The Women’s Jewelry Association announced its Hall of Fame honorees for the associations’ annual Awards for Excellence gala on Monday, July 25, 2010 at Chelsea Pier in New York City.

Susan Jacques, president and CEO of Borsheims in Omaha, Neb., will receive WJA’s 2010 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. Jacques, who was raised in Zimbabwe, formerly the British colony of Rhodesia, came to the United States to earn her Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America. She joined Borsheims in 1982, serving in various roles until being named president and CEO in 1994 by Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

James Courage, CEO of Platinum Guild International, will receive the WJA Hall of Fame Ben Kaiser Award. Courage has lead PGI as its CEO since 1996, following a career as the marketing manager for De Beers and public relations executive at the Diamond Trading Company.

WJA selected JCK Events and JCK Magazine for its Hall of Fame Corporate Award for Excellence in recognition of its longtime support for women in the jewelry industry.

At the July 25 event, WJA also will present Awards for Excellence in retail, design, manufacturing/ supplier, sales, marketing and communications, editorial/reporting/publishing, and special services.

JCK