Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    JCK Industry Fund announces over $250,000 allocated to 2021 grant recipients
    JCK Industry Fund announces 2023 grant recipients
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
    545 fifth ave building
    IGI moves to expanded New York offices and gem laboratory
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
    Computer with a Jewelry website
    Why starting SEO earlier in the year will benefit your jewelry store
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    JCK Industry Fund announces over $250,000 allocated to 2021 grant recipients
    JCK Industry Fund announces 2023 grant recipients
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
    545 fifth ave building
    IGI moves to expanded New York offices and gem laboratory
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
    Computer with a Jewelry website
    Why starting SEO earlier in the year will benefit your jewelry store
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest News Other News

WJA’S 25th Gala honored industry leaders, it’s founders and raised scholarships for next generation

September 29, 2008
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 5 minutes

The Women’s Jewelry Association’s (WJA) 25th annual Awards for Excellence, held on July 27 at Chelsea Piers in New York City, was a festive toast to the women who founded and nurtured the organization as well as to two exceptional industry leaders. Sybil Yurman, president and CMO of David Yurman, and Steven Kaiser, president and CEO of Kaiser Time, received WJA’s highest honors.

On accepting her Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, Ms. Yurman said, “It’s not often that you get to do what you love and get to do it with someone you love.” She also acknowledged Carolyn Kelly, former jewelry buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue, and now co-owner of Old World Chain, for “helping in the early years.” She spoke about the sense of “family” in the industry and acknowledged “all the people who have taught us so much.”

Mr. Kaiser, who received the Ben Kaiser Award, was introduced by retailers John Green and Lee Berg. He said his father, after whom the award was named, was ahead of his time for promoting women in the industry. He thanked his mother, Eta, wife, Vivian, and daughter, Emily, and acknowledged his female team, who were in attendance.

WJA’s president Yancy Weinrich, Industry VP, JCK Events, recognized the association’s three “Pillar of Distinction” sponsors: Platinum Guild International, Jewelers Mutual Insurance, and David Yurman. She also introduced a special 25th anniversary video that had been produced by Filmworks, Inc. and overseen by Anniversary Co-chairs Linda Goldstein, a WJA founder and former president, and Billie Sutter, a former national board member. With interviews from many of the influential women responsible for the creation and growth of the organization, it highlighted key initiatives, such as WJA’s Student Scholarships, DIVA Awards, Awards for Excellence and the Women in the Know conferences.

In celebration of WJA’s 25th year, Ms. Weinrich announced that $25,000 will be distributed this year in Student Scholarships, one of the first programs of the national organization when it was established in 1983. WJA’s annual Scholarship Fund is supported by its Silent Auction, held during the Awards for Excellence gala, and donations from companies and individuals. Overseeing the 2008 Silent Auction was Nessi Erkmenoglu of Harper’s Bazaar.

Monies raised from a drawing for a special Hearts On Fire “Dream” diamond will also be donated to the WJA Scholarship Fund, according to Dinner Chair Lisa Cochin of Diamond Promotion Service.

WJA has had nine presidents, all of whom were celebrated at the event: Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, Tina Segal, Helene Fortunoff, Rachel Rosin, Phyllis Bergman, Anna Martin, Ann Arnold, and Ms. Weinrich. Each will receive a special WJA President’s Pin designed by Judith Ripka.

In addition, the dinner recognized the past Hall of Fame and Ben Kaiser Award winners, including: Babette Goodman Cohen and Jane Goodman Baum, Phyllis Bergman, Nancy Brewer, Terry Burman, Bill Boyajian, Ralph Destino, Helene Fortunoff, Mary Forte, June Herman, Laurie Hudson, Juell Kadet, Ben Kaiser, Kathryn Kimmel, Peggy Kirby, Anna Martin, Eunice Robinson Miles, Sallie Morton, Joan Parker, Beryl Raff, Harriet Schreiner, and Hedda Schupak.

 

WJA-pres-Oct

WJA celebrates its presidents at 25th Anniversary gala: (from left): Ann Arnold, first president Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, Tina Segal, Phyllis Bergman, Rachel Rosin, Helene Fortunoff, current president Yancy Weinrich, and Anna Martin.

 

Other highlights of the evening included Broadway musical selections from Broadway Pops International. To top off the dinner, guests enjoyed a delectable dessert buffet and danced to hip music by DJ Aaron James, sponsored by Harper’s Bazaar. The party continued long into the night!

WJA, founded in 1983, is the preeminent association of professional women in the jewelry, watch and related industries. Through the national organization, headquartered in Chicago Ridge, IL, and a network of 12 regional chapters, members benefit from educational and networking opportunities, scholarships, design competitions, annual women’s business conferences, and recognition programs, such as its annual Awards for Excellence gala. For more information about WJA, call 708-361-6266 or visit www.womensjewelry.org.

Related Posts

Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide

March 15, 2023
JCK Industry Fund announces over $250,000 allocated to 2021 grant recipients

JCK Industry Fund announces 2023 grant recipients

March 15, 2023
diamonds on plant

How to drive more sales and referrals through social media

March 15, 2023
545 fifth ave building

IGI moves to expanded New York offices and gem laboratory

March 15, 2023

Latest News

Columnists

Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide

March 15, 2023
On The Move

JCK Industry Fund announces 2023 grant recipients

March 15, 2023
Other News

How to drive more sales and referrals through social media

March 15, 2023

Other News

IGI moves to expanded New York offices and gem laboratory

The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue

What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023

Costar releases 2023 Bridal Book

Select Show adds Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA to Fall venue lineup

2023 Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference to be held August 11-12

Southern Jewelry News

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Jewelry Trade Shows & Events
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.