Rossana Aguilar was appointed executive director of the California Jewelers Association, effective Dec. 1, 2003. Aguilar had shared executive director duties with Noel Cheney, who resigned to open her own retail store. During that time Aguilar worked out of the Los Angeles office while Cheney established a new office in Northern California. That office will now be closed, and all CJA activities will be centralized in Los Angeles.

Prior to her CJA affiliation, Aguilar was director of membership and affiliate relations for Jewelers of America in New York for more than five years. She was responsible for all membership activities, including maintaining membership records for the more than 10,000 JA members, and she worked with JA’s affiliate organizations, assisting them with projects and providing information to them.

She also held responsibility for convention and meeting planning for JA. Her jewelry industry background also includes six years as membership manager for the American Gem Society in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She developed and implemented member programs and services, increased the organization’s membership, and prepared the membership directory and other member materials.

Aguilar can be reached at the CJA office, 727 W. Seventh St., Los Angeles, CA 90017; (213) 623-5722.