(IDEX Online News) – Phyllis Bergman, CEO of Mercury Ring, will continue as president of the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) for 2016. She is joined by Ed Hrabak, chief operating officer for Signet Jewelers, who has been elected vice-president. Yancy Weinrich, group vice president of JCK, was elected secretary and Rich Slomovitz, chief financial officer of Rush Communications remains treasurer.

New members joining the board include: Kathy Corey, owner of Day’s Jewelers; Beth Gerstein, co-Founder and co-CEO of Brilliant Earth; Eddie Le Vian, CEO of Le Vian Corp; Russell Mehta, managing director of Rosy Blue, Michael Pollak, president of Hyde Park Jewelers and Susan Wicht, advisor for The Global Language Project.

Outgoing board members include: Cathy Calhoun, Meir Dalumi, Dylan Dix, Ellen Haddigan, Jean-Paul Tolkowsky, and Jaci Wilson-Reid. They become members of the D.E.F advisory board.

“Maintaining a global, diverse and high level board membership will help the Diamond Empowerment Fund continue to grow its mission of supporting initiatives that empower people in diamond communities and shining a light on the good that is done with diamonds” said co-founder Dr. Benjamin Chavis.