Generous, Funny, and Smart: Remembering Kate Peterson

Montgomery Village, Md.—Start conversing to people today about Kate Peterson, and just one detail speedily will become apparent—a whole lot of individuals identified as Kate a good friend and for fantastic cause.

The longtime jewellery sector revenue coach and small business coach is explained as being exceptionally sensible with a wicked sense of humor who was, above all, generous—generous with her expertise and generous with that most valuable and irreplaceable of commodities, time.

“I really do not feel quite a few people today did not like Kate,” mentioned longtime mate Patti Geolat. “She was beloved.”

“She was so related. She had this kind of a excellent network and she was willing to share it. Some individuals hold all that [close] to the vest. And that wasn’t her. She was often like, permit me introduce you to so-and-so, allow me make this link for you.”

A different longtime friend, Diamond Council of The us President and CEO Terry Chandler, explained the exact.

“The thing about Kate … she was one the most generous people today with her time and her talents. She would support any one who wanted her and,” he laughed, “sometimes without obtaining compensated.”

Peterson died unexpectedly Tuesday adhering to a hearth at her Montgomery Village, Maryland, residence in the early early morning several hours of April 9, Easter Sunday.

She was 64.

According to the Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire and Rescue Support, the bring about of the fire was accidental, most very likely triggered by a lamp that was on the screened-in porch in the back again of the residence.

Peterson obtained her start on the salesfloor at J.B. Robinson Jewelers in the late 1970s, investing 14 years with the retailer prior to transferring on to grow to be vice president of education at Kay Jewelers and, afterwards, Littman Jewelers.

It was these years used behind the counter performing fundamental duties—working mall hours, ready on shoppers, placing the jewelry again in the secure at evening, cleaning the backroom—that laid the groundwork for what Peterson turned: a single of the industry’s prime gross sales trainers.

“She just comprehended what comes about on the salesfloor of a jewelry retail outlet on that very foundational stage. That is one of things she and I had in widespread and possibly a single of the [reasons we became friends],” claimed Chandler, who also received his get started powering the counter at a jewelry keep. “She comprehended it from that level.”

Alongside one another with Janice Mack, Peterson began Overall performance Principles in 1997. Eventually, the two females went their separate means (even though they continue being mates), and Peterson became the sole proprietor of the business.

To any individual who’s been in the industry for even just a couple years, Peterson was unmissable.

She labored with merchants and manufacturers and was a fixture as a speaker at trade shows, from JCK, AGS Conclave and the InStore clearly show to all the purchasing group situations. 

Fellow revenue coach Pat Henneberry stated each time she saw Peterson’s title stated as a speaker, she’d make it a place to discover a seat in the audience.

“If she was at any time on a panel or chatting, I’d make positive I was in the place. I generally set a star by her name since I understood Kate usually experienced some thing fantastic to say, one thing crucial, effective. I’d have a critical takeaway.”

For a 10 years just before the pandemic strike, Peterson also crisscrossed the state with her good friend Geolat carrying out antique and estate jewelry trunk shows.

Peterson experienced the contacts and did the bookings Geolat brought the jewellery.

However Peterson initially did not know much about antique and estate jewellery, she soon discovered many thanks to what Geolat described as her friend’s “insatiable appetite” for know-how.

“Anything that intrigued Kate, she went at it with all her exertion,” she claimed. “She was passionate and she preferred to learn.”

Chandler said Peterson’s drive to find out contributed to her achievement as a revenue trainer, and the fact that she was constantly in need as a trade display speaker.

He described her as “obsessed” with remaining pertinent and latest, regularly exploring and reading business publications.

“A good deal of trainers have a program that they’ve established and they adhere with that. And it is quite powerful,” he stated. “Kate’s consider was, I gotta know what took place this morning. I will need to know what is happening appropriate now. She absorbed research about our field like a sponge.

“It was a new dialogue just about every time she spoke in entrance of a crowd.”

When she wasn’t operating, Peterson cherished her canine, the seaside, paying time with her family, and touring.

For Geolat, Peterson was what every single adult requirements as they navigate via life—a very good journey buddy.

“We went from Morocco to South Africa to China. There is no spot we weren’t open to going to.”

She claimed the final global trip they took together was in fall 2022 to South Africa, where they went on safari in Kruger Nationwide Park and make the trek down to Capetown. She mentioned it was a single of the most effective excursions she’s ever taken.

“It was just good to create all those recollections with each other,” Geolat stated. “Memories manufactured with a close friend are always exciting.”

Peterson leaves driving two sons, Nicholas Peterson and Kevin Peterson as nicely as her dad and mom, Paul and Connie Bykowski a single sister, Beth (Adam) Henning two brothers, Tom (Lisa) Bykowski and Jim (Annette) Bykowski nine nieces and nephews and several cousins.

No facts on companies were available as of press time Nationwide Jeweler will share them as before long as they develop into out there.

A good friend and neighbor has set up a GoFundMe to raise cash in assist of Peterson’s family members. Far more than $12,000 has been donated as of push time, just beneath the $15,000 goal.

On social media and in content articles written about Peterson’s passing, it has been said she will be sorely skipped but Geolat contends which is not sufficient to explain the void her absence leaves powering. 

“That’s not even massive adequate. It is an understatement. I really don’t think the loss to our trade can be recognized right up until we experience it. As times and months and yrs go by, I consider we will understand much more and additional what a decline we have experienced. She was a reward.”