Press Releases

JSA to Honor 2 Journalists and 3 Law Enforcement Officers

They’ll receive awards at a luncheon in NY.

Published

5 years ago

January 9, 2019

INSTORE Staff

JSA to Honor 2 Journalists and 3 Law Enforcement Officers

Michelle Graff and Rob Bates

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – On Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance will host its annual luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in New York, honoring several individuals for outstanding assistance to the safety and security of the jewelry industry.

JSA will present the 14th Annual Industry Service Award to Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler, and Rob Bates, news director of JCK. Graff has been with National Jeweler for 11 years, and Bates with JCK for 21 years, and during that time they have posted many articles that provided important information and advice to the industry on crime and crime prevention.

The Business of Jewelry

Smith and DeGroot Release “Much Ado About Lab-Grown Diamonds” Podcast Episode

The Business of Jewelry

New “The Business of Jewelry” Podcast Addresses Questions of Hiring

JimmyCast

Podcast: Put Your Heart in Your Business

John Kennedy, president of JSA, said, “Michelle and Rob are terrific journalists with a deep knowledge of crime and the jewelry industry. The information they are able to spread to a wide audience has been of enormous assistance to JSA in its mission of reducing crime against the industry.”

JSA will also present the 20th Annual James B. White Award to three members of the Paramus, NJ, police deparment: Deputy Chief Robert M. Guidetti, Detective Lieutenant Frank Scott and Detective Nicholas J. Luciano. These three honorees have collectively been involved in well over 100 cases involving the jewelry industry, totaling millions of dollars in stolen merchandise.

Kennedy said of the Paramus personnel: “The Paramus Police have long rendered important assistance to the jewelry industry. Their investigations, arrests and assistance to other police agencies have made a tremendous impact on keeping the industry safer.”

Paramus Police Department and NYPD on Traveling Salesperson Decoy Operation, 2004.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”