Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
Here Is the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Educational LineupEvents & AwardsJan 23, 2025
Plumb Club Announces Speaker Lineup for Symposium ‘25
The second annual learning forum for retailers is slated for March 13 at City Winery in Pier 57 in New York City.
The speakers at Symposium ’25 include, (top row, from left to right) Erica Keswin, Paul Aaron, Chris Voss, (middle row) Seth Mattison, Sheena Iyengar, Victoria Gomelsky, (bottom row) Frank Cespedes, and Charles Duhigg.
New York—The Plumb Club, in partnership with JCK and its sponsor Jewelers Mutual, will present its second annual Symposium this spring.
Symposium ’25 is slated for March 13 at City Winery in Pier 57 in New York City, the day before the Gem Awards.
The one-day event will offer retailer-focused learning and executive networking, said The Plumb Club.
Industry leaders, top retail executives, and key buyers will be invited to attend the event, organizers said.
Organizers previously announced some changes have been made based on retailer feedback on last year’s event.
There will be a new format, venue, and roster of key topics and speakers, all shaped by input from the event’s retail advisory committee.
“We were thrilled with the success of our inaugural Symposium event in 2024, and we got great feedback from attendees. Additionally, we learned about the needs and desires of the attending retailers. This is why we created a committee of renowned retail companies to help us build the most comprehensive event, filled with information that directly impacts our customers,” said Roger Forman, president of The Plumb Club.
“An informed and knowledgeable industry is beneficial for everyone. Symposium ’25 further underscores two key pillars of The Plumb Club, which are education and innovation in the jewelry space.”
Related stories will be right here …
Symposium ’25 is slated for March 13 at City Winery in Pier 57 in New York City, the day before the Gem Awards.
The one-day event will offer retailer-focused learning and executive networking, said The Plumb Club.
Industry leaders, top retail executives, and key buyers will be invited to attend the event, organizers said.
Organizers previously announced some changes have been made based on retailer feedback on last year’s event.
There will be a new format, venue, and roster of key topics and speakers, all shaped by input from the event’s retail advisory committee.
“We were thrilled with the success of our inaugural Symposium event in 2024, and we got great feedback from attendees. Additionally, we learned about the needs and desires of the attending retailers. This is why we created a committee of renowned retail companies to help us build the most comprehensive event, filled with information that directly impacts our customers,” said Roger Forman, president of The Plumb Club.
“An informed and knowledgeable industry is beneficial for everyone. Symposium ’25 further underscores two key pillars of The Plumb Club, which are education and innovation in the jewelry space.”
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a networking breakfast buffet, followed by a keynote speech from 9 to 9:50 a.m. by Erica Keswin, brand advisor and workplace strategist.
Her session titled “Becoming a Great Human Leader in the Age of AI” will discuss employee engagement, retention, and work-life balance.
After, there will be a breakout session from 10 to 10:50 a.m. on implementing the fundamentals of HR and employee engagement in various businesses.
Next, from 11 a.m. to noon, “Jewelry’s Next Frontier: Unlocking AI for Innovation” will be presented by Paul Aaron, CEO and co-founder of Addition, an AI research and development company, who will speak on AI jewelry applications.
After a break for lunch, Chris Voss, former FBI lead hostage negotiator and CEO and founder of Black Swan Group Ltd., will discuss employee engagement and communications in his keynote from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Two presentations, track A and track B, will be offered from 2:45 to 3:35 p.m.
In track A, “Common Ground - Driving Growth Across the Generations,” workforce strategist and management trend spotter Seth Mattison will speak on the areas of connection across generations, both within the company and for the customer.
Meanwhile, Sheena Iyengar, director of global leadership at Matrix, will present “Think Bigger: Make Meaningful Choices to Spark Innovation.” Her presentation will focus on the power of choice and on meaningful choices to spark innovation.
Two presentations will also be offered from 3:45 to 4:35 p.m.
As track A, a panel of retailers and suppliers will speak on how each discipline can aid each other. It will be moderated by Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK Magazine.
At the same time, Frank Cespedes, professor and senior lecturer at Harvard University and faculty chair of the Aligning Strategy and Sales executive program at Harvard Business School, will present a two-part session titled “Sales and Performance Management – Giving Effective Feedback.”
He will lead a case study that continues into track B of the next session's time frame.
The final grouping of sessions will run from 4:45 to 5:35 p.m., with journalist Charles Duhigg, host of the “How-To!” podcast, presenting “Super Communicators: The Power of Conversation and Hidden Language of Connection.” He will discuss how people communicate and how to navigate important conversations to connect with anyone.
The event will conclude with a cocktail reception from 5:35 to 8 p.m., including interactive wine tastings and cheese pairings with expert sommeliers.
Retailers interested in attending the event can register for consideration and find more information on The Plumb Club’s website.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
