Conclave 2026

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7:00am EDT

Registration Open Rotunda

8:00am EDT

Breakfast Buffet Open National Ballroom

8:15am EDT

Breakfast and Keynote National BallroomWill Guidara

10:00am EDT

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

10:15am EDT

AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Modern Watch Timing Equipment: Watch Timers and Their Use Walkway to OscolaJason Ziegenbein Beyond Bridal: Elevating the Independent Jeweler Experience Congressional BRebecca Boyajian • Mark Klein • Grant Mobley Building the Future – Platinum Education & the Next Generation of Jewelers Congressional AJenny Luker • Jennifer Markas • Joanna Joy Seetoo • Ross Wesdorp Frontiers in Colored Stone Origin Research: Jade, Opal, Demantoid, and Peridot Royal Melbourne AAaron Palke, Ph.D. Legal & Compliance Essentials for Today’s Jewelry Professionals Augusta BLiz Fraccaro, Esq. • Sara Yood, Esq. Luminescence – A Hugely Underrated Physical Property in Gem Testing Olympic AThomas Hainschwang Pure Transparency Colonial BShreyans Dholakia SMS Marketing: The What, Why, & How for Jewelers Augusta ARhett Tingey The Anti-AI Playbook: Scaling With AI Without Losing Your Brand or Designs Colonial AMadeline Fraser Introduction to Jewelry Forensics Royal Dublin AJohn Cason • Mike Magee • Al Gilbertson, CG Making the Call - Check List of the Defining Features of the major US jewelry periods from 1850-1950: A Systematic approach Olympic BStarla Turner • Suzanne Martinez The Amazing Natural Diamond Story Royal Dublin BChristopher “Mike” Breeding, Ph.D. • Brenda Harwick

11:15am EDT

Networking Break International 2 & 3

11:45am EDT

Featured Speaker: AI and the Future of Everything International 1Dan Chuparkoff AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Quartz Testers: How and Why Walkway to OscolaJason Champion Future Legends Congressional ANicole Ahline • Christopher “Mike” Breeding, Ph.D. • Aaron Palke, Ph.D. • Nathan Renfro • Evan Smith, Ph.D. Natural Carat Crushers Congressional BJessica Gylsen • Mitchell Clark • Jessica Harminson-Olson • Brian Toone Sculptures of Light: The Artistry of Contrast in Fancy-Shaped Diamonds Royal Melbourne AAmanda Hawkes, CG • Lisa Kennedy The Art of Intentional Merchandising: Turning Product Into Story, Structure, and Sell-Through Colonial BNan Lung Palmer The Leader You Imagined You'd Be and the One Your Business Actually Needs Colonial AAndrea Lucille Pooler The New AGS Appraisal and Report Standards Olympic AJoel Hassler, ACGA Turning Losses Into Wins: What 25 Years of Building Companies Taught Me About Independent Retail Augusta BVal Katayev

12:45pm EDT

Quick Break International 2 & 3

1:00pm EDT

Robert M. Shipley Award® Luncheon National Ballroom

2:30pm EDT

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

3:00pm EDT

Featured Speaker: AI and the Future of Everything International 1Dan Chuparkoff Agentic AI: When Your Digital Assistant Starts Running the Store Colonial ARoss Cockerham Attracting the Sustainable Shopper with an Impact-Driven Business Model Congressional BSusan Wheeler • Emily Phillippy • Monica Stephenson AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Water Resistance: Wet and Dry Methods Walkway to OscolaJason Ziegenbein Build Your Diamond Story: A Workshop for Modern Retailers Augusta BMadison Harvey • Constance Polamalu Colored Gem Grading and Pricing Workshop Olympic BRichard Drucker Edit to Grow: The Discipline Behind Profitable Jewelry Assortments from Concept to Retail Colonial BNan Lung Palmer From Custom Chaos to Scalable Revenue: Fixing the Custom Jewelry Sales Process Augusta AMadeline Fraser Membership Committee Meeting Royal Melbourne B The Future of Fine Jewelry: What’s Changing, What’s Enduring, and What Actually Matters Congressional AJodi Riesenberg • Lana Boutros • Alexis Padis • Nadine Tacorian • Paul Tacorian The Impact of Fluorescence on Diamond Appearance Royal Melbourne AChristopher “Mike” Breeding, Ph.D. What Every Jeweler Should Know About Precious Metals Metallurgy Olympic AJoel Meltzer • Silas Morgan Speaking the Pearl Language Royal Dublin BTao Hsu, Ph.D. • Lisa Kennedy The Microworld of Natural Diamonds Royal Dublin ANathan Renfro

4:00pm EDT

Networking Break International 2 & 3

4:30pm EDT

AI's Next Role in Jewelry Design Royal Melbourne AMike Magee Colored Gem Grading and Pricing Workshop Olympic BRichard Drucker Designing Jewelry for Casting Success – From Concept to CAD to Efficient Finishing Olympic AJoel Meltzer • Silas Morgan From Zero to Watch Repair: Building a Successful Watch Repair Department Congressional BJason Champion • Jason Ziegenbein • Justin Shiver, RJ Jewelry Interior Design is Rising to the Challenge of Current Customer Demands Colonial BLeslie McGwire Organized Retail Crime in 2026: Evolving Threats and Practical Strategies for Luxury Retail Colonial AHoward Stone • Scott Guginsky Seamless Selling: Where Brands Meet Retail Congressional AStephanie Major • Manos Phoundoulakis • Kelly Selcer • Nikki Swift The Fridge, the Palace, and the Diamond Machine: The Story Behind the Creation of Synthetic Diamonds Augusta AElizabeth West Turning Maybe Into a Same-Day Yes Augusta BDavid Berdugo Young Titleholders Committee Meeting Royal Melbourne B

5:00pm EDT

Disney Springs Free Night Adventure Porte Cochere/Valet