The Jewelry Information Center, the public relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industry, has appointed Michelle Orman as its new media liaison. Orman previously worked in private-sector public relations for accessory and fashion clients. Orman’s primary responsibility will be securing publicity placements in consumer publications. She will also share spokesperson duties for local media tours.
Maxene Pollack has joined Elite Gold New York as director of sales and marketing. She will be responsible for sales and marketing functions, product development, advertising, and public relations. Prior to joining Elite Gold, Pollack held similar positions at Braunstein and Royal Chain.
Sterling Jewelers has promoted three people to the position of vice president. Greg Waidman has been named vice president of regional operations for the West Coast. He joined Sterling’s management team in 1990, managing stores in Clearwater and Pensacola, Fla. Most recently he was district manager of the northern Florida region.
Bill Luth has been promoted from district manager in the western New York area to vice president of operations administration. Luth joined Sterling in 1988 as a part-time sales associate and was promoted to store manager in March 1990. He became a district manager in 1997. Jeff Starkey has been named vice president of field repair. He joined the company in 1986 as a sales associate and became a district manager in 1990. He was promoted to director of field repair in 1997.
Daniel Mink Switzerland, a division of the Montreux Group, a Swiss manufacturer and distributor of luxury watches, has three new sales representatives. Peter Panagos will cover the Caribbean, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Mark Montague will cover New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Mark Eremian will cover Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Wenger S.A., Delémont, Switzerland, and Wenger N.A. have appointed Gary Maupas to the newly created position of vice president of sales. Prior to this appointment, Maupas held the position of director of sales, sporting goods division, as well as regional sales manager. He also served as sales associate with KAF Associates, an independent sales organization for Wenger N.A.
Charles Rivchun & Sons Inc. Jewelers, Cleveland, has announced two staff changes. Joseph Soukenik has been named president of the company, and Sharon Porrello has been named general manager. Soukenik has been with Rivchun for 45 years, including 20 years as vice president. Porrello has been with the company for more than 20 years.
Simon Golub & Sons announces two appointments: Daryl Shamitoff has been promoted to the position of president of the International Jewelry Connection (IJC) division. Shamitoff has been with Simon Golub & Sons for 18 years and started the IJC division in 1997. Cynthia Quackenbush has been promoted to the position of vice president of operations. Quackenbush has been with SGS for nine years as IT manager.
Richard Caniglia has been named as the new president of Aya Azrielant’s signature designer line of fine jewelry. Caniglia was most recently vice president of sales and operations for Miadora Inc. Prior to that, he was vice president of sales for the Tourneau Corporation, vice president of operations for Ross Simon, and vice president and director of sales for Bloomingdale’s Inc.
The Gemological Institute of America has made two appointments. Donna M. Baker, Esq., was named to the newly created post of corporate counsel. A former partner in a Riverside, Calif., law firm, Baker has experience in business and contract law—including litigation—and in employment practice. Jodie Diegel, G.G., has been named to the newly created position of regional recruiting specialist for the Midwest. Diegel earned her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA in 1999 while also completing her masters in business administration.
Seiko Corporation of America has named Bob Perry vice president of special markets and Dan Yung vice president of national accounts. Perry formerly was vice president of national accounts, and Yung had been vice president of special markets.