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WJA names 2015 Awards for Excellence winners
The Women’s Jewelry Association announced the winners of its 2015 Awards for Excellence live in New York last night.
New York-- The Women’s Jewelry Association announced the winners of its 2015 Awards for Excellence live in New York last night.
Beginning last year, the WJA kept the names of winners a secret until the night of its annual gala, and the organization continued that tradition this year.
The winners and the categories in which they won are as follows.
--Pamela Froman, Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry (Design)
--Laurie Watt, Mayer & Watt (Manufacturer/Dealer/Supplier)
--Eve Rogers, Graff (Retail, 15 doors or more)
--Veronica Guarino, Louis Anthony Jewelers (Retail, fewer than 15 doors)
--Deborah Nicodemus, Moda Operandi (Non-Traditional Retail)
--Amy Levine, Gurhan (Sales)
--Rebecca Moskal, Communique LA (Marketing & Communications)
--Monica Stephenson, iDazzle (Editorial Media)
--Becka Johnson Kibby, The Edge Retail Academy (Special Services)
--Jeanine Drtina, Cartier (Watches)
Also at the gala, the WJA honored J.C. Penney’s Pam Mortensen with its Lifetime Achievement Award and C. Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers with the Ben Kaiser Award, which goes to a man who has helped women advance in the jewelry industry. Fine jewelry brand Gumuchian was recognized with the Corporate Award.
The evening also included a raffle to raise money for the scholarships and grants the WJA awards to women in the jewelry industry.
The WJA has held its Awards for Excellence gala since 1984. It brings together industry leaders to honor the best and raises money for scholarship and grants.
The organization recently awarded $12,500 in member grants to women across the country to be used toward their professional growth.
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