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IGI President appointed to the Board of Diamonds Do Good

IGI North America President Avi Levy is one of 10 new members appointed to the board of Diamonds Do Good (DDG).

Diamonds Do Good

Founded Diamonds in 2007 as the Diamond Empowerment Fund, the organization’s mission is supporting programs that develop and empower people in countries with significant economic dependence on the natural diamond trade. To that end, DDG actively seeks to fund programs that have proven success in providing youth with high-quality education, including leadership development and entrepreneurial skills building.

New Board Members

  • Kim Crawford, Vice President and Divisional Manager of Jewelry & Watches for Macy’s
  • Nathalie Diamantis, CEO and President of Pomellato Group Americas
  • Christina Gambale, The co-owner of Greenwich St. Jewelers in New York
  • Mark Klein, Director of Operations for the Julius Klein Group
  • Avi Levy, President of IGI North America
  • Kristie Nicolosi, President and CEO of the Kingswood Co.
  • Kealeboga Pule, Founder and Managing Director of Nungu Diamonds in South Africa
  • Catherine Sarr, Designer for Almasika
  • Andrew Siegel, Chief Operating Officer of Hamilton Jewelers
  • Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director of the Responsible Jewellery Council
Avi Levy, IGI | Photo Credit IGI

Foerster named President

Rebecca Foerster was elected to the position of president. Currently President of Alrosa’s U.S. Operations, she has served on the DDG board for a decade now. In that time she has chaired the Marketing, Fundraising and Nominating committees, and has served on the board’s Executive Committee for the past four years.

Of her newly appointed teammates, Foerster said:

We are thrilled to welcome these incredible new board members many of whom represent the next generation in our industry and all of whom have expressed their passion for the mission of Diamonds Do Good.

Anna Foerster, Alrosa | Photo Credit DDG

The Vice President will be Kathy Corey who is co-owner of Days Jewelers, an chain of eight jewelry stores based in Waterville, Maine. Yancy Weinrich of Reed Exhibitions will remain treasurer.

Martin will Remain

Anna Martin, Senior Vice President of Global Development and Beneficiation at GIA will remain on the Executive Committee as immediate Past President, having served as President since 2017. She commented:

It has been a privilege to serve as President for the past 4 years for an organization that shares my values. I am very confident Rebecca will continue the positive impact Diamonds Do Good has made for so many communities and I look forward to working with her to encourage the industry to share these stories with their customers as it is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.

Anna Martin, GIA | Photo Credit GIA

Diamonds Do Good was inspired in 2006 by Nelson Mandela to tell the world about the positive impact of diamonds in Southern Africa. Its focus today is to create meaningful change in diamond communities across the world and to tell these meaningful stories.

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