Joan Parker, director of the Diamond Information Center, recently received a “Hall of Fame” award from the Women’s Jewelry Association during a ceremony at Chelsea Piers in New York. Parker was hailed for her 28 years promoting diamonds for De Beers.

A pioneering woman in the industry, Parker joined the fledgling DIC in the late 1970s and oversaw its transformation into the sophisticated public relations apparatus it is today. Traditionally, the DIC’s staff has been mostly female, and Parker notes that many of its alumni have moved on to distinguished positions in the industry. “It’s like I’ve run a little training school for people in diamond p.r.,” she says. The excitement of the diamond industry makes it all worth it, she adds. “Even after 28 years, I wake up every day and never get bored.”

Last year’s WJA “Hall of Fame” award recipient was Beryl Raff, former CEO of Zale Corp.