(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — Jewelers’ Security Alliance announced the names of the recipients of its annual awards which will be presented at a virtual Zoom event on Wednesday, January 6, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.. Receiving the 22nd Annual James B. White Award to Law Enforcement are FBI Special Agent Ivan Romo and Los Angele Police Department Detective Dennis Bopp. Both serve on the FBI Major Theft Task Force based in Los Angeles, and have conducted important investigations involving South American theft gangs and Chilean burglary gangs that target the jewelry industry.
Receiving JSA’s 16th annual Industry Service Award is Joe Barnard, Director of Stores for Bernie Robbins Jewelers, an Official Rolex Jeweler that has branches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Barnard hosts a crime prevention network that shares information on crimes and suspects with a large group of similar stores, and provides valuable insights on current retail jewelry practices to JSA.
John Kennedy, president of JSA, said, “While JSA is sad that we cannot present these awards in person as we usually do at our Annual January Luncheon in New York, we are pleased to invite all JSA’s members, friends and supporters to be with us virtually for the awards ceremony, and a presentation on “The State of Crime in the Jewelry Industry; 2021.”
To register for JSA’s free virtual event, click the link below and follow the instructions.
When: Jan 6, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this event here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.
For further information, contact John Kennedy, President of JSA, at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.
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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.
