The Honorary Owner

There are currently 4 stockholders of the closely held corporation known as Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, Inc. Leo Hamel is the majority stockholder, and Lisa Hamel McCarthy, Maggie Scheuer, and Robin Hart are minority stockholders.

Ownership is a privilege as well as a responsibility and each owner is committed to do his or her utmost to ensure the continuing success of our business. Owners enjoy certain benefits not commonly provided to non-owners but never take advantage of their status in the group.

On rare occasions an employee of the company has made such a significant contribution that he or she is seen as acting in the manner of an owner of the company. We desire to recognize those singular individuals by bestowing upon them the title of Honorary Owner.

The Honorary Owner enjoys many of the same privileges as do the stockholders and is held in the utmost esteem by the entire group. A few of the benefits include:

• Employee purchases at cost for new merchandise
• Employee purchases at wholesale value for trade-in and estate merchandise
• Reimbursed or paid cost of medical insurance*
• Preferred parking
• No limit on weekly cash draws
• Attendance at many stockholder events
• Larger share of any bonuses such as Christmas bonus
• Reasonable use of personal cell phone during business hours

*Medical insurance – company will pay for the equivalent of an HMO gold plan. If the employee chooses a different plan, he or she will be responsible to pay for the difference. Spouses are not covered by the company. Dental and vision insurance is not included. This benefit was added before the company started paying for the insurance of all employees that have been here for more than 5 years, so the Honorary Owner was first to have this benefit. And the Honorary Owner does not have to be here for 5 years to have this benefit.

Any employee of LHFJ can strive to become an Honorary Owner. Our very first Honorary Owner is Teri Ramirez, recognized for her 16 years of extraordinary contributions to our sales department and her commitment and drive to improve her game every year.