The middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.
Louis Smith elected AGS president
Louis Smith, a certified gemologist at Smithworks Fine Jewelry in Spartanburg, S.C., has been elected as president of the American Gem Society’s board of directors.

He was appointed on April 26 during the AGS’ Conclave, which took place in San Diego.
Smith succeeds outgoing President David Gardner of David Gardner’s Jewelers in College Station, Texas. He will hold the position until April 2016.
“We have a talented team at headquarters, and a hard-working and dedicated board,” Smith said. “With that combination and our membership, I’m looking forward to great things in the next two years.”
Also announced at Conclave was the AGS’ 2014-2015 board of directors, which includes Scott Berg, president elect; John Carter, secretary and chair of the Conclave sub-committee; Bill Sites, senior advisor; Kelly Kinas, treasurer; Beryl Raff, director at large; Yancy Weinrich, director at large; and Charles Rosario, director at large.
Elected to chair positions are Laura Stanley, International Guilds Council; Michael Richards, Gemological Sciences Committee; Lisa Bridge, Education and Young Titleholders committee; Michael Wilson, Marketing Committee; Kelly Newton, Membership and Grievance and Review Committee; and Mark Moeller, AGS Lab Advisory Committee.
The board also elected three new members, each appointed as director at large: Frank Brown, Scott Udell and Stewart Wicht.
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