Behind every booth, every case, every show - there is a Sunwest team working quietly and tirelessly to make it all come together.
And among that team stands one of my favorites and most reliable trade show managers: Rita.
Most folks see us at a trade show and think it’s about the jewelry on the tables.
And sure - there are some of the finest stones you’ll ever lay eyes on. Turquoise with depth. Silver with soul. Work made by artists who learned at kitchen tables, not factories.
But what they don’t always see is everything it takes to get there.
Sunwest is on the road most of the year. From coast to coast. Big cities, small towns, familiar halls, and new floors. Trade shows give us something no catalog or website ever could—the chance to stand face-to-face with the people who make this industry what it is.
We get to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends and associates. We hear stories from customers who’ve been with us for decades - stories about where a bracelet traveled, who inherited a ring, why a stone still matters. We get to showcase the very best artists we know and some of the most beautiful stones this world has ever produced.
That part never gets old.
But here’s the truth: none of it happens by accident.
Behind every booth, every case, every show - there is a Sunwest team working quietly and tirelessly to make it all come together. These are people who know the stones, the jewelry, and the artists. People who can tell you where a piece came from, why it was made that way, and what makes it special - without ever reading a tag.
And among that team stands one of my favorites and most reliable trade show managers: Rita.
I’ve known Rita for decades. Long enough to know that when she shows up, things get done - and they get done right. She comes from the heart of the Navajo Nation, and with that comes something you can’t teach in a manual: a deep respect for the land, the people, and the art itself.
That respect shows up in every conversation she has. In the way she talks about an artist. In how she handles a stone. In how she listens to a customer. There’s no rush. No shortcuts. Just honesty, care, and pride.
Rita doesn’t just work a show - she represents it. The culture. The craftsmanship. The responsibility we carry when we put Sunwest Silver into the world. That kind of trust isn’t built overnight. It’s built over years of showing up. Over long days, early mornings, late breakdowns, and a shared belief that what we do matters.
So the next time you see us at a trade show, take a moment to look past the silver and stones. Know that behind that booth is a team - people like Rita - who pour their heart, history, and knowledge into every piece you see.