Events & Awards

Gem Awards to Honor Susan Jacques

Events & AwardsOct 03, 2023

Gem Awards to Honor Susan Jacques

The GIA president and CEO will receive the 2024 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Susan M. Jacques
Susan M. Jacques will receive the 2024 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.
New York—Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards Committee have announced the 2024 recipient of the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.  
 
The award will go Susan M. Jacques, president and CEO of the Gemological Institute of America. 
 
Each year, the Gem Awards honors professionals across the jewelry and watch industries, in fields ranging from retail and design to editorial. While most award winners are announced live at the annual award showcase and gala, certain honors, like the Lifetime Achievement Award, are revealed ahead of time.  
 
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has bettered the jewelry or watch industries through years of service.  
 
Prior to her tenure at GIA, Jacques was president and CEO of Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Omaha, Nebraska for two decades.  
 
There, she reported directly to Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway, which is Borsheim’s parent company.  
 
 Related stories will be right here … 
 
She has served as the honorary chair of the Friends of the Diamond Development Initiative, and as a trustee of the Ethical Alliance. 
 
She has served on the boards of the Black in Jewelry Coalition, Jewelers of America, Jewelers for Children, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and Creighton University in Omaha.  
 
She is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York and Jewelers of America.   
 
“We are elated to be able to present the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement to Susan Jacques,” said Jewelers of America President and CEO David Bonaparte.  
 
“Susan is a cherished member of the jewelry industry and her commitment to our industry’s success is unwavering. It has been a pleasure to serve alongside Susan throughout her career at Borsheim’s and now with GIA.” 
 
The 22nd annual Gem Awards are scheduled for Friday, March 8 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. To purchase tickets, sponsorships, or journal ads in the Gem Awards Journal, visit the Gem Awards website
 
Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards Committee will announce the rest of the 2024 award categories and nominees in the coming weeks.  
 

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