Majors

JBT Elects New Chairman

MajorsMay 09, 2024

JBT Elects New Chairman

Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was elected to serve a one-year term in the role.

Jewelers Board of Trade logo
The Jewelers Board of Trade held its annual board elections earlier this year.
Warwick, R.I.—The Jewelers Board of Trade held its annual board elections earlier this year, naming a new chairman and welcoming new and returning officers and directors.

Brian D. Fleming, treasurer and executive vice president of Carla Corporation, was elected to serve a one-year term as board chairman. Fleming joined JBT’s board of directors in 1999.

The board also elected the following officers and directors to serve a one-year term.

Jeff Corey of H.E. Murdock Company Inc. (Day’s Jewelers) was elected as first vice-chairman while Keven Peck of Color Merchants will serve as second vice-chairman.

Erich Jacobs will continue to serve as president and treasurer while Brenda M. Pimentel will retain her role as secretary.

Andrew Rickard of Rochester Diamonds and Gold was also appointed to the JBT executive committee.

Lika Behmoaras, president of ISC Industries (Lika Behar Collection), was newly elected to the board for a two-year term. The jewelry designer and wholesaler also serves on the advisory board of Gem Legacy.

 Related stories will be right here … 

The following members have been re-elected to the board for a two-year term:

Ira Bergman, The Gordon Company;
Edward N. DeCristofaro, LDC, Inc.;
Teresa Frye, Techform Advanced Casting Tech;
Keven Peck, Color Merchants;
Andrew Rickard, Rochester Diamonds and Gold;
Parag Jain, Parag Diamonds; and
Roger Gesswein III, Paul H. Gesswein & Co.

Ann Arnold of Buyers International Group has also been elected to the advisory board for a two-year term.

Michael Kaplan of Rocket Jewelry Box and former JBT President Richard Weisenfeld have been re-elected to the advisory board for a two-year term.

The following board members will continue to serve their existing terms:

Matthijs Braakman, Retail Management Publishing;
Jeff Corey, H. E. Murdock Company Inc.;
Annie Doresca, Jewelers of America;
Brian D. Fleming, Carla Corporation;
Richard Katz, Richline Group;
Bryon Nelson, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company; and 
Pinny Rubin, Quality Gold. 

The organization held its elections at its annual meeting on Feb. 21 and its board meeting on March 20.

JBT is a not-for-profit organization that provides credit reporting and collections services.

The Latest

Stock image of shipping containers
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones Exempt

The new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.

Vhernier Freccia High Jewelry Necklace
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High Jewelry

The collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.

Attendees at the Jewelry Symposium
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 Event

Organizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.

Brought-To-By-Article-Top-Image.jpg
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center Stage

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

HOWL Frida Venetian Glass Collar
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ Campaign

Woodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.

Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
A diamond ring in a jewelry box
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot Sale

A WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.

Unveiling Rarities
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens Memoir

The founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.

DCA-NJ-article-1872x1052-060826.jpg
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce Solutions

DCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.

Gem Awards 2027 Logo
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination Period

Submissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.

Guzema Founder and Creative Director Valeriya Guzema and Co-Owner and CEO Mariana Lenha
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year Anniversary

Valeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.

Main camp at Ekati Diamond Mine
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine

The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.

Necklace from Vhernier’s “Freccia” high jewelry collection
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a Row

Jewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.

Grace Barden
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice Graduate

The graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.

Jewelers of Louisiana 80th Annual Convention Logo
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th Convention

The event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.

Lucara diamond
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in Botswana

The yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.

Barry Berman
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81

The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.

Watches of Switzerland Mall of America store
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report

The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”

Hamptons Jewelry Show exhibitors Maison Mèrenor, Jochen Leën, Studio Javo
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in July

The open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.

Pomellato Eye of Tanzanite Necklace and Pin-Up Ring
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is Liberating

Bold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”

Foundrae London Store Showcases
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside US

The New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.

The Retail Smiths Principal Partner and National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us

Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.

Mindi Mond New York emerald shoulder duster earrings
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters

These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.

FBI Most Wanted image of Alberto Perez-Elias
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted List

Alberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.

Aerial view of Amazon
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYC

Initiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”

Stephanie Gottlieb Casual Carats Lab-Grown Dimond and Silicone Rings
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown Diamonds

The designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.

File photo of the Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at Venetia

The diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.

JIS sign in convention center lobby
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 Show

The annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy