Press Releases

CEO of Rolex Elected New Chairperson of Jewelers’ Security Alliance

Published

9 years ago

January 18, 2016

INSTORE Staff

(Press Release)
NEW YORK, NY – The Jewelers’ Security Alliance has announced that the JSA Board has elected Stewart E. B. Wicht, CEO of Rolex Watch USA, to a three-year term as chairperson.

Wicht’s appointment was first announced on Saturday, Jan. 9 during the JSA’s Annual Luncheon, which was held at the Harmonie Club in New York and hosted 150 supporters and industry leaders. Wicht will succeed Adam Heyman, who served as chairperson for three years.

“During the five years he has served on the JSA Board, Stewart has been incredibly generous of his time, interest and support of JSA. He has a hands-on concern for the safety and security of the industry, and especially for the firms that are Official Rolex Jewelers,” says John Kennedy, president of JSA. “Rolex is arguably the most well-known and important brand in the diamond, jewelry and watch industry, and JSA is honored to have Stewart serve as chairperson.”

Newly elected to the JSA Board was Kevin Valentine, senior vice president of Audit, Loss Prevention and Risk Management at Signet Jewelers. Valentine is a leading expert on loss prevention for jewelers and has worked cooperatively with JSA for nearly 30 years during his service at Signet.

Re-elected to new three-year terms were Patti J. Geolat of Geolat Companies; Steven P. Kaiser of Kaiser Time; Mark Smelzer of JCK; and David Tearle of GIA. Continuing in their terms are: David J. Bonaparte of Jewelers of America; Marc Green of Lux, Bond and Green; Mark Udell of London Jewelers; David Cornstein of Circa; Adam Heyman of Oscar Heyman & Brothers; Alan Kleinberg of Eloquence; Sheldon Kwiat of Kwiat; and David Sexton of Jewelers Mutual.

At the luncheon, JSA presented the 11th Annual Industry Service Award to David J. Sexton, vice president for Loss Prevention Consulting at Jewelers’ Mutual Insurance Company, as well as the 17th Annual James B. White Law Enforcement Award to Senior Special Agent James K. Liscinsky of the U. S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Scott Murphy, CEO of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, gave a speech at the luncheon praising Sexton on his award while commenting on the successful 30-year partnership in crime prevention of JSA and Jewelers Mutual. He pointed out that the year of JSA’s founding, 1883, was also the date of many other noteworthy events from history, including the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.