Our Team

Don Jones - Founder, CEO, & Managing Partner

Don Jones is a renowned retail executive and advisor with nearly five decades of experience and achievement in the fashion, consumer products, food service, management and entertainment industries. Beginning his retail career as a janitor at Fischer’s Men’s Shoes in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, Don rose through the ranks of retailers such as Macy’s, Marshall Fields, IKEA, GAP and Target to serve in chief executive positions in nearly a dozen major retail organizations. In 2009 he founded Verite Capital Partners to focus on assisting minorities, women and people of color in new business ventures. Don serves on the Board of Trustees at Felician University and the boards of several public and private companies, including the New York City Investment Fund and the Trinity High School Foundation. He is the recipient of the Massachusetts Black Achiever Award and the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association Retailer of the Year, among many other accolades.

Jennifer Garfall - Chief Creative Officer, Senior Partner

Jennifer Garfall began her career as a metalsmith, utilizing and teaching time-honored techniques alongside cutting-edge manufacturing technology. After earning a B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art she led the metal smithing program at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas before joining the design department at Tiffany & Co. In over a decade at Tiffany, Jennifer rose to lead the statement and fine jewelry design team. She is credited with many of Tiffany’s best-selling collections and one-of-a-kind statement pieces, including the 2012 remounting of the Tiffany Diamond. Jennifer has also designed collections for renowned American retailers and luxury brands including Signet Jewelers, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Prestige Jewelry, Marchesa, Assael, Judith Ripka, and others.

Jose Ayala - Chief Operating Officer, Senior Partner

Jose Ayala began his career in NYC, managing multiple stores for The Gap before taking on his first merchant role at Saks Fifth Avenue. Since then he has held multiple progressive merchandising roles leading significant brick & mortar, catalog, and online transformational initiatives at Tiffany & Co., HSN, and Dufry. He’s successfully introduced brand concepts in new markets in the US and internationally and loves the challenge of developing businesses that engage new audiences. Passionate about every customer touch-point opportunity, Jose is truly “omni-channel” in his approach and execution. In addition to his extensive product management experience, Jose has worked in the online SaaS and digital marketing space, providing clients at his namesake consultancy Brandayala with solutions for better site conversion and customer retention. Jose holds advanced degrees in Economics and Industrial Psychology from the University of Rochester.

Lisa Kapp - Chief Development Officer, Senior Partner

Lisa Kapp brings her vast experience and acute connectivity in Retail / Wholesale development and Talent Acquisition to NYINI Luxury.  Her comprehensive experience encompasses both International and National niche markets and she’s worked in senior executive positions for such prominent companies as Michael Aram Jewelry, Gurhan, Jil Sander, Molten Brown, and Fogal. Lisa has developed strong industry relationships with executives at prominent retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Holt Renfrew, and Saks Fifth Avenue. She has also closely worked with independent luxury retail stores, and key industry influencers in the areas of PR, Marketing and Design. Lisa has been commended for her exceptional ability to think “outside of the box,” for conceiving and creating distinctive training programs, events, and promotional activities to help drive sales, and brand visibility. She is the ultimate “people connector”.