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Events & AwardsOct 05, 2018
Jewelers for Children to Honor David Bonaparte, Judy Fisher
The pair will be recognized at the 2019 Facets of Hope event, scheduled for Sunday, June 2.
Jewelers of America President and CEO David Bonaparte and Reeds Jewelers Senior Vice President of Merchandising Judy Fisher will be honored at the 2019 Jewelers for Children Facets of Hope event in Las Vegas.
New York—Jewelers for Children announced it will honor Jewelers of America’s David Bonaparte and Reeds Jewelers’ Judy Fisher at the 2019 Facets of Hope event in Las Vegas.
The 21st annual edition of the event is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, at the Venetian Las Vegas. (Facets of Hope has relocated to the north end of the Strip, coinciding with JCK Las Vegas’ return to the Sands Expo).
The gala will celebrate JFC’s fundraising efforts for the year and announce the commitments to its charity partners. As the evening’s honorees, Bonaparte and Fisher will assist JFC in raising additional funds during the event.
David Bonaparte was appointed president and CEO of Jewelers of America in 2013.
He spearheads JA’s legislative advocacy in D.C., often representing the jewelry industry in key meetings with Congressional leaders, the Federal Trade Commission and other industry stakeholders.
JA’s advocacy was vital in the effort to overturn the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Quill Corp. vs. North Dakota, which barred states from collecting sales tax from sellers that don’t have a physical presence in the state. The ruling was overturned in June, paving the way for states to collect sales tax from online sellers.
Bonaparte also has led JA through several successful strategic partnerships.
In 2015, JA acquired National Jeweler, and in 2017, the association completed a strategic affiliation with the Diamond Council of America to enhance the member benefits of both by providing quality education to the industry.
Prior to his appointment at JA, Bonaparte served as senior vice president for JCK brands and the global leader for the jewelry portfolio at Reed Exhibitions.
Bonaparte also is involved in a number of jewelry industry organizations, including serving as treasurer of the U.S. Jewelry Council and sitting on the board for the Jewelers Security Alliance.
He is a member of the Women’s Jewelry Association and the 24 Karat Club of New York and Southern California. He received the Jewelers Security Alliance Industry Service Award in 2009 and the Ben Kaiser Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association in 2014.
Judy Fisher is the senior vice president of merchandising for Reeds Jewelers in Wilmington, North Carolina, a role she just moved into in January.
Fisher began her career in the jewelry industry in 1979 as a sales associate and buyer for an independent jeweler. During this time, she acquired her Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological
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Institute of America and became a Certified Gemologist Appraiser.
She transitioned to the majors in 1996, taking a buying role with Service Merchandise and eventually getting promoted to merchant director of bridal and solitaries. The company recognized her as Merchant of the Year in 2000.
In 2001, Fisher moved to Whitehall Jewelers and managed the diamond portion of the business, eventually taking on the role of vice president of merchandising.
She joined Signet Jewelers in 2008 as director of diamond fashion and rings for the mall brands.
Two years later, she was promoted to merchandising director for Jared the Galleria of Jewelry stores, then to divisional vice president of merchandising for the mall stores in 2012, corporate vice president of the mall and Jared brand stores in 2013 and, finally, senior vice president of merchandising in 2015.
In July 2017, she was honored with the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Award for Excellence in the category of Large-Scale Retail.
“Dave and Judy truly represent the finest of our industry,” JFC Board Chair Pamela Mortensen said. “We are fortunate to have them both serving as honorees and assisting us in raising funds to help the children who need it the most.”
The Facets of Hope event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner and the program at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in attending or sponsoring can contact JFC at 212-687-2949 or info@jewelersforchildren.org, or visit the website at JewelersforChildren.org.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, which purchased the publication in 2015.
She transitioned to the majors in 1996, taking a buying role with Service Merchandise and eventually getting promoted to merchant director of bridal and solitaries. The company recognized her as Merchant of the Year in 2000.
In 2001, Fisher moved to Whitehall Jewelers and managed the diamond portion of the business, eventually taking on the role of vice president of merchandising.
She joined Signet Jewelers in 2008 as director of diamond fashion and rings for the mall brands.
Two years later, she was promoted to merchandising director for Jared the Galleria of Jewelry stores, then to divisional vice president of merchandising for the mall stores in 2012, corporate vice president of the mall and Jared brand stores in 2013 and, finally, senior vice president of merchandising in 2015.
In July 2017, she was honored with the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Award for Excellence in the category of Large-Scale Retail.
“Dave and Judy truly represent the finest of our industry,” JFC Board Chair Pamela Mortensen said. “We are fortunate to have them both serving as honorees and assisting us in raising funds to help the children who need it the most.”
The Facets of Hope event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner and the program at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in attending or sponsoring can contact JFC at 212-687-2949 or info@jewelersforchildren.org, or visit the website at JewelersforChildren.org.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, which purchased the publication in 2015.
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