Diamond Empowerment Fund Elects Phyllis Bergman president of its governing board

The Diamond Empowerment Fund has unanimously elected Phyllis Bergman president of its governing board. Bergman, CEO of Englewood, N.J.-based Mercury Ring, has served on the DEF advisory board since 2008, and heads its product development committee.

Bergm an brings a wealth of industry nonprofit experience to the position. She is currently the chairman of the Twenty Four Karat Club of the City of New York, sits on the board of directors of the Diamond Development Initiative, is the incoming chair of the Jewelers Board of Trade, is a past president of the national Women’s Jewelry Association and currently chairs WJA’s Scholarship Committee, and is a past member of the American Gem Society board of directors.

Bergman has been the recipient of multiple jewelry industry awards, including the American Gem Society Triple Zero Award, the Women’s Jewelry Association Hall of Fame, and WJA’s annual Award for Excellence in Manufacturing.

Outside the jewelry industry, she is active in the Women’s Presidents Organization, the Central Park Conservancy and previously spent many years active with ORT, a global organization that teaches vocational skills.

Of her recent election, Bergman said, “I’m very excited to become president of DEF’s governing board and take the organization to the next level. The jewelry industry has done very well through the resources of Africa, and I believe it’s the industry’s responsibility to give something back.

“DEF’s mission of empowering Africans through education is something I firmly endorse: giving a hand up, not a handout. By giving individuals in diamond-producing nations the tools and abilities to help themselves, it allows the next generation of Africans to emerge from poverty and dependence to economic growth and prosperity.”

Bergman was unanimously elected to office by the DEF governing board, with full support of the non-voting advisory board. Upon her election, she moves from the organization’s advisory board to its governing board.

Mem bers of the DEF advisory board include: Russell Simmons, Rush Communi cations, chairman; Lita Asscher, Royal Asscher of America; Donna M. Baker, GIA; Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner; Michael Kaplan, Rocket Box; Dilip Mehta, Rosy Blue; The Honorable Festus G. Mogae, former president of the Republic of Botswana; Linah Mohohlo, Bank of Botswana; Scott Rauch, Simmons Jewelry Co.; Hedda Schupak, industry analyst and editor, The Centurion Newsletter; and Elliot Tannenbaum, Leo Schachter Diamonds.

Members of the DEF governing board include: Cathy Calhoun, Calhoun Jewelers; Rebecca Foerster, Rio Tinto Diamonds; Ellen Haddigan, The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering; Edward Hrabak, Sterling Jewelers Inc.; Anna Martin, Standard Chartered Bank; Sally Morrison, Forevermark; Varda Shine, Diamond Trading Co.; Yancy Weinrich, JCK Events; and Jaci Wils on-Reid. Non-board officers include Nashon Craig, secretary, and Rich Slomovitz, treasurer, both of Rush Communications.