The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) is proud to announce that Ann Arnold was appointed Chairman of the Board at the Company’s Board Meeting on April 30, 2020.

Ann has volunteered with JBT for close to 12 years, has served on the board as vice chairman, and now brings her expertise and vast experience to the role of chairman. Ann succeeds Mike Kaplan, president at Rocket Jewelry Box, whose well-served term as chairman has ended.

“I am thrilled to serve at the helm of this board. JBT is uniquely qualified to help companies from all aspects of the jewelry industry to better understand their customers and suppliers,” says Ann Arnold. “It is an honor to work alongside some of the brightest and most devoted individuals in the industry.”

“It is critical to our growth that we continuously execute on the right strategies.” says JBT’s President, Erich Jacobs. “Ann brings a wealth of nonprofit and for-profit success and strategic vision to our organization, which will be critical in our ability to scale and meet the growing demand for industry transparency.”

Ann’s career includes serving in governing roles as chairman and treasurer of the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America; treasurer of the NY 24K Club; president of the Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation; president, treasurer and Finance and Investment Committee member of the Women’s Jewelry Association.

About JBT
The Jewelers Board of Trade® (JBT) is a not-for-profit, member-owned association with over 130 years experience delivering commercial credit information, collections, marketing services, and unbiased data and statistics on thousands of retail, wholesale and manufacturing jewelers. The U.S. jewelry market presents both opportunity and credit risk for suppliers. Whether you are a domestic or international company currently doing business (or planning to do business) in the U.S., it is essential that you have information to assess credit risks before you ship. Membership in JBT provides that information. For more information, please visit www.jewelersboard.com.

The American Gem Society (AGS) has canceled the annual Circle of Distinction Dinner, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The event would have taken place on Tuesday, July 28 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

The Society evaluated the viability of holding the event during the summer and made the decision to cancel out of concern for the health and safety of the attendees.

“We will miss celebrating at the historic Plaza with all of our friends in the AGS community and the industry, but we look forward to next year” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. “Based on health and travel guidance regarding COVID-19, cancelling is the right thing to do.”

This will mark only the second time the Society has canceled the Circle of Distinction Dinner, which began in 2000.

The Circle of Distinction is held annually to honor excellence in the jewelry industry. The Lifetime Achievement and AGS Triple Zero® awards presented during the dinner are among the most coveted in the industry. The American Gem Society is moving forward, as planned, with the 2021 Circle of Distinction Dinner and will announce the dates and honors next spring.


About the American Gem Society
The American Gem Society, founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to proven ethics, knowledge, and consumer protection within the jewelry industry. The American Gem Society is a professional organization awarding credentials for its members, who are held to the highest ethical and professional standards in the industry and must pass annual recertification examinations to maintain their titles. Less than one in twenty jewelers in the country have chosen to meet the exacting standards necessary for membership. For more information, please visit www.americangemsociety.org.