MJSA Press Room

Providence, RI— In a continuing effort to give its members increased influence on government legislation, Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) hosted Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri at a special breakfast on Thursday, March 27, at MJSA headquarters.

Carcieri, a former jewelry industry executive, addressed a standing-room-only audience of MJSA members, and answered questions on topics ranging from corporate tax rates to health-care costs.

“ His visit helped us better understand the issues and how he plans to deal with them,” said MJSA Chairman of the Board Curtis A. Ley. “His detailed knowledge was impressive and certainly gave us confidence that change and progress are possible.”

A prominent figure within the industry, Carcieri previously served as chief executive officer of Rhode-Island based Cookson America and joint managing director of Cookson Group Worldwide. Under his leadership, Cookson’s total sales grew from $30 million to over $3 billion.

Now, as governor, Carcieri is confident his past experience will lead to positive strides for the industry. Job training, Carcieri noted, is a crucial factor for the industry’s advancement. He emphasized the need for developing a comprehensive training program, and suggested resources that could be made available to fund the project.

In addition, Carcieri talked about his plan for Rhode Island to overcome existing tax burdens. With the state being the tenth highest in total taxes and sixth highest in property taxes, Carcieri plans to re-engineer the state government and combine several departments, working toward a revitalization of the economy. “We are faced with tough issues and it will take time to respond to all of them— we have to grow jobs, income, and employment,” he said.

Health care and competitive issues were also among the concerns brought up by members. Carcieri said reimbursement rates from health-care insurers are far lower in Rhode Island than in neighboring states; he intends to look for ways to increase those rates, as well as search for methods to strengthen competition among insurers within the state.

Carcieri concluded by stressing the importance of MJSA member involvement in the political process, and urged those present to contact his office if they needed assistance. “If you are healthy and your business is growing, the state will be better off,” he pointed out.

Those who attended agreed with the importance of working with government officials, and they appreciated the opportunity to hear the governor speak. “Being directly involved in government affairs is one of the top benefits MJSA provides,” said member Edward DeCristofaro of LDC Inc. in Providence. “This was proof of how we can come together for the common good.”

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MJSA is a national jewelry trade association representing 1,500 members. MJSA’s mission is to unite and empower our members to advance the jewelry manufacturing industry. To learn more about MJSA and its trade publication, AJM Magazine, visit www.mjsainc.com and www.ajm-magazine.com.