CLAYTON, CA (July 28, 2025) — Pat Pannell launched her handmade jewelry line, Chick Boss, in 2010 in San Andrés, Guatemala, with the goal of helping local families thrive. She opened her first retail store in downtown Clayton under the Chick Boss name to showcase the collection.

Today, she has rebranded the shop as Bold Finds, reflecting a broader mix of offerings for men and women alike – though her signature Chick Boss jewelry remains a centerpiece of the boutique.

From the beginning, Pannell intended to help local families thrive financially, educationally and emotionally through her business. Over the past 15 years, Chick Boss has become an inspiring example of how a small jewelry company can make a large impact.

Early altruistic efforts

Her journey began long before the establishment of Chick Boss. She fell in love with Guatemala in 2001 during her stay with a host family while participating in a Spanish immersion program.

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Pannell noticed that some of the family’s 10 children did not attend school because they could not afford uniforms and tuition. Through her own efforts, Pannell funded schooling for the children, encouraging them to reach the education levels to which they aspired. All 10 finished high school, and a few of them went on to earn college degrees.

The experience left Pannell wanting to make a positive impact on others in Guatemala. With no experience in the gem and jewelry trade, she turned to her sister Jeanne Sheridan to establish Chick Boss in 2010.

At the time, Sheridan designed and produced one-of-a-kind jewelry using copper, brass and gemstones in the United States. To support Pannell’s vision for a business in Guatemala, Sheridan had to shift her focus to the practicality and reproducibility of the pieces.

New training regimen

She began teaching locals about beading work, primarily stringing, and the traditional cold-connection technique to make jewelry completely by hand. Since cold-connection techniques do not require the use of heat, trainees were able to learn and execute the method more easily. Sheridan also worked with a translator to produce detailed illustrated training materials.

The first group of four female trainees learned beading work and metalsmithing. After four, four-hour training sessions, they were ready to carry out the work from home – benefiting from flexible schedules.

Within six months, eight beaders were fully developed. A few teenagers also trained in metalsmithing, with some becoming experienced craftspeople who are now teaching new hires on their own.

Award-winning design

At a Central American artisan craft trade show in 2012, Pannell and Sheridan met Marilyn Polanco, a talented jewelry designer from Guatemala with a degree in industrial design. Polanco soon became the primary designer for Chick Boss, bringing a contemporary and bold look with components and patterns that could be easily reproduced utilizing the employees’ existing skills and materials.

The various collections produced at Chick Boss’s San Andrés workshop showcase the versatility of designs from these Guatemalan artisans. The Sound Collection, featuring repurposed vinyl records, won the 2021 Buyer’s Choice Award for Best Jewelry from the Museum Store Association. A collaboration with Casa Del Jade in Antigua added Guatemalan jadeite jade stones to jewelry pieces, honoring the most important gem resource in the country.

Since its establishment, Chick Boss has consistently donated 1% to 5% of its gross sales to multiple charity organizations and supported approximately 25 families in the local community. The artisans are compensated well beyond what is required by Fair Trade standards, allowing them to support their families, keep their children in school and continue to pursue their own dreams.

Chick Boss plans to hire a local jeweler who can provide additional training for the team. They will purchase equipment for silver and gold plating to allow for further expansion.

Pannell and her partners hope that their story can inspire more business owners to engage in sustainable practices through community support.

Article reprinted with permission from a Gemological Institute of America Inc. publication.