b'HOLLY J o i n U s i n C e l e b r a t i n g G r e a t n e s s ! WESCHEthe 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Brevard County by Space Coast Business magazine in 2008 and received an Out-standing Business Leader Award from the Florida Institute of Technologys Nathan M. Bisk College of Business in 2011. And Hollys been just as busy serving the jewelry industry, a family tradition she is proud to carry on. Wesche Jewelers is both a JA and an AGS member store. Following in her Great-Uncle Herb Underwoods footsteps, Holly started volunteering her time with JA in 2008.Holly served on the board and the executive committee, including her term as board chair, for 14 years. That is an extraor-dinary run and shows her passion and dedication to Jewelers of America, JA President and CEO David Bonaparte says.He joined the association in 2012 and formally met Holly at his first board meeting. At the time, she was on the executive committee.I could immediately sense that she cared deeply about the organization and our mission. Her great-uncle was a past board chair and she was always very focused on making sure JA was healthy and well respected in the industry,It just makes for Bonaparte says. Holly always broughta more satisfying new ideas for growth, was anlife when youre ambassador for membershipinvolved with and talked positively about JAothers. I think at various industry events. Holly served as JA boardwere made to be chair from 2019 to 2021. in community. I When my great-unclehappen to believe was board chair of RJA, Ithats how God was 2 years old, Holly says.designed us. Little did he knowbecause back then, women were not Holly Wescheon boards, women [couldnt belong to the 24 Karat Club of New York]. This is the old dayshis 2-year-old niece would hold that seat 52 years later.Holly says before her, only three women had ever served on the JA board. She made it her mission to get more women on the board with her. Nine of the 25 JA board members for the 2022-23 term were women, including Holly.With multiple decades under her belt, Holly remains an avid and energetic volunteer, though she has fine-tuned how she ex-pends her time and energy. Ive gotten to a more seasoned place in life where I really give my time and energy and resources to things that are important to me. Im more selective about it and go a little deeper with it, she says. Its very satisfying to know you contributed and hopefully made a difference. It feels good to give back to our community, to support various charitable organizations, to be involved and support other locally owned businesses. I think it just makes for a more satisfying life when youre involved with others. I think were made to be in community. I happen to believe thats how God designed us. 24 RETAILER HALL OF FAME 2023'