SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsSourcingSep 15, 2025
AGTA Elects 8 Members to Board of Directors
The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.
An 8.33-carat emerald-cut no-oil Brazilian emerald from AGTA member Allen Kleiman of A. Kleiman & Co. AGTA recently held an election for its board of directors.
Dallas—The American Gem Trade Association recently held its board of directors election, selecting eight individuals to serve either two- or three-year terms.
Members of the Dallas-based trade association, which serves the colored gemstone and cultured pearl sectors, elected six AGTA firm members to serve three-year terms.
They are: Ann Barker, Barker & Company; John Bradshaw, John J. Bradshaw; Bruce Bridges, Bridges Tsavorite; Malinda Daniel, Tim Roark Inc.; Ravi Jajoo, United Color Gems Inc.; Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem Inc.
Two AGTA firm members were elected to two-year terms, Jaimeen Shah of Prima Gems USA LLC, and Bryan Lichtenstein of 3090 Gems.
AGTA said the directors-elect will take office in February 2026.
The following board members will continue to serve: Dudley Blauwet, Dudley Blauwet Gems; Matthew Hopkins, Hopkins Opal; Cynthia Renee Marcusson, Cynthia Renee Inc.; Eshvar Kotahwala, Vinod Kotahwala Inc.; Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem Corp.; Tracey Lindwall, Nomad’s Lapidary Co. Inc., d/b/a Nomads; and Rohan Agrawal, Shanu G. Inc.
Related stories will be right here …
Members of the Dallas-based trade association, which serves the colored gemstone and cultured pearl sectors, elected six AGTA firm members to serve three-year terms.
They are: Ann Barker, Barker & Company; John Bradshaw, John J. Bradshaw; Bruce Bridges, Bridges Tsavorite; Malinda Daniel, Tim Roark Inc.; Ravi Jajoo, United Color Gems Inc.; Oren Nhaissi, EMCO Gem Inc.
Two AGTA firm members were elected to two-year terms, Jaimeen Shah of Prima Gems USA LLC, and Bryan Lichtenstein of 3090 Gems.
AGTA said the directors-elect will take office in February 2026.
The following board members will continue to serve: Dudley Blauwet, Dudley Blauwet Gems; Matthew Hopkins, Hopkins Opal; Cynthia Renee Marcusson, Cynthia Renee Inc.; Eshvar Kotahwala, Vinod Kotahwala Inc.; Ron Rahmanan, Sara Gem Corp.; Tracey Lindwall, Nomad’s Lapidary Co. Inc., d/b/a Nomads; and Rohan Agrawal, Shanu G. Inc.
The new board members will be introduced at the AGTA membership meeting in Tucson, Arizona.
Open to all the association’s members, the meeting will take place during the upcoming AGTA GemFair Tucson, scheduled for February 2–6, 2026. For more information, please contact AGTA at info@agta.org or 800-972-1162.
Leaving the board after nine years of service is Jonathan Gad. Gad will officially step down from the board after its membership meeting in February.
In addition to electing a new board of directors, AGTA firm members approved the amendments to the organization’s bylaws, with nearly 92 percent in favor, well above the 66.67 percent needed for a proposed change.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to our membership for their votes of confidence in affirming the board of directors and endorsing the path forward for the American Gem Trade Association,” said Bridges, AGTA president.
“I am also pleased to welcome and congratulate our newly elected directors as they join the board. With this exceptional group of leaders, I am confident in our ability to navigate the challenges ahead and to advance the interests of both our association and the broader colored gemstone industry.”
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
