The American Gem Commerce Affiliation (AGTA) has named John W. Ford Sr. (pictured) its new CEO.

Ford at present serves on the AGTA govt committee and because the group’s treasurer.

Ford has been within the jewellery trade for over 38 years. He’s the previous proprietor of John Ford Jewelers in Galveston, Texas, and now heads the Lightning Ridge Assortment, which spotlights opals from Lightning Ridge, Australia, and has gained quite a few AGTA Spectrum Awards. He’ll transfer on from that enterprise to focus on AGTA, a press release mentioned.

He has additionally had in depth expertise with nonindustry-related governance. He has served as chairman of the Port of Galveston in addition to the president of the Galveston Unbiased College District.

He’s a graduate of Texas A&M College (and holds a specialised diploma in worldwide commerce and finance) and is an alumnus of the Gemological Institute of America. He’s additionally a member of the American Gem Society.

Ford replaces Douglas Hucker, who resigned because the group’s CEO in March after serving in that function for twenty-four years. Hucker has since turn out to be the pinnacle of the Worldwide Coloured Gemstone Affiliation (ICA).

“John’s data of AGTA’s operations alongside together with his company governance expertise made him the clear selection,” mentioned AGTA board chair Kimberly Collins, who has been serving because the group’s interim CEO following Hucker’s departure, in a press release. “John’s imaginative and prescient of AGTA is aligned with AGTA’s govt committee, and he has developed a really shut working relationship and belief with the officers, the board, and the Dallas workers.”

In the identical assertion, Ford described himself as “member-centric.”

“We’ll put our agency members’ pursuits first, with elevated emphasis on creating retail membership,” he mentioned.

He pledged to “enhance the promotion of pure coloured gem stones and pearls, whereas perpetuating the very best moral trade requirements.”

Picture courtesy of the American Gem Commerce Affiliation

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