MJSA Press Room

Providence, RI— Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) was awarded a Silver Excel Award by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) for the MJSA/AJM Press publication “At the Bench: An Illustrated Guide to Working with Gold & Silver.”

Based on the popular column in AJM Magazine, At the Bench is written by Gregg Todd and Greg Gilman of Stuller in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was among the nearly 900 entries received for the SNAP Excel Awards competition, which honors publications produced by U.S. business associations. Entries are judged on writing, content, graphic design, and overall packaging.

With more than 200 color photographs and step-by-step instructions, At the Bench offers a detailed look into the repair and fabrication of gold and silver jewelry. Topics include resizing rings, setting stones, and building component parts, among other essential skills. The book also offers guides to proper bench setup, safe and successful torch work, maximum metal recovery, and jewelry take-in, as well as handy charts for ring sizing and karat conversion.

“ This award is a testament to the technical capabilities of the authors, as well as the dedication and hard work of the MJSA/AJM Press staff,” said MJSA President/CEO James F. Marquart. “We appreciate the authors’ lending us their talent and Stuller’s contribution in enabling Greg and Gregg to prepare and complete this book.”

Coauthor Gregg Todd is a veteran of the jewelry industry with over 20 years of experience, and currently serves as the Industrial Training and Project Administrator for Stuller in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is well-known for his role in developing the nation’s first four-year high-school-level jewelry academy program. In addition to this, Todd serves on AJM Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board and often contributes technical articles to the publication.

Greg Gilman is a life-long accomplished photographer whose passion for photography is matched only by his passion for jewelry production. After years working as a professional photographer and jewelry repair technician, Gilman began work for Stuller, where his two passions converged, and where he remains today. Gilman’s photographs have appeared in many of Stuller’s technical and marketing publications and are frequently seen in AJM Magazine.

The SNAP Silver Award comes on the heels of another award given to MJSA’s monthly publication AJM Magazine. On April 7, AJM Magazine was declared a winner in The Communicator Awards 2003 Print Media competition and was honored with the Award of Distinction.

To view all publications of MJSA/AJM Press and for more information regarding MJSA, please visit www.mjsainc.com

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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.