RAPAPORT… The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has
announced a new slate of officers and six new board members.
Phyllis Bergman, chief executive officer of Mercury Ring, continues as
president for 2016. Ed Hrabak, chief operating officer of Signet Jewelers has
been elected vice-president. Yancy Weinrich, group vice president of JCK, was elected
secretary and Rich Slomovitz, chief financial officer of Rush Communications,
remains treasurer, according to a statement February 2.
The board members include Kathy Corey, owner of Day’s Jewelers; Beth
Gerstein, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Brilliant Earth; Eddie
Le Vian, chief executive officer of Le Vian Corp; Russell Mehta, managing
director of Rosy Blue; Michael Pollak, president of Hyde Park Jewelers; and
Susan Wicht, advisor for The Global Language Project.
Outgoing board members include Cathy Calhoun, Meir Dalumi, Dylan Dix,
Ellen Haddigan, Jean-Paul Tolkowsky and Jaci Wilson-Reid. They become members
of the DEF advisory board.
Remaining on the board
are: Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher of America; Nicola
Breytenbach-Steiner, actress and philanthropist; Peter Engel, president of Fred
Meyer Jewelers; Rebecca Foerster, executive vice president of strategic
planning and marketing for Leo Schachter Diamonds; Mike Kaplan, president of
Rocket Redbox; Anna Martin, senior vice president of Global Development for
GIA; Sally Morrison, DEF. co-founder and managing director of marketing for the
Diamond Producers Association; David Prager, head of corporate affairs for De
Beers Group of Companies; Scott Rauch, DEF co-founder and president of SHR
Jewelry; Bruno Sané, general manager marketing for Rio Tinto Diamonds; Hedda
Schupak, editor of Centurion and jewelry market and retail analyst; Varda
Shine, DEF co-Founder; Elliot Tannenbaum, senior partner of Leo Schachter
Diamonds; and Kent Wong Siu-Kee, managing director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery.
“Maintaining a global, diverse and high level board membership
will help the Diamond Empowerment Fund continue to grow its mission of
supporting initiatives that empower people in diamond communities” said
Benjamin Chavis, co-founder of the DEF.