DEBATE COVERAGE FEATURES WJA MEMBER

Leslie Grossman, president of Communications/Marketing Action in New York City, was interviewed Oct. 7 on a prepresidential debate edition of “InterNight,” a news magazine on all-news cable channel MSNBC.

Grossman voiced the opinions of small-business owners when she was asked what she wanted to hear discussed in the debates between President Bill Clinton and Republican candidate Bob Dole. She told “InterNight” host John Hockenberry she had seen an increase in business with the economic upswing in the past few years and thought current policies should continue. Grossman also said she believed in targeted tax cuts to encourage job retraining and opportunities for higher education.

After the debate, Grossman joined 300 business leaders to meet with President Clinton and discuss strategies to move people from welfare to work.

Communications/Marketing Action is a public relations and image marketing company that handles, among other accounts, the JA Las Vegas! show for Miller Freeman and the Blenheim Group USA. Grossman is a member of the Women’s Jewelry Association.

PIAGET NAMES MANAGER

Raffi Davoudlarian has been named general manager of the new Piaget boutique on New York City’s Fifth Ave. The boutique is the first Piaget store in the U.S. and the 10th globally (see JCK, November 1996, pp. 96-97).

Davoudlarian formerly held management positions at FRED Joaillier, H. Stern Jewelers and Chaumet. He is fluent in five languages and will supervise a staff of 10 at the new boutique.

FRISCHKNECHT JOINS JCK AS SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Donna Frischknecht was appointed special projects manager of JCK. She comes to JCK from her post as senior/ special projects editor at National Jeweler, where she also was editor in chief of National’s SuperSellers, a quarterly magazine aimed at the high volume jeweler.

Frischknecht received a degree in advertising and communication from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She worked in the promotion department of McCall’s magazine and later became a fashion editor with Fairchild Publications’ Footwear News, a weekly trade paper. She joined National as associate fashion editor in 1990. Frischknecht also covered the retail beat for National.

“I’m very excited to be part of the JCK team,” says Frischknecht. “The jewelry industry is one that is close to my heart, and I look forward to bringing JCK readers creative, informative supplements and special sections.”

ARTIME APPOINTS WILENSKY U.S. OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Hal Wilensky was appointed to direct all aspects of Artime USA’s operations, including Sector Sport Watches. The former Seiko vice president has been the national sales manager of Sector since late 1995. He will now take over the position formerly held by Alberto Milani, who returned to a European-based position with Artime, which is based in Milan, Italy.

The company’s satellite offices in Chicago and Phoenix have been closed, but the representatives from those offices can be contacted in those cities or through Artime’s New York office.

Artime has doubled the size of its New York headquarters and this past summer opened the Sector No Limits Center in Crested Butte, Colo., where a wide variety of outdoor activities are offered as part of the brand’s sports-intensive marketing program. Wilensky said Sector’s plans to concentrate resources to expand the U.S. market remain on track with new initiatives to be announced early in 1997.

APPOINTMENTS

The fifth generation of his family to do so, Robert O. Nordt Jr. joined John C. Nordt Co. in Roanoke, Va. Nordt serves as customer service manager in the wedding ring and tubing business.

Mercury Ring Corp., Englewood, N.J., named Matthew Lax national sales manager. He covers the East Coast and oversees the entire sales force.

Phillip Whitson was named general manager of Southeastern Findings of Atlanta, Ga. He was formerly director of inventory at Stuller Settings.

HONORS

Richard Knight, production director of Charles Green & Son Ltd. of Birmingham, England, was named the “Unsung Hero” of the jewelry trade at the 1996 United Kingdom Jewelry Awards in July. The award recognizes an employee’s hard work as it contributes to the overall success of a company. Charles Green &Son was named “Manufacturer of the Year” for the second time in four years.

OBITUARIES

Francis Williard Chandler Pate, 88, of Nashville, Tenn., died Oct. 9. She was co-owner of Pate’s Jewelers.

Evelyn Irene Frye, 76, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., died Sept. 13. She was retired from Bush Jewelers.

Stuart Marrs, 86, of Peoria, Ariz., died Oct. 12. He was a former jewelry store owner.