The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) has named Cecilia Gardner and Michael Pollak as its 2017 Hall of Fame honourees for the annual Awards for Excellence gala.

Gardner, president, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) will be awarded the WJA Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to serving the industry. From her leadership of the JVC to serving as general counsel to the World Diamond Council throughout the creation of the Kimberley Process (KP), and its implementation in the U.S. as general counsel to the United States Kimberley Process Authority (USKPA), Gardner has more than 20 years’ experience serving on many industry boards.

This year’s recipient of the Ben Kaiser Award is Michael Pollak, former president of the Luxury Jewelers Resource Group and 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Pollak has more than 40 years in retail management and has served on the board of several industry associations including the Natural Color Diamond Association and Diamond Empowerment Fund. He also founded Diamonds in the Rough, an organization supporting youth-based non-profits.

Day’s Jewelers, a family-owned jewelry chain serving Maine and New Hampshire, will be honoured with the 2017 Corporate Award for its commitment to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices. The company is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and has received many honours throughout its 100 years, including America’s Best Jewelers as chosen by National Jeweler and the Retail Association of Maine’s 2016 Retailer of the Year.

“It is my utmost pleasure to be a part of honouring such a distinguished group of individuals during the 2017 Awards for Excellence,” says Brandee Dallow, WJA president. “Returning to Chelsea Piers with this trio of award winners is most certainly going to make for a fabulous evening.”

The awards gala is set to take place on July 24, 2017.