New York, NY – On Saturday, January 14, 2017, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance held its Annual Luncheon at the Harmonie Club in New York for 170 supporters, law enforcement personnel, and industry leaders. John Kennedy, President of JSA, began the luncheon with a moment of silence for the six jewelers killed in the U.S. in 2016, and for Detective Steven McDonald, an NYPD hero who had passed away during the week.
Mr. Kennedy also recognized and thanked three women leaders of the industry who had announced their retirement from their positions as CEOs of industry trade organizations: Cecilia Gardner of JVC; Ruth Batson of AGS and Dione Kenyon of JBT. Mr. Kennedy described them as friends and advisers to so many in the industry.
Newly-elected to the JSA Board was Chad Berg, a Vice President
at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry based in Louisiana. Re-elected to three year terms were David Bonaparte of Jewelers of America; Marc Green of Lux, Bond and Green; Mark Udell of London Jewelers; and Stewart Wicht of Rolex U.S.A who is in his second year as Chairperson of JSA.
Continuing in their terms on the JSA Board are: David Cornstein of Circa; Patti Geolat of Geolat Companies; Adam Heyman of Oscar Heyman & Brothers; Steven Kaiser of Kaiser Time; Alan Kleinberg of Eloquence; Sheldon Kwiat of Kwiat; David Sexton of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company; Mark Smelzer of JCK; David Tearle of GIA; and Kevin Valentine of Signet.
During remarks at the luncheon, JSA Chairperson Stewart Wicht cited the accomplishments of JSA during 2016, and quoted a member of Congress by saying “facts are neither Republican nor Democratic.” He pointed out that JSA had 14,000 members in 20,000 locations, and had a network of 3,000 cooperating law enforcement personnel throughout the U.S. He added that JSA worked with 60 local crime prevention networks, and in 2016 issued Crime Alerts on 133 suspects. Mr. Wicht thanked law enforcement for their excellent cooperation with JSA, and playing on a popular phrase, firmly stated that “police lives matter.”
At the luncheon JSA presented the 12th Annual Industry Service Award to Bill Lane, Divisional Vice President for Loss Prevention and Internal Audit at the Birks Group, Inc. Mr. Kennedy stated that Bill was one of the most experienced and respected jewelry loss prevention executives in the U.S., and that he had worked closely with JSA for many years providing invaluable assistance.
JSA also presented the 18th Annual James B. White Law Enforcement Awards to five veteran detectives with the New York Police Department who had handled many of the most important jewelry cases in New York over several decades. In addition, they had assisted other law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and around the world. The award recipients were:
Detective 1st Grade Armando Coutinho, FBI/NYPD Cyber Financial Task Force
Detective 2nd Grade Anthony Curtin, Joint Bank Robbery/Violent Crimes Task Force
Detective 1st Grade Anthony Diaz, Major Case Squad
Detective 1st Grade Michael Dorto, Major Case Squad
Detective 2nd Grade Rigel Zeledon, Financial Crimes Organized Theft Squad
Mr. Kennedy ended his remarks by stating that JSA could not be effective without the tremendous cooperation it received from law enforcement agencies, such as the NYPD, the support it received from JSA Members and generous contributors, and the excellent attention that crime received in the trade media.
