WJA Names Hall of Fame Honorees for 2014 Awards for Excellence Gala
New York, NY , July 29, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) named its Hall of Fame honorees for the association's annual Awards for Excellence gala, to be held Monday, July 28, 2014, at Pier 60 on the Chelsea Piers in New York City. Ruth Batson, executive director and CEO of the American Gem Society (AGS) and AGS Laboratories, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; David J. Bonaparte, president & CEO of Jewelers of America (JA), will receive the Ben Kaiser Lifetime Achievement Award; and Richline Group will receive the Corporate Award.
Batson has been with AGS since 1993, and was a strong force in the design and construction of the Robert M. Shipley AGS complex in Las Vegas, and the development of the American Gem Society Laboratories. She is the current chair of the Jewelers for Children Board, and serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and WJA. She also serves on the JCK Show Advisory Board and is a member of the executive committee for the Responsible Jewellery Council.
"Richline Group is honored to accept WJA's Corporate Award. We are proud of the leadership exemplified by our key top women executives and fully support the WJA mission to help women in the jewelry industry advance and develop professionally, " says Dennis Ulrich, CEO.
Lauren Thompson, WJA Public Relations Chair
"The leadership of women in the jewelry industry is of tremendous importance," says Batson. "I am happy to accept this award as a symbol of our achievements."
Richline Group, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is the corporate platform that provides financial, operational, and marketing support to each of its four independent strategic business units: LeachGarner, Richline Brands, Rio Grande, and Inverness. From alloy production to the creation of consumer jewelry brands, Richline Group is a worldwide, vertically integrated operation that practices strict adherence to responsible sourcing, oversight, and compliance.
"WJA congratulates these three deserving recipients," says Andrea Hansen, president of the Women's Jewelry Association, "We are poised at a moment of transition for our industry, and our three honorees work daily to meet the challenges of understanding new consumer habits and adapting their practices to thrive in the 21st century. Their commitment to women's roles in these tasks has been extremely important to the advancement of women's careers in the jewelry industry."
At its annual gala, WJA also will present Awards for Excellence in retail, design, manufacturing/ supplier, sales, marketing and communications, editorial/reporting/publishing, and special services. Nominees will be announced shortly.
The WJA Awards for Excellence gala has been a part of the industry's social calendar since 1984. At its gala, WJA brings together industry leaders to honor the best, and for a social evening that raises money for scholarships and grants for deserving women entering or working in our industry. In 2013, upon its 30th anniversary, WJA awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships and grants, a new record for the association. A Silent Auction and raffle will again be mounted in 2014 to raise additional funds for these important causes.
To purchase sponsorships or tickets for the Gala visit:www.womensjewelryassociation.com/article.html?aid=361
About the Women's Jewelry Association
WJA's mission is to help women in the jewelry and watch industries advance and develop professionally through networking, education, leadership development, and the provision of member services. For more information, visit www.womensjewelryassociation.com