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Gemist Raises $6M in Funding to Scale Jewelry Tech PlatformThe company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.
CrimeJan 22, 2019
Steven Kaiser Elected to Chair Jewelers’ Security Alliance
The 135-year-old trade organization also inducted Reed Jewelers CEO Alan Zimmer to its board.
New York—The Jewelers’ Security Alliance welcomed new and familiar faces to the board at its annual meeting at the New York Yacht Club.
JSA President John Kennedy began the day’s event with a moment of silence for Helen Buck, a long-standing JSA member who passed away in October, as well as for jeweler Jason Cullen, who was killed during a robbery in California.
Cullen, the 32-year-old son of the owners of Highland Pawn, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and died the following day.
Kennedy found a silver lining in the tragedy, noting that the number of jewelers killed has been on the decline, hitting a 35-year-low for the industry.
There was one death in 2018, compared with the 37 U.S. jewelers killed in 1992.
The total dollar losses from crime against the U.S. jewelry industry also has been on the decline most years since 2000, Kennedy said, crediting JSA and its growing network of law enforcement personnel.’
Alan Zimmer, CEO of Reed Jewelers, is a newcomer to the board.
Returning members re-elected to three-year terms include Patti Geolat of the Geolat Companies, Chris Hackler of Signet Jewelers, Mark Smelzer of JCK and David Tearle of the Gemological Institute of America.
Those continuing in their terms include Chad Berg of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, David Bonaparte of Jewelers of America, Marc Green of Lux, Bond & Green, Adam Heyman of Oscar Heyman & Brothers, David Sexton of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Mark Udell of London Jewelers, Stewart Wicht of Rolex and Stanley Zale of Stuller.
The organization presented Annual Industry Service Awards to National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and JCK News Director Rob Bates.
Founded back in 1883, JSA has more than 21,000 member locations.
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