Press Releases

24 Karat Club of New York Elects New Officers and Directors

He is succeeding Robert Kempler.

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2024

Press Releases

Jeffrey Cohen

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — At its Annual Meeting the 24 Karat Club of New York elected a slate of new officers and directors. Jeffrey Cohen, President, Citizen Watch America, was elected Chairperson for a three-year term, succeeding Robert Kempler, who successfully led the Club through the organizational challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.

Elected as new officers for one-year terms are Nathalie Diamantis, President, who is the President and CEO of Pomellato Americas, and Steven Lagos, Vice President, who is the founder of his namesake firm, Lagos. Re-elected as officers were Jeffrey Bergman, Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Gold Star Jewellery as Treasurer, and John Kennedy, President of Jewelers’ Security Alliance as Secretary.

Three new Board members were also elected: Eric Zuckerman, CEO and Owner, Pac Team Group; Stacie Orloff, Vice President, Wholesale, North America, for George Jensen; and Glenn Markman, Founder, Fire Polish Diamonds.

Continuing as Directors are: Ann Arnold, CSO, Buyers Intelligence Group; Sarin Bachmann, Group Vice President, RX Jewelry Group; Edward DeCristofaro, President of LDC Inc.; Yogesh Madhvani, CEO, SimplexDaim, Inc.; and Charles Stanley, former executive at DeBeers.

Chairperson Jeffrey Cohen said of the new slate, “It is my esteemed pleasure to chair the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York. I am proud to lead this organization and its distinguished members. As an organization we will benefit this year from the perspective of our new officers, Nathalie Diamantis, President, and Steven Lagos, Vice President, along with the rich experience of our re-elected officers and directors. This incredible leadership team, along with our eminent members, will continue to shepherd collaboration, conversation, and relationships that benefit the Jewelry industry, facilitate growth, and advance the industry’s interests.”

The 24 Karat Club of New York will host its Annual Banquet, the premier event in the industry, on March 9, 2024, at Cipriani South Street.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.