New York: The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced the results of its annual board of directors’ election, according to a statement released September 11.

Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC, was elected President. Cynthia Renée (Marcusson) of Cynthia Renee, Inc., and Avi Raz of A & Z Pearls, Inc., were re-elected as directors to the board. Kusam Malhotra of K & K, Int’l, and Jeff Mason of Mason-Kay, Inc. were newly elected. The directors’-elect will take office February 2016 and serve three-year terms.

The AGTA elections are held on a rotating-cycle basis to guarantee coherence of the body’s long-term plans, the statement said. New members will be introduced on February 5 at the AGTA GemFair Tucson.

The AGTA is an association of U.S. and Canadian trade professionals that promotes the long-term stability and integrity of the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industries.