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Expand Your Professional Skills at Conclave

Conclave’s educational sessions provide an expansive selection of topics to help you gain knowledge, improve your training, and develop your professional skills. Be sure to add these sessions to your Conclave schedule!

Monday, May 1, 2023

Building Your AGS Supplier B2B Network to Benefit Your Business / 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET
Adam Graham, CSA, Director of Sales, Joshua J. Fine Jewelry

Track: Business Management

AGS supplier members look for AGS retail members to do business with because they are vetted companies that adhere to a higher standard of business practices. So, why wouldn’t those same suppliers look to fellow AGS suppliers when they are sourcing products and services for their own company?

In this session, the panel will discuss success stories and ways to strengthen relationships within the AGS supplier community to benefit your business.

12 Most Common Sales Presentation Mistakes and How To Avoid Them / 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET
Terri Sjodin, Principal & Founder, Sjodin Communications

Track: Sales

How do you sell, persuade, or move people to action? A vital element in creating influence in today’s market is your ability to build and deliver a thought-provoking presentation.

From elevator speeches to one-on-one meetings and even formal sales presentations, you can craft a more compelling message.

In this session, Terri will discuss how to build and deliver a more polished and effective sales presentation – one that is persuasive rather than just informative. The focus will be on developing verbal communication skills for greater impact with clients and prospects, including how to develop a more creative style, hot tips on visual aids, body language, closing, and more.

Secrets of Creating Content Like A Big Brand / 2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. ET
Michelle Chila, CEO / Founder, MC Squared Marketing

Track: Marketing

Join Michelle Chila as she spills the secrets of how Big Brands create content for their business. Using her own “4 S Formula,” she’ll show you how to strategically create content that’s designed to grow your business and help you sell—without that big brand budget.

By the end of this presentation, you’ll have everything you need to get out of your seats and get started creating your own video and photography content for social media and more. Are you ready?

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Building Brand Presence and Community / 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. ET
Speaker: Ben Smithee, CEO, The Smithee Group
Panelist: Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, Director of Membership & Marketing, JCV

Track: Marketing

Learn how to create a community and build a network that supports your brand’s vision and mission. Community is the building block for expansion; it doesn’t matter whether you are an individual brand, retailer, or consultant. Discover how to create, foster, and grow your community during this panel discussion.

Hear from a group of industry insiders on how they built individual brand presence and a community in less than two years.

Navigating What’s Next: Insights For The Future of Work and Leadership / 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. ET
Seth Mattison, Founder & CEO, FutureSight Labs

Track: Business Management

As we enter a new work era, leaders are making big bets on what’s next for their industry, the future of work, and the world at large. Navigating this defining moment while preparing to capture the opportunity requires a bold vision and courage to change.

Future of work author Seth Mattison will help you and your leaders answer some of today’s most pressing questions. What does talent need today? What type of leadership will be required? How will we nurture great teams? What employment experiences will matter most? Where will tomorrow’s external disruptors emerge? Armed with actionable insights and practical tools, participants will be primed to lead their teams and organizations to intentionally shape the future.

Bubbling Up: Legal Updates with JVC / 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. ET
Sara Yood, Esq., Deputy General Counsel, Jewelers Vigilance Committee

Track: Legal and Compliance

Cheers! Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) is here to answer all your brewing legal questions and explain the latest in complicated compliance topics. Whether it’s sanctions, anti-money laundering regulations, sustainability, the Green Guides, or the latest in employment law, JVC will pick the most important and timely legal things you need to know and make sure you’ve got it handled.

Let’s have a sparkling conversation together!

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Antique Jewelry: 1850-1950 / 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET
Louis Scholz, Buyer, St. John & Myers

Track: Appraising

Learn about period jewelry from 1850–1950, which includes Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Filigree, and Mid-Century Modern. We’ll discuss the overall influences for each period with a quick look at the aesthetic behind each period.

Good Enough Now / 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. ET
Jess Pettitt, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Speaker

Track: DEI

Sitting around pointing fingers and waiting for change to appear on the horizon—has it ever worked for you? Do you feel imbalance between who you are and who you think you should be? Do you see fulfillment, better relationships, and stronger teamwork as something to work for but not possible now?

In her breakthrough message, author and keynote speaker Jess Pettitt reveals the truth about how we can be the best versions of ourselves now! By being our authentic selves, we can immediately improve our companies, relationships, and communities.

Gemstones Underfoot: Gems From The U.S.—The Well-Known and Not So Well-Know! / 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. ET
John Bradshaw, Owner, John J. Bradshaw

Track: Gemology

When the general public and most of the gem and jewelry industry think of sources of gemstones in the world, the United States is not at the top of the list. Diamonds from South Africa…yes! Emeralds from Colombia…yes! Rubies from Burma…yes! Sapphires from Sri Lanka…yes! These gems and many more are found within the confines of the United States.

Although they may not be available in commercial quantities, that only adds to the allure of the rarity and collectibility for you to entice your customers. Join this session to learn about the well-known and not-so-well-known gems from the U.S.

Want to learn more about gems mined in the U.S.? Add these two sessions on Montana sapphires to your schedule!

The Current State of Montana Sapphires / Monday, May 1, 2023, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. ET
Speakers: Jonathan Farnsworth, CG, President, Parlé Jewelry Designs; Brecken Farnsworth, CG, Vice President, Parlé Jewelry Designs

Montana Sapphires: History, Gemology, and Identification / Monday, May 1, 2023, 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
Speakers: Dr. Aaron Palke, Senior Manager of Colored Stone Research, GIA; Nathan Renfro, GIA; Shane McClure
Global Director of Colored Stone Services for the GIA Laboratory, GIA

View the full Schedule of Events to see more Conclave sessions you won’t want to miss.

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