b"A MESSAGE FROMJEWELERS OF AMERICA'SPRESIDENT & CEO Jewelers of America is proud to welcome you to the 24th annual GEM Awards. As we look at the incredible individuals and companies who are being celebrated today, we are reminded of how special this GEM Awards community has become over the years. The nominees and honorees are all trailblazers who help increase desire for fine jewelry through their excellence in high jewelry, jewelry design, media and retail. Each plays an important role in pushing our industry forward and creating a brighter future for our jewelry community.GEM Awards is sold out once again and it remains the hottest ticket in the jewelry industry. We are grateful for everyone who has shown support for our honorees, nominees and GEM Awards, whether through buying an ad in this journal, a sponsorship or tickets. We know that this event wouldnt shine without your support.Tonight, we honor two industry legends with the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mark and Candy Udell have been fixtures in their community for decades and they have built an incredible family business that is a source of inspiration for so many looking to achieve greatness. We are so thankful for their support of Jewelers of America and GEM Awards over the years, and this recognition is very well-deserved. I would like to congratulate the nominees in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Innovation. The nine individuals and companies show a commitment to greatness in their fields, and we proudly celebrate their accomplishments. I also congratulate the team at Ana Khouri for their GEM Award for High Jewelry Excellence. Jewelers of America is a non-profit trade association who has been serving the industry since 1906. Your support of GEM Awards directly supports many essential programs that assist jewelers in obtaining the tools and education to ensure success. If you are not yet a member, we hope that you will join Jewelers of America as we are stronger together. I want to conclude this messaging by giving a huge thank you to the GEM Awards Committee, led by Marion Fasel, and my Jewelers of America team. As we turn our attention to the 25th annual GEM Awards, we know that we will be building off a long legacy of incredible eventsincluding this one. Enjoy the night!Regards, David J. BonapartePresident & CEO | Jewelers of America26 24TH ANNUAL GEM AWARDS"