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BRAND NEWS: ERICA COURTNEY’S FUGITIVE PAST; DAVID COOPER’S RIDE FOR CANCER; LE VIAN TAKES ON EUROPE January 09, 2013 (0 comments)
Erica Courtney Reveals Her Past As a Fugitive; Names Adam Graham CEO
Los Angeles, CA—Every jewelry designer has some kind of back-story: whether they started life as an architect (many did) or in non-creative fields like banking, law, or finance (you’d be surprised how many did this, too), but few can say they built a multi-million dollar company while fugitive from the law.
Erica Courtney, however, did just that, and recently discussed her past on the Jeff Probst Show. In the early 1980s, embattled in a bitter custody dispute for her son and fearing for her own safety from a volatile ex-husband, she did what today will prompt a nationwide Amber Alert: she grabbed her son (Joshua, now 33) and ran, leaving behind her native Lafayette, LA, and eventually landing in California.
For more than 10 years she was a fugitive from the FBI. Acknowledging that what she did was a crime, she changed her name (Erica Courtney is her new name) but still felt her chest pound every time there was a knock on the door. But during that time she began making jewelry, “not to make a name for myself, just to pay the rent and put food in my child’s stomach,” she told Probst. But when her jewelry caught the attention of Women’s Wear Daily and the paper wanted to interview her, she tells Probst, she was excited but still was afraid of being recognized. The same as her pieces grew more and more favored by Hollywood stars, sometimes chosen even in preference to famed jeweler Harry Winston’s.
Today, however, all is calm. No longer on the run, Courtney continues to dress the stars for red carpet events and even makes frequent television appearances on QVC with a diffusion line created especially for the network. As for the son she acknowledges kidnapping as a toddler, he’s now married himself and the father of a daughter, Brooklyn, and Courtney revels in being a very glamorous grandma.
Separately, the designer announced on Monday that she has hired veteran jewelry industry executive Adam Graham as chief executive officer of Erica Courtney, Inc., effective January 21. Graham most recently served as the Marketing Manager for the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and has held management positions for Saks Fifth Avenue, the Rapaport Group and the American Gem Society.
“I am very excited about Adam joining the company. His knowledge of, and passion for, fine designer jewelry will be a key part of our continuing growth,” stated Courtney. “This will also allow me more time to focus on the things I really love; designing jewelry and working with my fabulous clients.”
Watch her interview on The Jeff Probst Show here.
David Cooper Cycles For Survival; Asks For Industry Support
Greenvale, NY—For the third year in a row, Jeff Cooper Designs is participating in the Cycle for Survival indoor team cycling event, benefiting Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, and raising funds for research and treatments for rare cancers. To date, Jeff Cooper Designs has raised more than $35,000, and its goal is to raise $30,000 more in 2013.
But this year is extra special—David Cooper was chosen to teach one of the cycling sessions, in front of 100 riders and more than 200 spectators and volunteers.
David Cooper raises a victory towel in last year's Cycle for Survival.
Cycle for Survival is an indoor cycling (spinning) fundraiser. The setup for the event is 100 bikes and riders, with three bikes facing the crowd in front. The center of those three bikes is the teacher, which will this year be Cooper.
Three years ago he set a goal to get certified as an indoor cycling teacher. He is today both Schwinn and Madd Dogg certified, and aside from his day job in the jewelry industry, he teaches at all Long Island Equinox fitness center locations. Part of his goal was to be chosen to lead this ride, which will be at the Equinox location in Roslyn, NY. As the leader, he gets to run the crowd through a 45 minute session in which he plans the “ride,” creates and mixes the music, and motivates and leads the cyclists via microphone—all while riding himself.
100 cyclists follow the lead of the teacher, which will this year be David Cooper.
“It's a massive event, tremendously powerful and emotional,” he told The Centurion. 100% of the funds raised go to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers to fund research and treatments for rare cancers, which Cooper says account for over 50% of all cancers diagnosed, and most cancers that effect children.
“For me, cancer has directly affected my family, my friends, and we have lost too many people, I ride every year to support them; I Cycle for Survival.” Cooper hopes his jewelry industry friends will support him in his efforts to raise money to fight rare cancers. The event is slated for February 2, so Cooper will hop off his bike and literally get directly onto a plane for Centurion. Click here to learn more about Cycle For Survival, and here for David Cooper’s personal page where you can read about the charity, donate, or sign up to ride.
A previous Jeff Cooper Designs team.
Le Vian to Expand Globally; Showing At Vicenzaoro I
Great Neck, NY—Le Vian will be launching a chocolate-flavored booth at the entrance to the Vicenzaoro I show in Vicenza, Italy, January 20-24.
“The Le Vian brand has a strong presence in the United States and our strategy for 2013 is to expand globally, says Eddie LeVian, designer and CEO.
Featured at the booth will be the brand’s trademarked Couture, Chocolatier, and Bridal lines. All feature natural fancy color brown diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia. “Chocolate” diamonds are at the top 5% of the Argyle brown production, says LeVian.
"Diamonds are a girl's best friend and chocolate is an aphrodisiac. Together, the combination is deliciously desirable."
Le Vian wants to bring its chocolate diamond jewelry to a global audience, beginning with Vicenzaoro this month.