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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
