PRESS RELEASE  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Joyann Cooke November 7, 2007
  800-972-1162  


Douglas K. Hucker Returns as AGTA CEO

Dallas, TX - November 7, 2007 - The American Gem Trade Association Board of Directors has announced the re-appointment of Douglas K. Hucker as Chief Executive Officer of the Association.

"The Board of Directors has worked diligently in recent months to clearly define the goals of the Association in the coming years," said Hucker, "and I am delighted that the Board has expressed confidence in my ability to help them reach them."

AGTA President Barbara Lawrence said, "We have a very committed and active Board of Directors that has aggressively been developing programs and strategies to both grow our membership and to help our existing members improve their colored gemstone and cultured pearl businesses. Aside from these ambitious projections, we are faced with no shortage of issues, both regulatory as well as challenges to our core businesses. We are fortunate to have a very dedicated and hard-working staff to help us reach our marks and continue moving the Association in a positive direction. The Board of Directors is pleased to have Doug Hucker back as part of this solid team of professionals."

The AGTA is an Association of natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry professionals, dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone trade. The Association pursues this mission through the combined use of educational programs, industry events and publicity to both the trade and consumer. We are The Authority in Color.

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