The Women’s Jewelry Association has named JCK‘s Yancy Weinrich as its new president. She succeeds Ann Arnold, vice president of Lieberfarb.
Weinrich, vice president for Luxury by JCK and JCK-Las Vegas, has been a member of the WJA National Board since 2000. She started the Las Vegas Chapter and has served on WJA’s Executive Board in the roles of secretary, treasurer and president-elect. She will serve for two years.
Weinrich is the ninth president of this national volunteer organization representing the interests of professional women in the jewelry, watch, and related industries. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Weinrich has more than 12 years of experience in the fine jewelry and watch industry and a deep understanding of the needs of retailers, manufacturers, and trade associations. In her current role, she works with more than 200 of the industry’s top manufacturers and brands and more than 2,000 of the top independent retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean.
Prior to Luxury by JCK, Weinrich served for six years as the director of membership for the American Gem Society and more than two years as vice president of business development with the Manufacturers Jewelers & Suppliers of America developing membership and programs to benefit its members. She holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
She is admittedly passionate about the jewelry industry and for the past four years has also volunteered as a career counselor for the GIA Career Fair in both New York and Carlsbad.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to lead this dynamic organization. And I’m so grateful to Ann Arnold, for her great leadership and friendship,” Weinrich said. “My objectives for the next two years are to grow membership, start international chapters, and expand our ‘Women in the Know’ business conferences to the Southwest, bringing the total to four annual events. WJA has become more and more relevant to women and men in our industry for developing their career, networking, knowledge and, of course, their friendships.”
Weinrich joins a list of distinguished past WJA presidents: Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, Tina Segal, Helene Fortunoff, Rachel Rosen, Phyllis Bergman, Anna Martin, and Ann Arnold.
In addition to its new president, WJA also announced its new officers and National Board. They include president-Elect Kendra Bridel-Weinman, Tache; immediate past president & co-vice president fundraising Ann Arnold; treasurer Gena Alulis, SuperFit.; secretary Phyllis Bergman, Mercury Ring Corp; vice president, co-chair of fundraising Anna Martin, ABN AMRO Bank; vice president, Events Michelle Orman, Lup Communications ; vice president, Chapter Affairs, Sue Elliott, GIA; vice president, Membership Ronni Klein, Displays and More; vice president, Technology, Au-Co Mai, Emitations.com; vice president, Education, Fran Pennella, Maurice Lacroix USA; vice president, Mentorship Cindy Edelstein.
2008 WJA National Board members are elected for two years and include:
Jane Goodman Baum, I.B. Goodman; Lisa Cochin, Diamond Promotion Service; Babette Goodman Cohen, I.B. Goodman; Marcee Feinberg, Lazare Kaplan; Isabella Fiske, Lieberfarb, Inc.; Helene Fortunoff, Fortunoff; Cecilia Gardner, JVC; Norma Haas, ENH International; Andrea Hill, Hill Management Consulting; Julianne Jaffe, JJ Marco; Dione Kenyon, Jewelers Board of Trade; Kathryn Kimmel, GIA; Emeritus, Peggy Kirby, Retired, Finlay Fine Jewelry; Jessica Cohen, Lup Communications; Lynn Ramsey, Lynn Ramsey Public Relations; Amy Rosi, Aros Communications; Gillian Schultz, Metronet Safe & Sound; Hedda Schupak, JCK Publishing Group; Joy Toback-Galicki, Myron Toback, Inc.
WJA, founded in 1983, is the preeminent association of professional women in the jewelry, watch and related businesses. Through the national organization, headquartered in Chicago Ridge, Ill, and a network of 12 regional chapters, members benefit from educational and networking opportunities, scholarships, design competitions, annual women’s business conferences, and recognition programs, such as its annual Awards of Excellence Dinner.
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