She is in constant contact with some of the region’s most prominent fine artists and has worked most recently in the studio of William Carlson, one of America’s most renowned contemporary studio glass artists.
A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Tammy grew up in Miami, FL. She is a freelance illustrator and jewelry designer and has worked for the past few years at Jewelry International Showcase.
Aura Godoy
Graduate Gemologist, Author
Gemology Essentials Instructor
Aura Godoy holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan (1968). She also received a degree in gemology from the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) in santa Monica, California (1982).
As part of her teaching activities, she has taught gemology courses at the Venezuelan Gemological Society (1985-1987), at the Ciudad Bolivar campus of Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela (1994) and, since 1987, at seminars on precious stones organized for professionals working in the field, both in Venezuela and in Miami, FL.
She is a founder and director of Muzo Gemologos Joyeros, a Venezuelan jewelry Company established in 1970.
Ms. Godoy has also served as a commercial consultant for companies working in the jewelry and precious stone cutting business in Venezuela and other countries. Moreover, since 1985, several of her articles on gemology have been published in well known magazines and newspapers. She has been active in performing appraisals of jewelry and precious stones for private parties since 1983, and currently handles appraisals and provides advisory services for international insurance claim adjusters.
She is the author of two books: "Diamond Identification and Appraisal", published in 1993; and "The Wonderful World of Gemstones", published in 2005.
Paul Zepeda
Master Watchmaker
Watchmaking & Repair Instructor
His watch specialties include but are not limited to winding watches, chronographs, quartz watches, clocks, polishing and refinishing.
Paul is also an expert in utilizing the latest state of the art watch testing equipment and machines.
Bernadette Denoux
Studio Jeweler & Senior Certified Metal Clay Instructor
Metal Clay Instructor
Bernadette Denoux is a jewelry artist and metal clay instructor living and working in Miami, Florida. As a teen growing up near Coconut Grove, wearing handmade and vintage jewelry was a part of her personal self expression. After college Bernadette became a special education teacher, but continued to have an interest in the arts, and jewelry.
In 2004 Bernadette began making jewelry, discovering metal clay, bead weaving and metal fabrication. She began taking classes in metal clay, and in 2005 received two levels of certification from the PMC Guild. In 2007 she retired from the Miami-Dade County school system. She received a diploma, after completing the state required hours, in the Fine Jewelry Program from The Miami Jewelry School. She has also taken several semesters of Fine Arts Jewelry at Miami Dade College, and many workshops from master teachers in metal clay and traditional jewelry techniques. She has since gone on to receive certification as Senior Instructor with Art Clay World International which entitles her to teach classes and certification courses in metal clay. In 2011 she completed the Stone Setting course at the Miami Jewelry School.
Bernadette believes in being a life-long learner. She continues to take courses in various jewelry techniques to enhance her work, and to educate her students. She belongs to several guilds and organizations such as Florida Society of Goldsmiths, Art Clay Society, PMC Guild, South Florida Jewelry Arts Guild, Enamel Guild South, Gem and Mineral Society of South Florida, and is the Chapter Leader of Miami Metal Clay Artists which is a local chapter of Art Clay Society and PMC Guild.
In 2008 Bernadette started teaching jewelry techniques with metal clay at Miami Dade College. Currently she has classes scheduled at The Alper Jewish Community Center, Art Center South Florida, and Art League of Ocean Reef. In 2010 one of her pieces was chosen to be a part of a prestigious calendar called “The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry”. Her work is currently on display in Collage Gallery in Coral Gables, and can be seen in two books: New Directions Powder Metallurgy in a Sheet Metal World, and Silver Accessories Contest Catalog 2011. She has also won 3rd place in a Lark Book Jewelry Design Challenge.
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