May 15, 2025

The American Gem Society (AGS) and Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are excited to announce that Sekou Andrews—an award-winning poet and entrepreneur who blends inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry—will deliver the closing keynote at Converge 2025. His performance will be on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. PT at the Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California. Sekou Andrews is one of the most successful spoken word poets in the world. A former schoolteacher-turned-innovator, Andrews has created a revolutionary speaking style—“Poetic Voice”—that fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry, blending elements of theater, comedy, strategic storytelling, and thought leadership.

K & D Diamonds, founded by David Dresdner in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District, is a trusted name in natural diamonds with a heritage spanning three generations. Specializing in primarily GIA-certified stones, the company has served the diamond industry for over thirty years. “We were trained virtually from birth,” says David. K & D’s approach is centered on partnering with jewelers to help them provide exceptional service. “Imagine a jeweler who doesn’t have the exact diamond a customer is looking for in stock. Instead of losing that sale, they can partner with K & D Diamonds. We

By Jewelers Mutual® Group Jewelry trade shows offer great opportunities to connect, explore new trends, and grow your business. However, with huge crowds, high-value merchandise, and constant activity, they are prime targets for cybercriminals. A single misstep, like joining the wrong Wi-Fi or clicking a malicious link, can put your business at serious risk. Here are the top cybersecurity threats to watch for and tips to help protect yourself. 1. Public Wi-Fi & Fake Networks Free public Wi-Fi is convenient but often unsafe. Hackers can monitor these networks or set up fake networks with names like “Free Airport Wi-Fi” or

By Jim A. Luff, Association Relationship Manager, Aurora Payments With paper checks expected to be phased out by 2027, the term “ACH payments” has become a frequent phrase. You likely know what an ACH payment is, but perhaps don’t know what “A-C-H” stands for. We can thank the United States Air Force for the concept of using an Automated Clearing House (ACH) to expedite the movement of funds between two parties. In the late 1960s, the U.S. government used the ACH concept to expedite paychecks to Air Force employees. It worked out so well that it led to the expansion