MJSA Press RoomFor Immediate Release
MJSA Elects New Board Members, Welcomes New Chairman at Annual Meeting Providence, RI- At its 99th Annual Meeting on November 14th, Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) welcomed a new board chairman and held elections for officers and directors. The event, which was held at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, Rhode Island, also featured the approval of a by-law amendment allowing the chairman to appoint up to two at-large board members to the Executive Committee. Curtis Ley, president of East Providence, Rhode Island-based B.A. Ballou, was elected as chairman of the board. He replaces Babette Goodman Cohen of I.B. Goodman in New York City, and will serve a two-year term in the position. During his speech at the meeting, he stressed the importance of MJSA and its strong nationwide influence. “We have all heard the expression, ‘There is strength in numbers,’” he said. “Well, it’s true––and that’s what MJSA is all about. Together we can influence the course of events far more effectively than we can as an individual company.” To join Ley as leaders of the association, the following officers were elected: First Vice Chair Michael Akkaoui of Tanury Industries, Lincoln, Rhode Island; Secretary Pat Patten of The Patten Group LLC, Manhattan Beach, California; Treasurer Rich Powers of Stern Metals, Providence. Newly elected board members were Ira Bergman of M. Fabrikant and Sons Inc. in New York City; Lowell M. Kwiat of Kwiat Inc. in New York City; Edwin F. Leach II of Leach & Garner/General Findings, North Attleboro, Massachusetts; David Meleski of Aurafin/OroAmerica, Tamarac, Florida; and Samuel Sandberg of Sandberg & Sikorski Corp. in New York City. Those officers and directors elected to a second term were: Second Vice Chair Robert J. Wueste of Samuel Aaron International, Long Island City, New York; Brian Fleming of Carla Corp., East Providence, Rhode Island; and Howard Pomerantz of GIA Gem Instruments in Newport Beach, California. Four outgoing board members were also recognized: Richard Blake of Grassmann-Blake Inc., Millburn, New Jersey; Ronald Letzler of Crest Gems Inc., New York City; Michael Merolla, formerly of Handy & Harman, Fairfield, Connecticut; and Gary Soloman of Princess Pride Creations, Chicago. MJSA, which will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2003, is the largest national trade organization for jewelry manufacturers and suppliers, representing over 1,500 members. Its mission is to unite and empower their members to advance the jewelry manufacturing industry. To learn more about MJSA and its international trade publication AJM Magazine, visit www.mjsainc.com and www.ajm-magazine.com. #### |
 |
| © 2008 Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of
America Contact info@mjsa.org with questions or comments about this site. |