Steven Kaiser (pictured), president of Kaiser Time, has been elected the new chairman of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA).

He takes over for Stewart Wicht, the retiring CEO of Rolex U.S.A., who has completed his three-year term.

The news was announced at the JSA’s annual luncheon, which took place on Jan. 12 at the New York Yacht Club in New York City.

JSA president John Kennedy began the lunch with a moment of silence for Helen Buck, the group’s longtime employee who died in October, and a moment of silence for the one jeweler killed in 2018 during a robbery: Jason Cullen, the 32-year-old owner of a Highland, Calif., pawn shop.  (Austin, Texas, jeweler Ted Shaughnessy was also killed last year, but his son has since been charged with that crime.)

Despite that one tragedy, Kennedy noted that jewelry crime is continuing to fall. In 1992, he noted, 37 jewelers were killed. In addition, total dollar losses have hit a record low since the year 2000. He attributes this to a “war on jewelry crime” involving law enforcement, which the JSA has helped promote, along with its members and supporters.

Alan Zimmer, CEO of Reeds Jewelers, a 60-store chain, was newly elected to the JSA board. Reelected were: Patti Geolat of the Geolat Companies; Chris Hackler of Signet Jewelers; Mark Smelzer, publisher of JCK; and David Tearle of the Gemological Institute of America.

The JSA also presented its annual Industry Service Award to Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler, and Rob Bates, news director of JCK, who Kennedy said, help spread JSA’s information and advice to a wide audience.

JSA also presented the Annual James B. White Law Enforcement Awards to three members of New Jersey’s Paramus Police Department: Deputy Chief Robert M. Guidetti; Detective Lieutenant Frank Scott, and Detective Nicholas Luciano. Kennedy stated these officers helped solve more than 100 crimes against jewelers.

(Image courtesy of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance)

Rob Bates

JCK News Director