(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — Diamond Council of America (DCA), a non-profit organization that provides quality, affordable distance education and the opportunity to earn professional certifications in diamonds, colored gemstones and fine jewelry sales, announces a new board chairman and board members. Chuck Kuba of Iowa Diamond in Des Moines, IA, was elected to a two-year term as chairman.
Chuck Kuba is the president and owner of Iowa Diamond in Des Moines, Iowa. His father was a lapidary and his grandfather was a pioneer in jewelry metallurgy. With his daughters, Jennifer and Melissa, and two grandchildren that have joined the company, Iowa Diamond is now a fifth-generation jeweler. He holds a Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America and a Bachelor of Arts degree in performing arts management from the University of Nebraska. Kuba also holds titles as Accredited Senior Gemologist by the Accredited Gemologists Association, Certified Diamontologist by the DCA and Certified Senior Management Professional by Jewelers of America. He serves on the board of directors of Jewelers of America, was a past president of the Iowa Jewelers Association.
The membership elected the remainder of Executive Board of DCA as follows: Vice Chairman, David Bonaparte, Jewelers of America; Vice Chairman, Bill Luth, Kay Jewelers; and Secretary/Treasurer, Dan Casanova, Riddles Jewelry.
Jennifer Hammond of Kay Jewelers was elected to the Board for a one-year term. She joins Peter Engel, Bud Fluty, Kate Peterson and Steve Velasquez as Board members.
“I want to congratulate Chuck Kuba and the newly elected DCA Board members. We have been fortunate over the years to have talented and engaged Board members and this year is no exception. I am confident that — with Chuck at the helm — they will lead us well in 2021 and position DCA for future growth,” says DCA President/CEO Terry Chandler.
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