(Press Release)
The Jewelry Industry Summit, an open forum on sustainability and responsible sourcing, announced that its second meeting would take place Jan. 29-30 at the Tucson Convention Center.
An updated website and information about registering for the event is located at http://www.jewelryindustrysummit.com/. There, interested parties can also review the outcomes of the March 2016 summit, learn more about plans for the 2017 event and discover resources and information related to sustainable business practices and responsible sourcing.
"I can’t think of a better place to discuss responsible sourcing than at the summit, which is just prior to the AGTA GemFair in Tucson," said Jeffrey Bilgore, president of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and a member of the second summit’s planning committee. AGTA is also the official host of the second event.
The Tucson Summit will pick up where the first summit, held in March 2016 in New York, left off. That sold-out event concluded with a list of projects that various attendees committed to continue beyond the summit. The projects included: aligning and coordinating various existing standards; researching consumer attitudes; educating sales associates; and communicating industry accomplishments to the wider public. There was also a commitment to tackle specific supply chain issues, such as helping gem cutters in developing countries who need education and equipment to avoid silicosis, a disease that occurs from inhaling stone dust.
The 2017 Jewelry Industry Summit will once again be an interactive, working meeting, with large and small discussion groups assisted by professional facilitators – rather than a full agenda of speakers. This format contrasts with many conferences, in that its central driver is attendee participation. The summit says its purpose is "to maintain an industry-wide conversation that invites all stakeholders to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and possibilities related to responsible sourcing in the jewelry industry supply chain."
The summit’s goals are to:
- Generate broad-based awareness of facts related to the jewelry industry supply chain and responsible sourcing, and explore what works and what does not.
- Learn about and review progress on current industry-wide initiatives and developments related to sustainable business practices and responsible sourcing.
- Develop shared visions for key stages of the jewelry industry supply chain that support the broader industry vision for sustainable business and responsible sourcing.
- Design prototypes of tools and strategies that enable businesses in the supply chain to make progress through continuous improvement.
Attendees are expected to include both larger and smaller companies that have already made significant commitments to responsible sourcing and sustainability. But the summit also welcomes industry members who are new to the topic of sustainability and responsible sourcing, from miners, cutters and manufacturers to wholesalers, designers and retailers. It will also invite representatives from banks, accountants, insurers, consultancies, governments, associations, media and non-governmental organizations to attend.
The planning committee for the second summit includes:
- Jeff Bilgore – AGTA/Jeffrey Bilgore LLC
- Cecilia Gardner, JVC
- Cleo Zancope Gnatek, Jane Taylor Jewelry
- Doug Hucker, AGTA
- Christina Miller, Christina Tatiana Miller Consulting
- Richard Nehls, LA Rocks
- Mike Pace, Diamond Producers Association
- Sam Shiroff, Signet
- Barbara Wheat, Gemalytics LLC/Natural Colored Diamond Association
Cheri Torres and Mike Feinson of Innovation Partners are again working with the committee to design and facilitate the summit. To learn more about them: www.innovationpartners.com.
The summit is funded by donor companies and individuals, as well as by the registration fees of attendees. Cost to attend this year is $275, which includes a reception on the evening of Jan. 29, coffee breaks and lunches. It also includes a free registration for the AGTA GemFair at the Tucson Convention Center, which runs Jan. 31- Feb. 5.
To register for the Jewelry Industry Summit directly, click here: http://www.jewelryindustrysummit.com/.
To learn more about summit sponsorship opportunities, click here: http://www.jewelryindustrysummit.com/contribute/.
For all other information regarding group registration, scholarships, or sponsorships contact Barbara Wheat at barbarawheat@gmail.com.