Hackman to Become Next AGTA President

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 9/16/2008 10:50:00 AM

The American Gem Trade Association announced the results of the 2009 elections for the AGTA Board of Directors. The new officers will serve three year terms and will be introduced at the AGTA Membership Meeting on Feb. 8 in Tucson, Ariz.

Elections were held for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three Director positions. The following officers were elected:

President: Benjamin Hackman, Intercolor USA
Vice President: Kambiz Sabouri, Gem 2000, Inc.
Secretary: John Bachman, John M. Bachman, Inc.
Treasurer: Sampat Poddar, Byrex Gems, Inc.
Director: Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems
Director: Ron Ringsrud, Ronald Ringsrud Co.
Director: Ambrish Sethi, Manak Jewels, Inc.

The newly elected members of the board will join the following Officers and Directors who are currently serving terms on the AGTA Board:

Vice President: Robert Bentley, Robert Bentley Company, Inc.
Secretary: Betty Sue King, King’s Ransom
Director: Gerry Manning, Manning International, Inc.
Director: Bill Larson, Pala International
Director: Glenn Lehrer, Lehrer Designs, Inc.
Director: Sushil Goyal, Liberty Gems, Inc.
Director: Joe Orlando, Stuller, Inc.
Past President: Barbara Lawrence, Boston Gems and Findings, Inc.

The AGTA Board of Directors holds elections on a rotating cycle in order to guarantee coherence of the Board's long-term plans. The AGTA Membership Meeting is open to all AGTA Members and will be held Feb. 8 at the Tucson Convention Center.

In addition to the elected officials, a number of persons were chosen to serve on the executive committee AGTA-Gen Testing Center Board of Governors. They are as follows:

Executive Committee
Jeffrey E. Post, Ph.D
Curator, National Gem and Mineral Collection
Smithsonian Institution

Dr. Alfred Adjami
Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Barbara Lawrence (AGTA President)
Boston Gems & Findings, Inc.

Richard B. Drucker
Gemworld International, Inc.

Ray Zajicek (AGTA Industry Rules Committee Chairman)
Equatorian Imports, Inc.

Dr. Lore Kiefert (AGTA GTC Director)
AGTA Gemological Testing Center

Douglas Hucker (AGTA CEO)
American Gem Trade Association

Ron Rahmanan
Sara Gem Corp.

Martin Fuller
Fuller & Associates