PRISM Winter 2009 AGTA SPECTRUM AWARDS™ A MODEL PHOTOGRAPHER THE WOMAN BEHIND THE TROPHIES MEMBER PROFILE: MARK SCHNEIDER JEWELFOLIO™ A NEW DIRECTION IN GEMOLOGY The AGTA GTC JewelFolio™ is a custom built one-of-a-kind document for a one-of-a-kind jewel. Each JewelFolio™ is an individually numbered hardcover cloth or leatherbound volume that accompanies an individual gemstone. Every JewelFolio™ consists of 32 – 42 full color pages blending modern science with art and history. Available for: Kashmir Sapphire Colombian Emerald Sri Lankan Sapphire Burmese Sapphire Burmese Ruby Tanzanite ADD VALUE TO YOUR GEMSTONES WITH JEWELFOLIO™ 212-752-1717 www.agta-gtc.org [email protected] PRISMIWINTER 2009 Letter From the President When I became President of the AGTA our Members’ businesses survive and im- in the fall of 2007, we all knew that there prove, and to grow our organization both was a management crisis in our Associa- in numbers and in worldwide recognition. tion. In the past 1.5 years, the staff and BJ and I have worked closely together dur- Board have sailed to a smooth recovery. ing this past year to guarantee a smooth Here are the highlights: transition of leadership and continuance of 1. The Dallas office is producing more the objectives established by the Board of Member Benefits and more gemstone Directors. BJ has shown a total commit- promotions than ever before. ment to our Members and the AGTA, and 2. Spectrum was a huge success and I am sure he will be an outstanding Presi- received more internet and publication dent for your Association. coverage than prior years. Having said all this, we are going into look to you and rely on you for your con- 3. Last year AGTA GemFair™ Tucson one of the most difficult times any of us tinuing participation in the Association was the most successful trade show. has ever faced. This will be a test for many that is The Authority in Color™. 4. The GTC is performing better than it of us as businesses as well as for the AGTA I wish you all the best. Have a wonder- has ever done since its inception. as an organization. How can we grow ful 2009 and a successful AGTA Gem- With Douglas Hucker and Lore Kiefert while controlling expenses; grow while Fair™ Tucson! ▲ at the helms of our ships, we are moving prioritizing our goals and grow while sac- in a very positive direction. We have all rifices have to be made? I am confident Sincerely, worked toward a common goal of making that we have the team in place to overcome our Association more meaningful to our the obstacles before us. Members and to our industry. As Benjamin I will enjoy sitting on the Board as Barbara Lawrence (BJ) Hackman expressed in his letter, we the Past President, and will be chair- AGTA President have many projects in the works to help ing the Nominations Committee. I will Letter From the Incoming President Greetings to my fellow AGTA Members: the best possible professional Staff and a For the past 27 years, AGTA has been most-dedicated Board of Directors at its in the forefront of the colored gemstone in- disposal. We’re working diligently to: dustry. Unfortunately, as everyone is well 1. Grow and sustain AGTA GemFair™ aware, we are experiencing a very difficult Tucson as the world’s premier colored financial period in the United States and gemstone trade show. the entire world. Hardly any businesses are 2. Improve AGTA GemFair™ Las Ve- immune to this economic downturn. This gas in order to attract more buyers from means that we all have to work harder to the manufacturing and designer pavil- maintain our current status at home and ions to buy from our Members. abroad. 3. Increase our Membership, particu- I’ve been involved with the AGTA since larly Retail Members, by 10% per year. and service performance. its inception. With my long association as 4. Remain fiscally sound and respon- 6. Continue improving our Source a Member and a Board Member over the sible to our Membership – to spend our Directory and www.agta.org so that years, I can say with confidence that our money wisely and effectively. they serve as marketing tools in the Association is extremely fortunate to have 5. Improve the GTC’s turn-around time (continued on page 4) 2 PRISM|WINTER 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS P RESIDENT Barbara Lawrence Boston Gems and Findings, Inc. M embership Benefits V ICE P RESIDENT The American Gem Trade Association is a not-for-profit Association of Robert Bentley Robert Bentley Company, Inc. United States and Canadian gemstone professionals dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls. Benjamin Hackman Founded in 1981, the AGTA has over 1,100 Members representing leading Intercolor, Inc. colored gemstone and cultured pearl wholesalers, retail jewelers, jewelry S ECRETARIES manufacturers, designers, colored diamond dealers, estate dealers and Betty Sue King King’s Ransom industry professionals. AGTA Members are proud to uphold the highest ethical standards, agreeing Kambiz Sabouri to the Association’s strict Code of Ethics, Constitution and full disclosure of Gem 2000, Inc. gemstone enhancements. TREASURER Membership provides you with many exclusive benefits and services: Sampat Poddar Byrex Gems, Inc. Members are eligible to exhibit in some of the most important annual events in the gemstone and jewelry industry, including AGTA GemFair™ Tucson, D IRECTORS AGTA GemFair™ Las Vegas, JA New York and The Instore Show. John Bachman John M. Bachman, Inc. Members are listed and granted four free listings in the AGTA Source Directory. This is a powerful tool that gives access to a valuable network of Peter Bazar Imperial-Deltah, Inc. fellow gemstone professionals. Over 20,000 copies are distributed! Members receive preferred pricing for services at the AGTA Gemological Sushil Goyal Testing Center and on a large variety of marketing materials. Liberty Gems, Inc. Members stay informed about all the hot topics surrounding our industry and Bill Larson the AGTA with the quarterly Prism newsletter and weekly ePrism. Pala International, Inc. Members have access to leading industry programs. These programs include Glenn Lehrer Bank of America Merchant Services, FedEx Express® Shipping, FedEx Lehrer Designs, Inc. Declared Value, FedEx Kinkos, insurance programs through Association Gerry Manning Health Programs and the Office Depot: Taking Care of Business program. Manning International, Inc. The professionalism of AGTA Members continues to set them apart from Joe Orlando the competition.▲ Stuller, Inc. PRISM Eric Schwotzer is distributed quarterly for American Gem Trade Association Members. Penn Gem International For further information or to advertise, please contact: PAST P RESIDENT Joshua Garcia Eric Braunwart American Gem Trade Association Columbia Gem House, Inc. 3030 LBJ Frwy., Ste. 840 Dallas, TX 75234 C HIEF E XECUTI V E O FFICER 800-972-1162 214-742-7334 FAX Douglas K. Hucker www.agta.org www.addmorecolortoyourlife.com On the Cover: 2009 Spectrum Awards winning morganite earrings by Richard Krementz Gemstones. 2009 Spectrum Awards winning star rose quartz ring by Jennifer Rabe Morin. Photographed by Jack Deutsch. 3 PRISM|WINTER 2009 most technologically “friendly” format. It’s an honor and a privilege for me to Please feel free to contact me at any 7. Stay up-to-date using the latest avail- serve as AGTA’s new President. My term time with your suggestions, questions, able technology for marketing, not only begins after the upcoming Tucson show. criticisms or grievances. ▲ for AGTA as a whole, but, potentially, I’ll do my very best to insure that AGTA as an economical marketing option to meets the challenges that face our trade. All the best, Members who wish to utilize these fa- As Barbara Lawrence ends her term as cilities as they become available. President, she leaves a strengthened As- To accomplish all of the above and sociation, having seamlessly wedded the Benjamin (BJ) Hackman more, we’ll need your participation and Board’s directions to the Staff’s adminis- AGTA Incoming President active involvement to serve on committees tration of those directions. I enter my term and volunteer to serve on future Boards. having the good fortune to follow Barba- Please come forward. Help us to reinforce ra’s highly productive tenure. May I do as our message that AGTA is The Authority well as she in forwarding the best interests in Color™. of our Association and our trade. Letter From the CEO How many of the Ten Commandants participants were more likely to engage in can you recite? unethical behavior if they saw that same I am an avid listener to National Public behavior in folks they held in high regard Radio, and I was particularly intrigued by and less likely to emulate that behavior if one broadcast last week. Seems the folks it was evidenced in people for whom they at Carnegie Mellon University, as a result had less respect. of the Bernie Madoff scandal on Wall The lesson I took from this is that when Street, decided to conduct a study in just our clients come to our booths here at how willing people were to bend the rules AGTA GemFair™ Tucson, our behavior (cheat) when faced with the opportunity. will influence theirs. Our Members are The study gathered a couple of dozen grad- held in high regard by the jewelry indus- uate students in a room and asked them to try because of our commitment to ethical adherence. Each year, we send out a form answer twenty-five questions, for which and professional business practices, and for our Members to sign, in which they they would be paid for correct answers.