AGTA Appoints COO

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has hired Edwin L. Griffin Jr. to fill the newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer for the association.

Griffin comes from a background in association management. For the 12 years prior to coming to work for the AGTA, he was the president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International, and before that he spent 11 years as the executive director of the Kentucky League of Cities.

Griffin’s responsibilities will include managing AGTA staff and overseeing administrative duties at the association’s Dallas headquarters and its laboratory in New York City. He will also spearhead a strategic program of marketing, development of the AGTA brand, and membership recruitment.

The AGTA is at a pivotal point in serving the members and entities affected by the dramatic increase in the sales of gemstones and cultured pearls as well as the changing dynamics of the gemstone trade,” AGTA Executive Director Douglas Hucker said in a statement. “The appointment of Ed as an integral part of our executive management team marks a milestone in our history as we initiate a member growth campaign and develop a broader array of services available to the industry.”

Posted: November 20, 2006

November/December 2006 • Kenya: With Open Arms • Women With Tools • News & Updates • In This Issue • Visit the Tucson Show Guide