(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – “With leadership comes responsibility,” says MJSA interim CEO Curtis Ley, who announced the title of a special MJSA Expo New York 2009 keynote panel discussion: “How Bad is Bad and What Good Might Come From It?” “It does little good to paint a rosy picture of the current state of the jewelry industry when so many companies are struggling for their very existence. It’s MJSA’s responsibility to examine the landscape and report on it with ruthless honesty. Only through frank discussion can practical solutions be found that will help floundering companies survive and competitive companies excel.”
The keynote panelists are successful industry executives with a broad spectrum of perspectives: Rich Powers, president and CEO of Cookson Precious Metals; Dave Meleski, president of the Richline Group; Doug McDowell, president of Memoire; Michael Bondanza of Michael Bondanza, Inc.; Tim Dinneny, managing director of ScotiaMocatta Metals; and Maeve Gillies, co-founder and owner of MaeVona.
Does the nature of this discussion guarantee it will be gloomy? Not according to Ley: “The people on this panel are optimists. They have to be to successfully run organizations under the conditions presented by this economic environment. I have no inside information on whether this discussion will end on a negative or positive note, but I would bet that most, if not all, of them will see some light at the end of the tunnel and will help the rest of us see it, too.”
The panel discussion “How Bad is Bad and What Good Might Come From It?” will take place on Monday, March 9, in the presentation area on the Expo New York show floor and will be free to all attendees. MJSA Expo New York 2009 will take place March 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
For more information or to register for the show visit mjsa.org.
