Articles and News
Industry News: IAC Gold Conference Coming To NYC; GIA Career Fair Goes To London; JA Promotions March 21, 2018 (0 comments)
AC Gold Conference April 12-13 Addresses Women, Laws, Valuation, More
New York, NY--Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC)’s Eighth Annual International Gold Conference, titled Gold: Vortex, Virtues, and Values, will be held April 12-13 at Bohemian National Hall in New York City. "The IAC Gold Conference is the gold standard in its space. The quality of content and the top-notch speakers sharing ideas make for a not-to-miss event each year. This is art, design, and culture explained at its very best," says Mickey Alam Khan, editor in chief of Luxury Daily, who will host a one-on-one conversation with Deborah Nicodemus, CEO of online retailer Moda Operandi. (At left, a cuff by famed jeweler Leo DeVroomen, one of the conference presenters.)
Gold: Vortex, Virtues, and Values will explore a range of gold and jewelry issues, from responsible business practices to new trends in jewelry manufacturing, design, and apprenticeship. It will address the role of women in the industry and as consumer, and explore new frontiers in social media, government and legal affairs, and more during the two-day event. New speakers and sessions include:
A Rising Tide: Women and the Jewelry Industry, an evening panel that follows a champagne reception on April 12, will feature moderator Hedda Schupak, editor of The Centurion newsletter, with Jenny Luker, president of both Platinum Guild International and the Women's Jewelry Association; Wendy Brandes, jewelry designer and writer at Wendy Brandes Jewelry; Brandee Dallow, founder and president, Fine Girl Luxury Brand Building & Communications; and Barbara Palumbo, blogger and founder of Adornmentality.com and What’sOnHerWrist.com. Opening remarks will be made by Lisa Koenigsberg, IAC founder and president, and Ronnie Vanderlinden, president, Diamex Inc., Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America, and the United States Jewelry Council.
Washington Update, a panel of experts on gold jewelry laws and regulations, will include: Linus Drogs, owner and president, Au Enterprises; Mark Hanna, CMO of Richline Group; Elizabeth Orlando, economic officer, Bureau of Economic Affairs, Office of Threat Finance and Countermeasures, U.S. Department of State; Susan Thea Posnock, director of public affairs and education, Jewelers of America; and Tiffany Stevens, president and CEO, Jewelers Vigilance Committee. Writer Peggy Jo Donahue will moderate.
Optimizing Consumer Experience: Technological Approaches to Personalization will feature Jean-Jacques Grimaud, director, sales, SolidWorks SELL, Dassault Systèmes.
Industrial Revolution 4.0: Cultivating and Perpetuating Old World Skills, will feature Ann Cahoon, department head of jewelry making for the North Bennet Street School, Boston; Ted Doudak, CEO, Riva Precision Manufacturing; Patricia Madeja, studio jeweler, goldsmith, professor and coordinator of the jewelry program, Pratt Institute; Rich Youmans, chief communications officer, MJSA / publisher, MJSA Journal; and Katrin Zimmerman, jewelry designer and founder, Ex Ovo. Andrea Hill, founder and CEO, Hill Management Group, will moderate.
Jeffrey M. Christian, founder and managing director, CPM Group, a commodities research, consulting, financial advisory, asset management, and commodities management firm based in Brooklyn, NY, will address Valuing Gold.
For more information and to download a brochure that features the full conference line up and biographies of speakers, click here. To attend, click here. (Centurion Newsletter readers use promo code CENTURION).
GIA To Host First Career Fair In Europe; Luxury Jewelers Will Be There To Hire
London, UK—GIA’s renowned Career Fair is going across the pond.
The first European edition of GIA Jewellery Career Fair will be held Monday, April 23, at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London. Registration opens at 12:30 p.m., the event will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and close at 4:00 p.m. Like the U.S. events, the UK Jewellery Career Fair will offer those interested in starting or furthering a career in the gem and jewelry industry an opportunity to hear from leading industry professionals, receive one-on-one career coaching from experienced industry insiders, and discuss job opportunities with recruiters from companies across the industry. To date, GIA has hosted Career Fairs in California, New York, Las Vegas, and India.
The event will open with a panel discussion titled “Job Success in Today’s Market,” moderated by Mehdi Saadian, director of GIA’s London school.
Panelists include Mike Asscher, vice president of renowned diamond house Royal Asscher; Nadja Swarovski, member of the executive board of Swarovski, and Michael Wainwright, managing director of Boodles, the British family-owned luxury jeweler founded in 1798.
From left: Michael Wainwright, Nadja Swarovski, Mike Asscher.
Following the panel discussion, attendees will be able to meet one-on-one with industry coaches from every facet of the trade, and inquire about employment opportunities with recruiters from companies including luxury retailers Bvlgari, Karia Ltd. and Louis Vuitton, among others.
“We are thrilled to bring GIA’s Jewellery Career Fair to London. This one-of-a-kind event connects aspiring gem and jewelry professionals, as well as those looking to make a career change, with insight and diverse networking opportunities for success in the industry,” said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and co-founder of the GIA Career Fairs.
The event is free and open to the public; anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register before the event at GIA.edu/career-fair-registration-form. Employers interested in recruiting at this year’s Career Fair can sign up online at GIA.edu/career-fair-recruiter-sign-up or by contacting GIA’s Career Services office at +1 760-603-4542.
JA Promotes Doresca to CFO; Hires Digital Content Coordinator
New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA) has promoted Annie Doresca to chief financial officer of Jewelers of America, National Jeweler and Diamond Council of America (DCA), and has hired Laura D’Angelo as digital content coordinator.
“Laura’s digital content coordinator position is a vital role as JA continues to serve our industry and communicate efficiently with our membership, and Annie has been an instrumental part of our senior leadership team for the past nine years. Her promotion to CFO is a direct reflection on her hard work and invaluable contributions to the association,” says JA president and CEO David J. Bonaparte.
Annie Doresca, CFO of JA, DCA, and National Jeweler.
Doresca served as director of finance and administration of Jewelers of America since July 17, 2008, before being promoted to CFO earlier this year. She is responsible for JA, DCA and National Jeweler’s finance and accounting, office management, human resources, and IT functions. Prior to joining JA, Doresca worked for New York City-based BTQ Financial's Nonprofit Finance Fund, and Goldman Sachs Co.. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels and serves on the school board of the Baldwin Union Free School Board District.
Laura D’Angelo role as digital content coordinator supports both Jewelers of America and National Jeweler through content and email production and the maintenance of several digital platforms. She previously worked at DMN and Northside Media.
Diamond Council of America (DCA) became an affiliate of Jewelers of America, moving its headquarters to the Jewelers of America offices in New York in August 2017. The affiliation encouraged shared resources to better serve both JA and DCA members. The staffing structure for DCA is as follows: Terry Chandler, president & CEO; Annie Doresca, chief financial officer; Molly Fallon, director of marketing; Sharie Fogarty, education manager; Amanda Gizzi, director of public relations; Susan Posnock, director of education; Kristen Scheetz, education department supervisor; Lauren Thompson, associate director of digital development and communications; and Matthew Tratner, director of membership.
For more information, visit www.jewelers.org.