Lynn Ramsey (pictured), the former president and CEO of the Jewelry Information Center (JIC), died on June 30. She was 77.
From 1995 to 2000, Ramsey headed the Jewelry Information Center, which JCK called the public relations agency that jewelers “didn’t know [they] had.”
As head of the group, Ramsey tirelessly promoted the industry, appearing on numerous national and local TV shows, including NBC’s Today, CBS’ The Early Show, CNN, and Oprah.
In 2000, Ramsey left JIC and started her own public relations firm. Summing up her five-year tenure, then-president Steven Kaiser gave Ramsey credit for taking the JIC from “scratch” to national prominence.
“Lynn was very instrumental in taking the JIC to where it is now,” he added. “We are proud to have someone of Lynn’s caliber.”
The JIC merged with Jewelers of America in 2009.
Prior to heading JIC, Ramsey worked from 1985 to 1995 at a different “information center”—the Diamond Information Center, which acted as De Beers’ U.S. publicity arm, and was based out of ad agency N.W. Ayer.
“All of us on the De Beers team, after spending so many years together, traveling the world, all in support of diamonds, you really get to know and enjoy each other,” recalls Rachel Rosin, one of Ramsey’s former DIC colleagues. “Lynn was always a very classy lady.”
In 1993, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) honored Ramsey with its Award for Excellence in marketing. She also served on the local and national boards of the WJA.
Before joining the DIC, Ramsey was a vice president of Cunningham & Walsh public relations, where she helped the launch the Swatch watch. She began her career as a magazine editor and author.
Ramsey is survived by two brothers, Ted and John; a sister, Kay; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service is being planned.
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