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

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.
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

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.


The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.

GemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.

Aging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.

The WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.

The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

The platinum and diamond watch is part of Sotheby’s upcoming Important Watches sale.

Recovered in Mozambique, “The Kat Florence Lumina” was part of Bonhams’ Hong Kong jewelry auction held last week.

Get a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

From Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.

The lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

David Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.

The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.

The family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.

The nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.

This year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.

The jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.

In a special column for the State of the Majors, Edahn Golan breaks down what the top-performing fine jewelry sellers are doing right.