Diamond Empowerment Fund Unveils New Officers, Board Members

Feb 4, 2016 7:05 AM By Rapaport News

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RAPAPORT... The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has announced a new slate of officers and six new board members.

Phyllis Bergman, chief executive officer of Mercury Ring, continues as president for 2016. Ed Hrabak, chief operating officer of Signet Jewelers has been elected vice-president. Yancy Weinrich, group vice president of JCK, was elected secretary and Rich Slomovitz, chief financial officer of Rush Communications, remains treasurer, according to a statement February 2.

The board members include Kathy Corey, owner of Day’s Jewelers; Beth Gerstein, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Brilliant Earth; Eddie Le Vian, chief executive officer of Le Vian Corp; Russell Mehta, managing director of Rosy Blue; Michael Pollak, president of Hyde Park Jewelers; and Susan Wicht, advisor for The Global Language Project.

Outgoing board members include Cathy Calhoun, Meir Dalumi, Dylan Dix, Ellen Haddigan, Jean-Paul Tolkowsky and Jaci Wilson-Reid. They become members of the DEF advisory board.

Remaining on the board are: Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher of America; Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner, actress and philanthropist; Peter Engel, president of Fred Meyer Jewelers; Rebecca Foerster, executive vice president of strategic planning and marketing for Leo Schachter Diamonds; Mike Kaplan, president of Rocket Redbox; Anna Martin, senior vice president of Global Development for GIA; Sally Morrison, DEF. co-founder and managing director of marketing for the Diamond Producers Association; David Prager, head of corporate affairs for De Beers Group of Companies; Scott Rauch, DEF co-founder and president of SHR Jewelry; Bruno Sané, general manager marketing for Rio Tinto Diamonds; Hedda Schupak, editor of Centurion and jewelry market and retail analyst; Varda Shine, DEF co-Founder; Elliot Tannenbaum, senior partner of Leo Schachter Diamonds; and Kent Wong Siu-Kee, managing director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery.

“Maintaining a global, diverse and high level board membership will help the Diamond Empowerment Fund continue to grow its mission of supporting initiatives that empower people in diamond communities” said Benjamin Chavis, co-founder of the DEF.

Tags: DEF, Diamond Empowerment Fund, Rapaport News