Press Releases

American Gem Society Accepting RFPs for Breakout Speakers at Conclave 2020

Submit your speaker Request for Proposal by August 9, 2019.

Published

4 years ago

June 7, 2019

INSTORE Staff

LAS VEGAS — The American Gem Society (AGS) is now accepting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to present at the annual Conclave in Denver, CO, April 27-29, 2020.

The AGS is looking for presenters on a variety of topics:

· Appraising
· Business management
· Ethics
· Gemology
· Human resources
· In-store events
· Retail Innovation

· Marketing and sales
· Security
· Sourcing
· Succession planning
· Sustainability
· Technology
· Watches

The AGS plans to incorporate into its program, panel discussions, insider insights, sessions for varying educational levels (i.e. beginner, intermediate, advanced), and hands-on classes. AGS is seeking to incorporate timely topics on issues relevant to the jewelry industry, such as blockchain, laboratory-created diamonds, retail innovation, and consumer buying behaviors.

“Conclave is a continued success because of the diverse range of topics offered. It’s a core strength of our program and has helped make it the most trusted source of information on gemology and business in our industry,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of AGS and AGS Laboratories. “We take active measures to preserve this diversity, because it enriches the learning experience for our attendees.”

RFPs can be completed online here.

Please submit your speaker Request for Proposal by August 9, 2019. Each submission will be reviewed and you will be notified by November 29, 2019 on the status of your submission. If you have any questions, contact Alethea Inns, CGA, Director of Gemology and Education at ainns@ags.org. Please note, RFPs submitted after the deadline will not be considered for inclusion into Conclave 2020. To be considered as a presenter for Conclave 2020, an RFP is required.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”