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Industry News: JBT Appoints Richard Weisenfeld President; More March 28, 2018 (0 comments)
Warwick, RI--The board of directors of The Jewelers Board of Trade has appointed Richard Weisenfeld (left) as the organization’s new president. Weisenfeld has served on the board of directors for 17 years; he was elected to the Executive Committee in 2008 and served as chairman of the board from 2014-2015.
In addition to his board experience, Weisenfeld previously held executive positions in various companies in the jewelry industry for more than 45 years. Among those were Pranda North America and, most recently, Riva Precision Manufacturing, Brooklyn, NY.
Weisenfeld is a member of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York; Providence Jewelers Club, Boston Jewelers Club, Women’s Jewelry Association, and International Precious Metals Institute.
JBT also announces the election of the following officers and directors to its board. Elected to serve a one-year term are:
- Chairman: Michael L. Kaplan, Rocket Jewelry Box, Inc., Elmsford, NY
- First Vice-Chairman: Ann S. Arnold, Buyers International Group, LLC (BIG), Napa, CA
- Second Vice-Chairman: Richard Katz, Richline Group, Inc., New York, NY
- President: Richard Weisenfeld
- Secretary: Brenda M. Pimentel
- Treasurer: Richard Weisenfeld
- Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was also appointed to the JBT Executive Committee.
Newly elected to the board for a two-year term were:
- Keven Peck, Color Merchants, Inc., New York, NY
- Jeffrey Sarfaty, Head of Credit Division, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, New York, NY
- Re-elected to the board for two years were:
- Ann S. Arnold, Buyers International Group (BIG), Napa, CA
- Ira Bergman, The Gordon Company, Inc., Pompano Beach, FL
- David Bonney, Lux Bond & Green, Inc., West Hartford, CT
- Edward N. DeCristofaro, LDC, Inc., E. Providence, RI
- Roderick H. Lichtenfels, W. R. Cobb Company, E. Providence, RI
- Nilesh Sheth, Forever Collections, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
- Todd Wolleman, Leo Wolleman, Inc., Mount Vernon, NY
Re-elected to the Advisory Board for two years were:
- Phyllis Bergman, Mercury Ring (Div. of Kiran Jewels USA), New York, NY
- Richard Greenwood, A. F. Greenwood Co., Inc., New York, NY
- The following board members continue to serve their existing terms:
- Danielle Ingwer Cohen, Leo Ingwer Inc., New York, NY
- Jeffery Corey, H. E. Murdock Company Inc., Waterville, ME
- Brian D. Fleming, Carla Corporation, E. Providence, RI
- Kevin Green, Seiko Corporation of America, Mahwah, NJ
- Michael L. Kaplan, Rocket Jewelry Box, Inc., Elmsford, NY
- Richard Katz, Richline Group, Inc., New York, NY
- Michael Pelto, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Neenah, WI
- Avi Raz, A & Z Pearls, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
- Pinny Rubin, Quality Gold Inc., Fairfield, OH
Diamond Empowerment Fund Launches New ‘Do Good’ Story
New York, NY--The Diamond Empowerment Fund, through its Diamonds Do Good nomenclature, launched a profile of Okavango Diamond Company’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (ODC-YEP) on DiamondsDoGood.com.
ODC’s Programme is designed to expose youth in Botswana to the diamond value chain and provide formal entrepreneurship training to assist them in exploring and developing their entrepreneurial ambitions.
“Entrepreneurship has been identified as part of a number of solutions to address unemployment in Botswana,” says ODC’s managing director, Marcus Ter Haar, also a board member of the Diamond Empowerment Fund. “It is important for us as players in the Industry to do all in our power to ensure the success of the country in which we do business and the people that live there.”
The story will be targeted to millennials through the social media-based Diamonds Do Good Initiative.
Research shows 75% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase a diamond after reading positive stories about how the industry gives back. “Putting forward a positive narrative surrounding diamonds is essential,” says D.E.F president and GIA senior vice president Anna Martin. “Sharing these stories with our customers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.”
More examples of how the industry gives back will be highlighted at this year’s Diamonds Do Good Gala in Las Vegas on May 31, with honorees Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers, and Canada’s Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Cleaver is being recognized for De Beers’ work in accelerating women’s professional advancement, and GNWT is being recognized for its responsible diamond mining practices, which ensure a sustainable future for the indigenous tribes and wildlife that surround the mining operations.
For more information and to purchase tickets/sponsorships for the Diamonds Do Good Awards gala, please visit diamondsdogoodawards.org.