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.
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