Conclave 2026

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 AWCI Mobile Classroom: Workshop: Screw Driver & Tweezer Maintenance Walkway to OscolaJason Champion Frontiers in Colored Stone Origin Research: Jade, Opal, Demantoid, and Peridot Royal Melbourne AAaron Palke, Ph.D.

10:30am EDT

Casting 101 for Non-Casting Jewelry Professionals Olympic AJoel Meltzer • Silas Morgan Colored Stone Treatments in the 21st Century Royal Melbourne ANicole Ahline 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

2:30pm EDT

How to Find/Locate Watchmakers Congressional BJustin Shiver, RJ • Jason Champion • Jason Ziegenbein The Importance of Impactful Signage for Jewelry Stores Colonial BLeslie McGwire The Amazing Natural Diamond Story Royal Dublin BJames Shigley, Ph.D. • Brenda Harwick

4:00pm EDT

Brand Storytelling Through Experiences Congressional AAnna Samsonova, CG From Mine to Market: Using Tech to Sell Gemstones and the Stories Behind Them Augusta AMonica Stephenson • Madeline Fraser Organized Retail Crime in 2026: Evolving Threats and Practical Strategies for Luxury Retail Colonial BHoward Stone • Scott Guginsky

10:15am EDT

Build Your Diamond Story: A Workshop for Modern Retailers Augusta AMadison Harvey • Constance Polamalu Building the Future – Platinum Education & the Next Generation of Jewelers Congressional AKevin Reilly 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 BSara Yood, Esq. The Anti-AI Playbook: Scaling With AI Without Losing Your Brand or Designs Colonial AMadeline Fraser

11:45am EDT

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 The New AGS Appraisal and Report Standards Olympic AJoel Hassler, ACGA

3:00pm EDT

Agentic AI: When Your Digital Assistant Starts Running the Store Colonial ARoss Cockerham From Custom Chaos to Scalable Revenue: Fixing the Custom Jewelry Sales Process Augusta AMadeline Fraser SMS Marketing: The What, Why, & How for Jewelers Augusta BNick Gurney • Rhett Tingey The Impact of Fluorescence on Diamond Appearance Royal Melbourne AChristopher “Mike” Breeding, Ph.D.

4:30pm EDT

A Discussion of the Status of the Global (and US) Watch Industry Congressional BJustin Shiver, RJ • Jason Champion • Jason Ziegenbein Designing Jewelry for Casting Success – From Concept to CAD to Efficient Finishing Olympic AJoel Meltzer • Silas Morgan 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 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

11:00am EDT

AEO Is the New SEO: How AI Bots Are Sending Customers to Your Store Right Now Augusta ARoss Cockerham From Overseas to Your Counter: How Tariffs Really Impact Your Jewelry Business Congressional AAnna Samsonova, CG If You’re Not Having Fun, You’re Doing It Wrong Augusta BJim Siegel, CGA • Aleah Arundale • Jaron Siegel

3:00pm EDT

From Instinct to Intelligence: Building a Data-Driven Culture in Your Jewelry Business Colonial AElle Hill Underappreciated Gemstones Olympic BIsabelle Corvin, CG

4:30pm EDT

AI in Action: Solving Real Business Problems—Together Augusta AJordan Freeman Colored Stone Treatments in the 21st Century Royal Melbourne ANicole Ahline From GG to Appraiser: Bridging the Gap Between Gemology & Appraising Olympic BRandall Lightfoot, CG, JEA • Mike West, ACGA Take-in Pointers for Front of Store Watch Repair Take-in Congressional BJustin Shiver, RJ • Jason Champion • Jason Ziegenbein