Teresa Saldivar, of Teresa’s Jewelers, Santa Ana, has been elected president of the California Jewelers Association for 2009.

Saldivar succeeds Lexi Kern Hirst of Churchill Jewelers, Santa Barbara, as the head of the 1,200-member organization, which serves retail jewelers, suppliers, and designers throughout the state.

Other officers elected were Stuart Benjamin, of Stuart Benjamin & Co. Jewelry Designs, San Diego, president-elect; James Orloff, of Orloff Jewelers, Fresno, first vice president; David Hayman, of David Hayman Jewellers, Yorba Linda, second vice president; and Allen Kessler, of Kessler Jewelers, Burbank, treasurer.

Saldivar is the first Latina to serve in this capacity and only the fourth woman in the CJA’s 76-year history to serve as President of this prestigious association,” said Rossana Aguilar, CJA executive director and chief executive officer.

It was in 1985 that Teresa Saldivar knew it was time to spread her wings and go on her own, and so Teresa’s Jewelers was established. Today, Teresa’s Jewelers is one of the leading jewelry stores in Santa Ana. Saldivar was a two-term president of the Downtown Santa Ana Business Association and is an active leader in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations in Orange County. She joined the CJA’s Board of Directors in 1997 and was elected as an officer of the CJA in 2006.

JCK