May 2–5, 2027 | Kansas City, MO
May 2–5, 2027 | Kansas City, MO
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
New to AGS? Start Conclave here.
Join us for the New Member Reception—a relaxed, welcoming event designed to help you meet other new members, connect with the AGS International Board of Directors, and get to know the AGS team. It’s an easy, enjoyable way to jump into Conclave and start building your community right away.
After the reception, keep the connections going at the Mentor Mixer and the annual Guilds Party for even more networking and fun.
We can’t wait to welcome you!
Eligibility: Open to new members and first-time attendees.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Join us for the annual Mentor Mixer to kick off Conclave 2027. Meet experienced mentors, connect with newer professionals eager to grow, and help pass along the knowledge that keeps our community strong.
You'll also gain valuable insights into the AGS Mentoring Program and learn how you can participate as either a mentor or a mentee.
Want to get a head start and enroll in the program ahead of time? Click here!
Join us! There will be appetizers, a hosted bar, and other beverages.
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6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Your night is just getting started! After the Mentor Mixer, join the “Guildies” at the annual Guilds Party. If you haven’t connected with a Guild yet, here’s your chance. These regional groups meet throughout the year to share expert insights on topics that matter to your career and make it easy to get to know industry professionals in your area.
At the Guilds party, you can learn more about the positive impact your local Guild can have on your career and business. Plus, explore starting your own Guild if there isn’t one in your area. You’ll see why the “Guildies” have so much fun together!
Best of all, there will be appetizers, beverages, and a hosted bar.
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6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Get your steps in for a great cause! Jewelers for Children (JFC) is bringing its Rings of Strength 5K to Conclave 2027. Walkers, joggers, and runners are all welcome, so come as you are and cross the finish line with your fellow members.
Start the first day of Conclave 2027 on the right foot (or the left) and help raise money for children in need.
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis to Retail Business members only. Maximum registration of 200 attendees. To register, add “Financing Fast Track” as part of the “Attendee Selections” tab of your Conclave registration. Already registered? Contact [email protected] to add the session to your registration.
Spend the morning with your Wells Fargo Consumer Financing Team and rock your financing program! This engaging two-hour program kicks off with breakfast, then heads into micro sessions geared towards helping you get the most out of the AGS Credit Card Program, including practical advice and easy-to-implement tactics. Plus, businesses who attend the full program will receive $1,200 per business in travel reimbursement.* Your business does not need to be enrolled in the AGS Credit Card Program to attend.*The travel reimbursement will be awarded to businesses who check in and attend the full Fast Track program on Monday, May 3, 2027, as reported by Wells Fargo, and is limited to the first 100 businesses. For program merchants, Wells Fargo will direct deposit the reimbursement. For non-program merchants, the American Gem Society will reimburse via check payable to the primary business member of record. Checks required to be reissued due to incorrect information associated with the primary business member of record shall be subject to a fee of $25 to be deducted from the reissued payment. All reimbursements will be issued approximately 45 days following Conclave 2027.
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
Bert Jacobs kicks off Conclave 2027! Bert is the co-founder and CEO of Life is Good, a $160 million lifestyle brand. In 1994, he and his brother John started the company with $78, living out of their van and selling T-shirts on the streets of Boston. Thirty years later, they still have the same mission: to spread the power of optimism.
Life is Good gives 10% of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Playmaker Project. Each year, the project helps over 1 million kids overcome the impact of poverty, violence, and illness.
Bert has received honorary degrees from five colleges and universities. He has spoken at Inc. 5000, Morgan Stanley, and SAP Sapphire. He and John have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR’s “How I Built This.”
For more information, see his bio under Keynote Speakers.
Joel Zeff returns as Conclave’s emcee! You’ll also hear from President of the AGS International Board of Directors Bryan Moeller, CGA, AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh, RJ, and Jewelers Mutual® Group, the opening keynote sponsor.
Sponsored by
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Take time for coffee and conversation. The afternoon Coffee and Dessert breaks are a great chance to grab a bite or a cup of coffee and relax while you mingle. Located in the Networking Area, these breaks give you the opportunity to visit the networking booths and thank your AGS Partner for their support of Conclave. Have a sweet time recharging before the next session.
Also, our emcee, Joel Zeff, will be there to entertain you. Get in some sweets, laughs, and networking all in one location.
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6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Conclave’s best kind of sparkle is happening here.
The AGS Suppliers’ Showcase and Reception is your chance to mix, mingle, and get a first look at gorgeous jewelry from the industry’s most trusted suppliers—your fellow AGS members. Every supplier in the room has been vetted by AGS and brings the same mindset you do: quality without compromise, service that delivers, and pieces that sell.
Come for the bites and cocktails. Stay for the connections, the inspiration, and the jewelry you’ll still be thinking about long after the night ends.
Attention Suppliers: Showcasing at the event is a great way to share your products with a captivated audience of AGS members. Click here to learn more and enroll today.
9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Don’t miss the AGS Young Titleholders Trivia Night! Test your knowledge of anything and everything from gemology to history to one-hit wonders. This annual Conclave good-time is an exhilarating mix of competition and full-throttle laughter as teams vie for the Trivia Night title. Everyone is welcome!
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8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
Day 2 starts strong with the morning general session.
Amanda Coleman-Phelps, CGA, Chair of the International Guild Council, will present the Sallie Morton and Guild of the Year Awards. Following that, you’ll hear from the Chair of the International Conclave Subcommittee, Denise Richards, CGA, who will discuss Conclave 2028.
Enjoy a buffet breakfast and be energized by our keynote speaker, Sarah Robb O’Hagan.
Sarah Robb O’Hagan was fired twice in her twenties. She rebuilt from those setbacks to become Global President of Gatorade by 38, leading its turnaround into a sports performance brand.
She also reimagined Virgin Atlantic’s brand partnerships and moved Equinox to a digital-first model. As CEO of EXOS, she pioneered an approach to workplace culture that increased productivity while reducing burnout.
In her keynotes, Sarah shares candid, funny stories and gives audiences practical tools to find their competitive edge, turn setbacks into comebacks, and build teams that collaborate with trust.
Forbes named her one of the “Most Powerful Women in Sports,” and Fast Company named her one of the “Most Creative People in Business.” She has served on the boards of Strava and JetBlue Airways and advocates for women and girls in sports.
For more information, see her bio under Keynote Speakers.
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1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Few Conclave moments carry as much history as the Shipley Luncheon. Be part of it this year. Robert M. Shipley, the founder of the American Gem Society (AGS) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America), is the father of organized gemological research and education in the United States. His vision was to professionalize the jewelry industry through ethics, education, and credentials. AGS and GIA stand as testaments to his success 90 years later. This awards lunch is our way of honoring his legacy.
Since the first award was given in 1968, the Robert M. Shipley Award® has grown to become the most revered recognition in the American Gem Society and our industry.
Be a part of this historic and significant event as the American Gem Society unveils the recipient of the 2027 Robert M. Shipley Award®.
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2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Conclave is a fast-paced schedule jammed into three days, so a little break is needed. Located in the Networking Area, grab a bite of something sweet, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy chatting with other AGS members. Visit the networking booths and thank your vendors for their support of Conclave. Ask them to tell you how they can assist with your business needs.
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You’ve got a night to explore Kansas City. Where do you begin? Click here to explore all the fabulous things to do, from world-famous BBQ to jumping jazz clubs. Experience the energy of the Heart of America.
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
The last day of Conclave will be one to remember, especially as we kick things off with the Annual Membership Meeting and breakfast keynote.
First, you will hear from Bryan Moeller, CGA, President of the AGS International Board of Directors, as well as get a “State of the AGS” update from AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh, RJ, who will also present the John J. Kennedy Award.
Then get ready for the keynote, James Lawrence.
James Lawrence, known as the Iron Cowboy for the cowboy hat he races in so his five kids can spot him, is an ultra-endurance athlete who has redefined mental toughness and physical endurance.
After losing his mortgage and finance career in the 2008 financial crisis, he started small, struggling through a four-mile fun run with his wife, Sunny. It taught him that the most important thing is to just show up.
In 2012, he set a Guinness World Record by completing 30 Ironman triathlons in one year. In 2015, he completed 50 Ironman-distance triathlons in 50 consecutive days in 50 states, which became the subject of the Amazon Prime documentary Iron Cowboy. In 2021, he completed 100 in 100 consecutive days.
A best-selling author, James has shared his story in 50 countries.
For more information, see his bio under Keynote Speakers.
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join us in recognizing our new and milestone credentialed members of the Society at the annual Titleholders Luncheon!
AGS credentials set members apart by demonstrating their commitment to continuing education and superior business ethics.
We will also present the Young Titleholder of the Year award, a prestigious honor for one of the Society’s emerging leaders.
Then stay for the keynote: The Best of Second City. World-class Second City performers bring on-the-spot improv inspired by your suggestions, plus sketches from more than 50 years of performances. For more information, see Keynote Speakers.
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2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Java time! Head to the Networking Area, where you can enjoy dessert, meet friends (old and new), and visit the networking booths. It’s a short but sweet opportunity to relax before your next session begins.
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7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Every great Conclave deserves a grand finale. Celebrate at the President’s Party with entertainment, a generous buffet and bar, and plenty of time to reconnect with old friends and the new ones you’ve made in Kansas City. Watch for the theme announcement soon.
“After days of immersive education and left-brain work, AGS Conclave's President Party is the perfect right-brain release. It's always a uniquely themed soirée filled with experiential moments, genuine laughter, and spirited networking that captures all the joy and camaraderie of a conference you never want to end.”
— Jen Cullen Williams, Jen Cullen Williams Consulting, LLC
