AGTA names new board members
January 17, 2008

Dallas—Robert Bentley of Robert Bentley Co. was voted in as vice president of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA)’s board of directors, the AGTA announced on Wednesday.

In addition, four other officers were voted onto the board of the association, whose members work to promote colored gemstones and pearls. Betty Sue King of King’s Ransom was elected secretary of the board, while Benjamin “B.J.” Hackman of Intercolor, Bill Larson of Pala International and Gerry Manning of Manning International were each voted in as directors.

The new officers will serve three-year terms and will be introduced at the AGTA membership meeting slated for Feb. 10, during the AGTA GemFair in Tucson, Arizona.

The newly elected board members will join the following officers who are currently serving terms on the AGTA board, including: President Barbara Lawrence of Boston Gems and Findings, Vice President Omi Nagpal of Omi Gems, Secretary Kambiz Sabouri of Gem 2000 and Treasurer Sampat Poddar of Byrex Gems.

Current directors include: Peter Bazar of Imperial-Deltah, Eric Schwotzer of Penn Gem International, Glenn Lehrer of Lehrer Designs, Sushil Goyal of Liberty Gems, John Bachman of John M. Bachman, Joe Orlando of Stuller, Soraya Cayen of Soraya Cayen Collection and Eric Braunwart of Columbia Gem House.

The AGTA board of directors holds elections on a rotating cycle to ensure that the board’s long-term plans remain cohesive, the AGTA says.

The AGTA membership meeting is open to all AGTA members and will be held Sunday, Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Tucson Convention Center in the Spectrum of Design Ballroom.