CONGRATULATIONS

Mary Gascon, a Lusby, Md., jeweler and recent graduate of the Gemological Institute of America, was named an Outstanding Distance Education Graduate for 1994. The Distance Education and Training Council annually selects individuals who have graduated from U.S. learn-at-home programs to be so honored.

While working as an anesthetist, Gascon decided to pursue a career in the jewelry industry. After moving to the Solomons Island area of Maryland, Gascon and her husband Ken opened the Solomons Mines jewelry store. “GIA home study education enabled me to become a G.G. without having to leave my current profession as an anesthetist,” says Gascon.

Gascon uses her GIA education to teach classes in the store and has become a member of the local business association and chamber of commerce. She travels to third-world countries as a member of the Washington Heart Foundation, and visits local jewelers to trade information and share GIA reference materials.

GIA offers distance education programs and individual courses, in several languages, in gemology, jewelry arts and sales. For information, call (800) 421-7250 ext. 292. Outside the U.S., (310) 829-2991 ext. 292, fax (310) 453-7674.

Joan Thompson-Sullivan was named Salesperson of the Year at the 49th annual convention of Jewelers of Louisiana. Thompson is the ArtCarved Bridal Jewelry sales representative for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. ArtCarved is based in Austin, Tex.

APPOINTMENTS

Linda Collins was appointed manager of sales and marketing for Mason Box Co., North Attleboro, Mass. She was formerly director of business development for a leading company in the metal finishing field.

Ronel W. Giedt was named president and chief operating officer for Juno Lighting Inc., Des Plaines, Ill. Jacques P. LeFevre was appointed president of Indy Lighting Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a subsidiary of Juno.

Douglas Campbell was named vice president of sales for Chippenhook, Lewisville, Tex. He was formerly vice president of sales for Hunter Douglas.

Robert Grebitus joined the sales staff of JFA Designs, Costa Mesa, Cal. Grebitus is a third-generation jeweler and holds a CGA title from the American Gem Society.

Hugh C. Rose was appointed to the newly created position of vice president of real estate and property development for Barry’s Jewelers Inc., Monrovia, Cal. Joseph M. Maisano also joined the firm as vice president of operations and director of stores.

Paul Morton was named national sales manager for Swarovski America Ltd., Cranston, R.I. He was formerly director of marketing and sales and national sales manager for Baccarat Inc.

Onofrio Giannattasio was appointed sales manager for Peter Brams Ltd., New York, N.Y. He was formerly sales manager for Swatch.

Greg Kaufman was named president, chief operating officer and director for Amstore Corp., Muskegon, Mich. The firm also appointed Russell Richardson, vice president of sales and marketing; Milton Kruger, vice president of finance and chief financial officer; and Richard Kaufman, chairman and CEO.

Malcolm L. Sherman was named chairman of the board of advisors for Gordon Brothers, Boston, Mass. He has served on the firm’s advisory board since 1992 and is currently chairman of K.T. Scott Ltd. He was formerly executive vice president of Zayre Corp.

Hannah Shore was appointed to the newly created position of senior vice president, director of Christie’s regional offices, New York, N.Y. At Christie’s Los Angeles office, Neal Meltzer is the new regional director, succeeding Hannah Shore; Grace Lowe Russak is responsible for Trusts and Estates services; and Brooke Glassman is overseeing Special Client services.

Rachel Pratt was named director of development for the Joseph Bulova School, Woodside, N.Y. The school recently added three members to its board of trustees: Michael Roman, chairman of the board and executive director of Jewelers of America; Stanley Schechter, president and chief executive officer of Honora Jewelry Co. Inc.; and Jean-Claude Vollenweider, executive vice president of administration at Rolex Watch U.S.A.

OBITUARIES

William (Bill) Baron, 40, died Oct. 7. He was the visual director and display artist at Cartier Inc. for 18 years. He won many design awards for Cartier’s Fifth Ave. window displays and showed his talents in more than 40 cities where Cartier exhibitions were presented.

Dolores June Gross, 51, died Nov. 4 at her home in Louisville, Ky. She and her husband, William Gross, founded Gross Diamond Center in Kentuckiana, Ky., in 1977. Mrs. Gross graduated from the Gemological Institute of America in 1979 as a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.). The business has grown into a nine-store operation in Kentucky and Indiana.

Violet I. Hopkins, 78, died Oct. 10. She was the owner of Phoenix, a jewelry repair business in Phoenix, Ariz.

Leslie E. Lilly died Oct. 1. He was the chairman and chief executive officer of Lillys’ Jewelers, a 10-store family-owned business that he founded in 1946. Lilly was a past president of the West Virginia Retail Jewelers Association.

Jules Lindenbaum, of King Jewelers, Santa Monica, Cal., died Oct. 20. He was an honorary member of The Jewelers 24-Karat Club of Southern California and was its fourth president. He was also a member of the California Jewelers Association board of directors.

Allen Ralph (A.R.) Zolnosky, 99, died Oct. 17. He graduated from Stones School of Watchmaking, St. Paul, Minn., in 1912. He founded Zolnosky Jewelers in Webster City, Iowa, in 1920 and operated the business until 1980 when he sold it to his son, Richard. Zolnosky continued to work at the bench until age 97.

MIGNON FAGET WINS ALPHA AWARDS

Mignon Faget, an artist and jewelry designer in New Orleans, La., won 10 awards at the 10th annual Alpha Awards, held by the Fashion Group of New Orleans July 23.

Faget received top honors in two categories: Use of Fashion for Non-Fashion Related Enterprise (for a pin designed for the New Orleans Ballet Association) and Fashion Advertising-Catalog (for her Objects of Adornment catalog). She received silver awards in Use of Fashion for Non-Fashion Related Enterprise (for a medallion she designed for the Josephine Louise Newcomb Society) and Jewelry Design-Single Item (for her Cruxx Transversa on hematite necklace). She won bronze awards for jewelry design, advertising, direct mail, coordinated campaign, the design of her new Houston gallery and the gallery’s finishing paint technique.

Faget has won 46 Alpha awards since 1985 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.