HONORED
>>?At the Jewelers Vigilance Committee’s Jan. 6 luncheon at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria, the JVC honored Aron Suna with its Stanley Schechter Award for his service to the group.
REMEMBERED
>>?Gemstone expert and inventor of the GemDialogue color description system Howard Rubin died Jan. 17 at age 86.
>>?Stephen R. Halo, a retired designer and sales rep, died Jan. 24 at age 76.
>>?Hirsh (“Hershel”) Chitrik, 84, president and CEO of Citra Trading Corp., died Dec. 28 in New York City.
>>?Robert Wheeler, founder of Wheeler Manufacturing Co. in Lemmon, S.D., died Jan. 5 at age 97.
>>?James Mark Sevy, who founded St. George, Utah–based jewelry company M&S Turquoise, died Dec. 24 of natural causes at age 83.
>>?Former JCK art director Matie Anne Patterson died Dec. 27 following a long illness. She was 64.
>>?David Hinkamp, co-owner of Hinkamp Jewelers in Fayetteville, N.C., died unexpectedly Jan. 1 at age 50.
>>?Pamela Abramson, former owner of PJ Abramson Jewelers in Orlando, Fla., died Dec. 31, following a fight with metastatic breast cancer. She was 65.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
>>?Glen T. Senk joined David Yurman as CEO. Senk, who was most recently CEO of Urban Outfitters, will take an ownership stake in Yurman, which is privately owned and operated.
>>?Martin Flyer named David Spivak regional sales manager. Spivak, an industry veteran of more than 30 years, comes from Charles Wolf & Co.
>>?Helena Krodel, former director of media and special events for Jewelers of America, has left to become the director of Studio PR, a New York City–based PR agency.
>>?Gareth Mostyn has been named the chief financial officer of De Beers. Mostyn was formerly the head of corporate finance at Anglo American.
>>?Schenectady, N.Y.–based Northeastern Fine Jewelry appointed Gregg Kelly to vice president in charge of staff and training.
>>?Bon-Ton Stores appointed Brendan L. Hoffman president and CEO. He replaces the retiring Bud Bergren.
>>?Luxury Swiss watch brand Girard-Perregaux has added watchmaker Dominique Loiseau to its manufacturing team. Loiseau has worked in the horology field for more than 30 years.
>>?Focus Business Management Institute, a retail jewelry consulting firm, hired Jim Matero as a business consultant. Matero has owned and operated Jaymark Jewelers in Cold Springs, N.Y., for 30 years.
>>?Industry veteran Nick Failla has launched Collected Concepts, a retail consultancy that offers marketing, sales training, and in-store event-based promotions for retail jewelers. Former JCK senior editor Paul Holewa will be the company’s sales manager.
>>?Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, Conn., has hired Robert Weintraub as store manager and Laif Anderson as assistant manager.
Communiqué’s Rebecca Moskal and Caroline Tracy
>>?Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic has been appointed chairwoman of the Kimberley Process in 2012, as the United States takes over the certification scheme. Her career includes stints as ambassador to Mali and Macedonia.
>>?Jewelers Vigilance Committee appointed Sara E. Yood assistant general counsel. Yood will focus on trademark monitoring, the FTC’s upcoming review of its industry guides, and general legal support. JVC also promoted Suzan Flamm to senior counsel.
>>?JCK Events has engaged Los Angeles PR firm Communiqué to implement a more “press-friendly” initiative at the 2012 JCK Las Vegas, LUXURY, Elite Enclave, and Swiss Watch shows. Among the new services offered: sponsored hotel rooms, streamlined registration, press tours, scheduling assistance, and extra amenities.