About the NJSA Founders
Cindy Ritzi Arnaoutis is the owner of Wm. Ritzi & Co. Jewelers, a 129 year old retail jewelry firm. Cindy has been very involved in the jewelry industry as an outspoken advocate for consumer rights and education. She has been in the industry for over 30 years and is a 5th generation jeweler. She is an accomplished speaker and author, holding many educational seminars and is the host of the PBS Show "Antiques and Collectibles."
Cindy founded the National Jewelry Security Association to address many of the concerns that she had regarding the jewelry consumer's need for better knowledge in the areas of jewelry protection. After many years of seeing first hand the heartbreak and financial loss due to consumers' poor jewelry security practices, this Association was born.
Established in 2009, the NJSA's mission is to provide valuable and actionable information to the jewelry consumer, allowing them to make an informed decision regarding all jewelry matters. We encourage consumers to seek relaible advisors to help them evaluate all of their personal jewelry needs.
You may contact Cindy by email: cindy@njsaonline.com or visit her website for further information: cindyritzi.com
Cindy founded the National Jewelry Security Association to address many of the concerns that she had regarding the jewelry consumer's need for better knowledge in the areas of jewelry protection. After many years of seeing first hand the heartbreak and financial loss due to consumers' poor jewelry security practices, this Association was born.
Established in 2009, the NJSA's mission is to provide valuable and actionable information to the jewelry consumer, allowing them to make an informed decision regarding all jewelry matters. We encourage consumers to seek relaible advisors to help them evaluate all of their personal jewelry needs.
You may contact Cindy by email: cindy@njsaonline.com or visit her website for further information: cindyritzi.com
A graduate of Stetson University’s School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Stacey Surge is a fourth generation entrepreneur who constantly educates herself on the latest trends in retail business, marketing and the jewelry industry. Stacey is involved in her family jewelry business, Masterpiece Jewelers and is a vocal advocate for consumer education and widely promotes jewelry security to her clients through presentations and clinics in her store.
Stacey has done live morning radio for over 10 years as well as cable television and voice-over work. A naturally gifted public speaker, she has given lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops and classes for over 25 years in the areas of business, jewelry, marketing and arts.
Through her book, the KeepSafe Jewelry Portfolio (co-authored by business partner Cindy Ritzi) and many other educational materials in various media forms, Stacey continues to enlighten the consumer AND independent jewelers on the need to form a relationship with each other that is mutually beneficial and of value to both parties.
You may contact Stacey through her website: staceysurge.com
Stacey has done live morning radio for over 10 years as well as cable television and voice-over work. A naturally gifted public speaker, she has given lectures, speeches, presentations, workshops and classes for over 25 years in the areas of business, jewelry, marketing and arts.
Through her book, the KeepSafe Jewelry Portfolio (co-authored by business partner Cindy Ritzi) and many other educational materials in various media forms, Stacey continues to enlighten the consumer AND independent jewelers on the need to form a relationship with each other that is mutually beneficial and of value to both parties.
You may contact Stacey through her website: staceysurge.com
Colin T. Gray is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in Communications. He is a 6th generation jeweler in the firm of Wm. Ritzi & Co. Jewelers. Colin has worked in the jewelry business over the past 10 years and understands the importance of early education of jewelry consumers as they enter their purchasing years.
Colin will focus on spreading the word about the NJSA and jewelry security with education to his peers through seminars and many on-line forums, including our Facebook Fan Page, Blogs and other social networking. Colin is authoring an educational series for young, first time jewelry buyers so that they can understand the do's and don't of jewelry purchasing and ownership, which includes a substantial security component.
You may contact Colin by email: colin@njsaonline.com. Also, his website will be up shortly: colintgray.com
Colin will focus on spreading the word about the NJSA and jewelry security with education to his peers through seminars and many on-line forums, including our Facebook Fan Page, Blogs and other social networking. Colin is authoring an educational series for young, first time jewelry buyers so that they can understand the do's and don't of jewelry purchasing and ownership, which includes a substantial security component.
You may contact Colin by email: colin@njsaonline.com. Also, his website will be up shortly: colintgray.com
Throughout his 48 years in the jewelry business, Tom has served on numerous national committees concerning colored gemstone gradng and industy ethics. In the early 80's he developed the internationally acclaimed ColorMaster, a grading machine used to communicate the color of gemstones. It was the first instrument of its type in the jewelry industry and revolutionized colored gemstone grading. Tom still holds a patent on its design. The ColorMaster was marketed worldwide by the Gemological Institute of America.
Tom is a 4th generation retail jeweler and has been actively involved in consumer advocacy for all of his 48 years in the business. He was the first jeweler in his local area to produce a weekly half-hour TV show about jewelry that ran in the early 60's as an educational series. Tom understands the importance of jewelry security and how it relates to his age group - mostly seniors who are preparing wills and making decisions about the disposition of their jewelry.
Tom is a 4th generation retail jeweler and has been actively involved in consumer advocacy for all of his 48 years in the business. He was the first jeweler in his local area to produce a weekly half-hour TV show about jewelry that ran in the early 60's as an educational series. Tom understands the importance of jewelry security and how it relates to his age group - mostly seniors who are preparing wills and making decisions about the disposition of their jewelry.