Independents
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GIA names Borsheim's Jacques board chair
November 21, 2008
Carlsbad, Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) board of governors concluded its second meeting of the year on Monday, naming a new board chair and vice chair, seating four new governors and expanding the office of the GIA president.
In addition, the GIA board honored five departing members who have reached the end of their terms.
The GIA also named retiring GIA Chairman Ralph Destino as GIA chairman emeritus.
The new board of governors' chair is Susan M. Jacques, president and chief executive officer of Borsheim's Jewelry Co. Inc., based in Omaha, Neb. Borsheim's is one of America's largest independent retail jewelry stores and a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. company.
Jacques was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and graduated from the GIA resident Graduate Gemology program in December 1980. She began work as a sales associate and appraiser at Borsheim's in 1982, and was subsequently appointed by Warren Buffett as president and CEO in January 1994.
Jacques is on the board of several civic and charitable organizations, including Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is also a member of the Young Presidents' Organization. She is active in the gem and jewelry industry and, in addition to her GIA duties, serves on the boards of Jewelers for Children and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, as well as the Women's Jewelry Association advisory board.
"I am honored to be elected by my peers to head the GIA board," Jacques said in a media release. "In spite of the challenges of a difficult worldwide economy, the institute is making some exciting and positive moves on behalf of the gem and jewelry industry, its students and the general public, to improve and expand its services. It will be a unique opportunity to serve the public and the industry in an important way. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance GIA's critical work as the world's foremost authority in gems and jewelry and to continue to meet its mission of protecting the public trust."
The GIA board also elected as its vice chair Anna Martin, managing director, head global marketing, diamonds and jewelry for Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to this position, Martin was senior vice president and regional manager of ABN AMRO international diamond and jewelry group in New York for more than 42 years. There, she developed banking services to help meet the financial needs of the diamond and jewelry industry.
Martin is a dedicated member of the jewelry community and was inducted into the Diamond Hall of Fame by the U.S. Diamond Industry Steering Committee. She has received many awards throughout her career for her community and industry work. She is a member of the Women's Jewelry Association board and its past president. She is a board member for the Jewelers Board of Trade, the JCK advisory board and Jewelers for Children.
The four new governors seated by the GIA are John A. Green, Hank B. Siegel, Aron Suna and Ephraim Zion.
Green is president and CEO of Lux Bond and Green, a jewelry store chain established in 1898 by his great-grandfather, which has grown to eight locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He is also committed to helping many nonprofit organizations within his community and the industry. Currently he acts as chairman for Jewelers of America, and is a board member for Jewelers for Children and the Jewelry Information Center's Gem Awards committee. He is also a director for Ballou Findings of Providence, R.I.
Siegel is president and CEO of Hamilton Jewelers, based in Lawrenceville, N.J. Siegel is the third generation of the Siegel family to be president of the firm, and was elected to that position in 1993. Hamilton Jewelers has five locations: three in New Jersey and two in Florida. Siegel is deeply involved in the industry and recently completed a two-year term as president of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. He is on the boards of Jewelers of America and the Jewelry Information Center, as well as the advisory board for the JCK Show and editorial advisory board for National Jeweler magazine. He was elected to National Jeweler magazine's Retailer Hall of Fame in 1997.
Suna is president of Suna Bros. Inc. and is the third generation of this specialized high-end jewelry-manufacturing company in New York. His grandfather Kenneth Suna and great-uncle Joel Suna started the company in 1934. A member of the 24 Karat Club since 1979, Suna executed a one-year term as president in 2005. He has also been active in the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the National Council for Community Justice.
Zion is the managing director for Dehres Ltd., one of Asia's leading dealers of large diamonds and fancy colored diamonds. His career in the industry started in 1960 when he was 14 years old, serving an apprenticeship as a diamond cutter in a diamond factory. He left Israel in 1967 for New York where he specialized in cutting large diamonds. Zion set up business in Hong Kong in 1971 and formed a 14-year partnership with the Siba Group. In 1985, he formed Dehres Ltd. and took the company international with offices in New York, Tel Aviv, Shanghai and Thailand.
The GIA board has also expanded the office of the GIA president to include that of chief executive officer. GIA President Donna Baker will now be further responsible for carrying out the strategic plans and policies established by the board in her duties as CEO. As president, she continues to be responsible for operations, tactics and attending to the daily business of the organization.
Ralph Destino, GIA chairman, announced his retirement at the board meeting, which will become effective Jan. 1, 2009. Destino served the GIA in various capacities for more than 16 years. He joined the board in 1992, became executive chairman of the board from 1997 to 2005, and then was GIA chairman from 2005 onward. In honor of his exemplary service, the board named him GIA chairman emeritus.
Meanwhile, five governors are leaving the board having reached the end of their terms of service: Helene Fortunoff, Gordon E. Brown Jr., Ph.D., William B. Cottingham, Ph.D., Eli Haas and Sheldon Kwiat.
The new GIA board now includes: Donna Baker, GIA president and CEO; Rodney C. Ewing, Ph.D., Donald R. Peacor Collegiate Professor at the University of Michigan; Jeffrey H. Fischer, president of Fischer Diamonds Inc.; John A. Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond and Green; Susan M. Jacques, GIA chair and president and CEO of Borsheim's Jewelry Co. Inc.; Dione D. Kenyon, president of the Jewelers Board of Trade; Frederick N. Levinger, president and CEO of Nobadeer Enterprises Inc.; Anna Martin, GIA Board vice chair and managing director, head global marketing, diamonds and jewelry for Standard Chartered Bank; Dilip Mehta, CEO of Rosy Blue Group; Roland Naftule, president of Nafco Gems Ltd.; Glenn R. Nord, GIA governor for life; James P. Shinehouse, managing director of Kroll Talbot Hughes; Hank B. Siegel, president and CEO of Hamilton Jewelers; Timothy J. Stripe, co-president of Grand Pacific Resorts; Matthew G. Stuller, chairman and CEO of Stuller Inc.; Aron Suna, president of Suna Bros. Inc.; and Ephraim Zion, managing director for Dehres Ltd.
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