JBT Names Richard Katz Board Chairman
Katz has volunteered on the nonprofit’s board since 2008.

Richard Katz, senior vice president of Richline Group, Inc., was named chairman of the board at JBT’s annual meeting on Feb. 9 and at its board meeting on March 9.
Katz has volunteered on JBT’s board since 2008, most recently serving as its vice chairman.
He succeeds Ann Arnold, chief strategic officer at Buyers International Group.
“I am honored to serve at the helm of this board working together with some of the brightest and dedicated individuals in the industry,” said Katz.
“JBT is uniquely positioned to help companies in this industry better know their customers and suppliers.”
JBT President Erich Jacobs said, “Richard brings great perspective to JBT’s strategies and operations. His industry background and prior service on the JBT board will help us meet the growing demand for industry transparency.”
The company’s board also elected the following officers and directors to serve a one-year term.
Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation will serve as first vice-chairman while Jeffery Corey of H.E. Murdock Company Inc. will be second vice-chairman.
Erich Jacobs will continue to serve as president as well as treasurer, while Brenda M. Pimetal will serve as secretary.
Nilesh Sheth of Forever Collections Inc. was appointed to the JBT Executive Committee.
Roger Gesswein III of Paul H. Gesswein & Company. Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of tools and equipment for the jewelry industry, was newly elected to the board for a two-year term.
Gesswein is a current board member of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York and serves as market development manager at the Gesswein Company.
The following were re-elected to the board for a two-year period:
• Ann S. Arnold, Buyers International Group
• Ira Bergman, The Gordon Company, Inc.
• Edward N. DeCristofaro, LDC, Inc.
• Teresa Frye, Techform Advanced Casting Tech., L.L.C.
• Keven Peck, Color Merchants, Inc.
• Andrew Rickard, Rochester Diamonds and Gold, Inc.
Michael Kaplan of Rocket Jewelry Box Inc. was elected to a two-year period on the advisory board while Richard Weisenfeld was re-elected for a two-year period.
The following board members will continue to serve their existing terms:
• Matthijs Braakman, Retail Management Publishing, Inc.
• Tim Coggins, Bank Rhode Island
• Jeffery Corey, H. E. Murdock Company Inc.
• Brian D. Fleming, Carla Corporation
• Bryon Nelson, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company
• Pinny Rubin, Quality Gold Inc.
The Jewelers Board of Trade is a not-for-profit organization that provides credit reporting and collections services.
The Latest

The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.

A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.

Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

Furmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.


Jennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.

Adler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.

From educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.

Founder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.

JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.

A buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.

Mercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.

GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.

The National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.

Late collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.

At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.

The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.

The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.

Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.

All proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.

Courtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.

De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.

Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.

Kindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.

The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”

The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.

Ahead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.



















