Southern Jewelry News

(NEW YORK) - Jewelers for Children is pleased to announce the election of new officers and directors for the term beginning October 1, 2011. Peter M. Engel, President of Fred Meyer Jewelers, will replace Edward Bridge as Chairman. Bridge will conclude his two-year term on September 30. “It is an honor to be selected by my peers to lead this incredible organization,” Engel said. “Jewelers for Children brings the industry together in the service of so many worthwhile causes. I am excited to work with the board in expanding our support for children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect.”

Also elected to officer positions were Ruth Batson of the American Gem Society, who will serve as Vice President for Charity Programs; James De Mattei of Viewpoint Sales and Marketing, who will serve as Vice President of Special Programs; Mark Light of Sterling Jewelers, who will serve as Vice President for Fundraising; Joel Schechter of Honora, who will serve as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations; Dennis Ulrich of Richline Group, who will serve as Treasurer and Steven Kaiser of Kaiser Time, Inc., who will serve as Secretary.  The officers of the organization serve as the executive committee, along with Bridge who serves as Immediate Past Chairman and Chairman of the Nominating Committee.

Eight directors were elected to a three-year term on the board for the first time.  They are: Jeffrey Cohen, Citizen Watch Company of America; Stewart Wicht, Rolex Watch USA; John White, Pandora Jewelry; Susan Rothman, Hearts on Fire; Ellen Fruchtman, Fruchtman Marketing; Hank Siegel, Hamilton Jewelers, Laura Stanley, Stanley Jewelers Gemologist; and Howard Tapper, Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry.

In addition, the terms of nine directors have concluded and they will depart the board on September 30.  They are David Bonaparte, JCK Shows/Reed Exhibitions; Jerry Ehrenwald, International Gemological Institute; Cecilia Gardner, Jewelers’ Vigilance Committee; Efraim Grinberg, Movado Group, Inc.; Howard Hurwitz, Howard’s Jewelry Center; Eddie Le Vian, Le Vian Corp.; Marvin Markman, Suberi Brothers; Glenn Rothman, Hearts on Fire; and Abhay Jhaveri, M. Suresh/SDC Designs.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to all of the directors serving on the Jewelers for Children board and we thank these nine individuals for their years of service,” commented Ed Bridge, outgoing chairman of the board.

Jewelers for Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $37 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers. Visit JFC on the web at www.jewelersforchildren.org.

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