Conclave 2026

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6:30am EDT

JFC Rings of Strength Charity 5K Porte Cochere/Valet

7:00am EDT

Registration Open Rotunda

8:30am EDT

Wells Fargo Fast Track International 1

9:00am EDT

A Visit to the Mines of Tajikistan: A Designer's Perspective Olympic ALaurie Reid AI Yourself Calm: Smarter Systems for the Business Behind Your Craft Colonial BMariel Diaz AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Screw Driver & Tweezer Maintenance Walkway to OscolaJason Champion Diamond Minds: Who Shaped Our Understanding of Diamond? Olympic BElizabeth West Frontiers in Colored Stone Origin Research: Jade, Opal, Demantoid, and Peridot Royal Melbourne AAaron Palke, Ph.D. Future-Proofing Your Jewelry Business: Lessons from the 20 Under 40 Congressional AAmanda Gizzi • Baileigh Daoud-Soricelli • Sarah M. Haugaard • Tony Maggio III • Sarah Martin Rowe The Magic Is in the Details: What Jewelry Design Teaches You About Buying, Merchandising, and Building a Collection That Sells Itself Augusta AAndrea Lucille Pooler Introduction to Jewelry Forensics Royal Dublin AJohn Cason • Mike Magee • Al Gilbertson, CG The Microworld of Natural Diamonds Royal Dublin BNathan Renfro

10:00am EDT

Networking Break International 2 & 3 The ASSURE Expo of Diamond Verification Instruments International Ballroom 2 & 3 Networking Area Open International 2 & 3

10:30am EDT

AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Modern Watch Timing Equipment: Watch Timers and Their Use Walkway to OscolaJason Ziegenbein Colored Stone Treatments in the 21st Century Royal Melbourne ANicole Ahline Creating Collectors the Crayola Way Augusta AShelly Sergent Recruit Top Jeweler Talent: Connecting AGS Members with top talent from SCAD’s Jewelry Program Congressional BMark Smelzer • Jennifer Markas • Kevin Mays • Eleanor Twiford • Jaimie Vela Selling to Gen Z in 2026: What Actually Works Now Congressional AJen Cullen Williams • Sophie Broussard • Courtney Sivard The New AGS Appraisal and Report Standards Olympic BJoel Hassler, ACGA The New Diamond Horizon: Merchandising & Profit in a K-Shaped World Colonial AGaurav Khandelwal

11:30am EDT

Lunch Buffet Open National Ballroom

12:00pm EDT

Opening Keynote and Lunch National BallroomBen Nemtin

2:00pm EDT

Coffee and Dessert Break International 2 & 3 The ASSURE Expo of Diamond Verification Instruments International Ballroom 2 & 3

2:30pm EDT

Featured Speaker: The Impossible List Workshop: Turn your biggest dreams into actionable next steps. International 1Ben Nemtin AGS Partner Members 101: Making Your Membership Work for You Congressional BBrecken Farnsworth, CG • Lika Behar • Mitchell Clark • Ross Cockerham AI's Next Role in Jewelry Design Royal Melbourne AMike Magee AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Cell Replacement, The Right Way Walkway to OscolaJason Champion Natural Diamonds Have Never Had a Better Story. Is Your Team Telling It? Augusta AGrant Mobley Our Changing Jewelry Industry Colonial AHarold Dupuy, FGA Secret Teachings of a Gem Buyer: Field-Tested Techniques for Unlocking Value in Estate Jewelry Olympic ABert Esterhuysen, CG Selling with Proof: How Digital Storytelling and Provenance Drive Diamond Sales Congressional AMoshe Klein • Mahiar Borhanjoo The Importance of Impactful Signage for Jewelry Stores Colonial BLeslie McGwire (Un)Natural Beauty: Treatments in Ruby & Sapphire Royal Dublin AAaron Palke, Ph.D. The Amazing Natural Diamond Story Royal Dublin BChristopher “Mike” Breeding, Ph.D. • Brenda Harwick

3:30pm EDT

Networking Break International 2 & 3

4:00pm EDT

Brand Storytelling Through Experiences Congressional AAnna Samsonova, CG • Fanya Hull • Trisha Kennedy-Thompson • Jen Cullen Williams Casting 101 for Non-Casting Jewelry Professionals Olympic AJoel Meltzer • Silas Morgan From Mine to Market: Using Tech to Sell Gemstones and the Stories Behind Them Augusta AMonica Stephenson • Madeline Fraser From Owner to Legacy Builder: Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders Colonial AStephen Barnes Gem Sciences Committee Meeting Royal Melbourne B Increasing Watch Repair Capacity & Profits Congressional BJason Champion • Jason Ziegenbein • Justin Shiver, RJ Organized Retail Crime in 2026: Evolving Threats and Practical Strategies for Luxury Retail Colonial BHoward Stone • Scott Guginsky Recent Advances in Laboratory-Grown Diamond Screening Technologies Olympic BGuy Borenstein The Repair Experience Blueprint: Turning Every Intake Into Lifetime Revenue Augusta B

5:00pm EDT

Networking Break International 2 & 3

6:30pm EDT

AGS Suppliers' Showcase and Reception National Ballroom

9:00pm EDT

Trivia Night brought to you by the AGS Young Titleholders Eagles Edge