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NICHE NAMES HUMANITARIAN

NICHE magazine, the trade publication for retailers of American crafts, named William E. Strickland Jr. as its 1998 Humanitarian of the Year. He received the honor for his vision and development of the Manchester Crafts- men’s Guild, which helps combat the economic and social devastation experienced by residents of the predominantly African-American neigh- borhood of Manchester, in Pittsburgh. He received the award Feb. 15 at ceremonies during the Buyers Market of American Crafts in Philadelphia. The NICHE Humanitarian of the Year award is given to individuals who have nurtured this country’s craft community.

HONORS

Jan Stodghill Domenico, co-owner of The Galaxie Jewelers, was honored as “1997 Warner Cable Hometown Hero” by Warner Cable’s Houston Division. Domenico was recognized for her dedication to the San Jacinto Girl Scout Council, volunteering as an adult chaperon for camping trips and serving as an active member of the board of directors.

Louise and Lenny Kramer were named Parents of the Year at the 43rd Annual Testimonial Dinner of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach. Lenny Kramer is president of Kimberley, a division of Leo Schachter Diamonds, L.L.C. He is a board member of the International Retail Jewelers Charity Fund, chairman of the IRJCF Audit Committee and Gabbai of the Sackett Lake Jewish Center. Louise Kramer volunteers her services at the elementary school and serves on the Parents’ Council.

APPOINTMENTS AT AURAFIN KURGAN

Aurafin Kurgan Inc., the joint venture of Aurafin Corp. and Kurgan-Cheviot which recently acquired ArtCarved Bridal and Columbia Diamond Ring Co., announced a number of appointments.

Colin Horowitz, chairman of Kurgan-Cheviot, assumed the position of president of Aurafin Kurgan Inc. He will oversee all sales and marketing.

Don Fiddelman became vice president of manufacturing. He formerly was chairman of Columbia Diamond.

Phil Bracco was named vice president of sales. He formerly was vice president of Gordon Brothers, Boston, for nine years.

John Doherty was named vice president of merchandising. He most recently was divisional vice president of merchandise for O.D.I.

Len Rosenkrantz became national sales manager. He served for 15 years at Columbia Diamond.

In addition, Richard S. Fliegel was named senior vice president of sales for Aurafin Gold Jewelry. Fliegel has been with Aurafin since the company began 15 years ago.

OTHER APPOINTMENTS

Pamela Fields was appointed U.S. director of marketing communications at Hill and Knowlton. Fields has over 20 years’ marketing experience. For the past five years, she ran her own consulting company, Fieldwork Inc., which specialized in consumer goods and specialty retail. During her most recent assignment as interim president of the Waterbury Watch Co. subsidiary of Timex Corp., she prepared the company for a merger with Callanen International. Other clients included Gap Inc., Bulova Watch Co., Hearst Magazines and Del Labs. She previously served as president of the U.S. subsidiary of Tag-Heuer.

Jerome J. Zapletal was elected president of Swest Inc., Dallas, Tex., a leading jewelry supply company. Zapletal has been with the company for 20 years, serving most recently as general manager and executive vice president.

Gordon Brothers Group appointed Jeffrey M. Wolf, Esq. to managing director and Kenneth J. Novack to the board of advisors. Wolf has been with Gordon Brothers for two years. Novack is a lawyer in the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Joe A. Herrmann was appointed chief financial officer of Display Technologies, College Point, N.Y., a designer and manufacturer of point-of-purchase displays for the jewelry industry.

David H. Fell & Co. Inc. appointed Robin L. White as western sales representative. White has a background in precious metals refining.

Neary Resources Corporation appointed Connor Strauss vice president-sales and marketing for its Gemstone Mining Inc. affiliate. She will be responsible for developing a strategic program for the distribution and sale of red beryl. David Morgan was appointed financial advisor.

Brian Schubot, a third-generation jeweler, was named president of Jules R. Schubot Jewellers in Troy, Mich. Schubot will be responsible for supervising the salon’s sales staff, assuring quality control of jewelry and timepieces and managing the 80-year-old jewelry store.

John G. McDevitt was appointed president of Schwarzschild Jewelers in Richmond, Va., replacing Wilfrid A. Schein, who died last October. McDevitt has been in fine jewelry retailing since graduating from college in 1970. He most recently was regional manager in the Midwest for Bailey, Banks & Biddle.

Reed & Barton, Taunton, Mass., promoted Charles Weeks to national sales manager, retail sales division. Daniel Fournier was named general manager, Reed & Barton food service division. Tony Chua was named director of international resourcing. George Davis was named regional sales representative for eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.

OBITUARIES

Joan T. DeMarco, 66, a dance instructor and part-time employee of Milanj Jewelers, King of Prussia, Pa., was killed Feb. 22 in her dance studio, also in King of Prussia, when she interrupted a robbery in progress. Fellow Milanj employees grew alarmed and notified the Upper Merion Township police when the normally responsible DeMarco failed to report for work.

Robert E. Sherrill, Jr., 73, a sales representative for several local and national jewelry companies, died Jan. 3 at age 73 in St. Louis, Mo.

Margaret McCormick, 78, a retired employee of Genesco and of Blues Jewelry in Gallatin, Tenn., died Feb. 24.

Benjamin Albert Momberg, 84, a jewelry salesman in Indianapolis, died Jan. 31.

Price Stanley, a self-employed jeweler and owner of Stanley Jewelry, died Feb. 13 in Jackson, Miss. He was 83.

Richard James Stoker, Jr., of Grenada, Tenn., died Jan. 20 at age 63. He was owner of Stoker Jewelry.

Lucy Taliaferro, 94, died of heart failure. Taliaferro was a retired jewelry store owner-operator in Jackson, Miss.

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