GEM Awards to Honor Susan Jacques with Lifetime Achievement

Susan M. Jacques, CEO of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), will receive the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The award committee selected Jacques for her years of jewelry-industry service and leadership during her long career, said Jewelers of America (JA) — the trade body behind the award — on Tuesday.

She will get the accolade at the 22nd annual GEM Awards on March 8, 2024, in New York.

“Susan is a cherished member of the jewelry industry, and her commitment to our industry’s success is unwavering,” said JA CEO David J. Bonaparte.

Jacques has been GIA CEO since January 2014. Prior to joining the institute, she was CEO of Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Omaha, Nebraska, for 20 years. Jacques has served on the boards of many industry organizations over the years, including the Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC), JA, Jewelers for Children, and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC).

The annual GEM Awards gala honors the outstanding achievements of companies and individuals whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches. A committee of industry experts selects the recipients.

JA will be announcing the other nominees in the coming weeks, it said.

Image: Susan Jacques. (Gemological Institute of America)