RAPAPORT... Jewelers of America (JA) elected Bill Farmer Jr., a partner of Farmer's Jewelry in Lexington, Kentucky, as the new board chairman. He will succeed Georgie Gleim, the president of Gleim the Jeweler, and was elected in July at JA's board meeting.
"Bill's professionalism and passion for the jewelry industry has contributed greatly to Jewelers of America's mission for nearly a decade. We are privileged to have him lead our Board of Directors during his term as Jewelers of America Board Chairman," said JA's president, David J. Bonaparte.
Farmer is a second-generation partner of Farmer's Jewelry, along with his mother, Jean, and sister, Kristi Farmer Lykins. His father, Bill Farmer Sr., opened the business in 1950 and his legacy lives on through his family's commitment to the jewelry community. Bill has been a great supporter of JA, serving eight years on its board. During that time, he helped raise awareness of JA's political action committee (PAC), serving on and chairing the JA's PAC board. Bill served two terms as president of the Kentucky Jewelers Association and was board chair of the American Gem Society from 2002 to 2004. Bill was also inducted in the National Jeweler's Retailer Hall of Fame in 1993.
"My work as a Jewelers of America board director and leading the JA PAC board has given me a deep respect for Jewelers of America and the important work it does for the industry," said Bill. "I look forward to continuing my work with the board of directors and Jewelers of America staff to maintain consumer confidence in the fine jewelry marketplace."
Farmer will lead an executive committee of the following elected officers: chairman-elect - Ryan Berg of Lee Michael's Fine Jewelry; vice chairmans - Scot Congress of Congress Jewelers and Mark Light of Sterling Jewelers; treasurer - John Henne of Henne Jewelers and secretary - Holly Wesche of Wesche Jewelers.
Other board members include Jean-Christophe Bédos, the president of Birks & Mayors Inc.; Cathy Calhoun, the owner of Calhoun Jewelers; Jenny Caro, the co-owner of Jewelry By Design; Darwin Copeman, the president of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company and Emmanuel Perrin, the president of Cartier North America.
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