The Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America is preparing for publication the results of its strategic review—the framework for how the association will meet the new challenges of the 21st century—and has begun its search for a new president/chief executive officer.

Led by interim president Curt Ley, the strategic review task force comprised of industry leaders from all segments of the jewelry industry—including manufacturers, and retailers, suppliers, and trade associations. The process took several months of self examination involved a lot of “soul searching,” as Ley once put it, to determine how the Providence, R.I.-based association could continue to best promote and advance jewelry design and manufacturing in an era of global competition, industry consolidation, and the growth of manufacturing retailers.

“Any association that has been active for more than a century, as MJSA has, cannot remain vital without periodically going through intense self-examination,” Ley explained. “As the realities of an industry change, the association must change with it.”

The review’s results also formed the basis for the criteria that will be used in the presidential search process. Applicants are now being sought; the position description is available upon request. All interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to James McCarty, MJSA chief operating officer, at MJSA, 45 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904, or e-mail James.McCarty@mjsa.org.

The MJSA Strategic Review will be available for download on the MJSA Web site, www.mjsa.org, in September.

JCK