Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
Bodoh named deputy executive director of AGS
Katherine Bodoh is leaving Jewelers Mutual to join the American Gem Society, where she’ll be second in command behind Ruth Batson.
Her appointment will be effective on May 11--after the organization’s upcoming Conclave in New Orleans--and she will be relocating from Neenah, Wis. to Las Vegas, where the AGS is headquartered.
Bodoh, 36, has been with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. for seven years and currently serves as the company’s director of commercial lines marketing and industry relations, a position she has held since 2013. Prior to that, she was Jewelers Mutual’s director of industry relations and corporate events, and the corporate events manager.
Bodoh joined Jewelers Mutual in 2008 from MJSA, where she was the special events manager.
Batson said she was impressed by Bodoh’s professionalism, as well as her managerial and coaching abilities and keen interest in helping those around her reach their professional goals. “That is exactly the kind of leadership the AGS is looking for,” she said.
Batson added that the AGS has had a working relationship with Bodoh for a number of years.
While at Jewelers Mutual, Bodoh led a number of initiatives to continue the insurance company’s trade association relationships and serve its jeweler members. Included is her involvement with the Jewelers Advisory Council and in the building the new “Relieve” program, which offers counseling to jewelers who are trying to cope with the psychological effects of armed robberies, severe and damaging storms, or other traumatic events.
Jewelers Mutual President and CEO Scott Murphy called Bodoh a “terrific collaborator with a strong strategic vision.”
In her new role as deputy executive director at the AGS, Bodoh will work to help manage membership, education and marketing at the organization and fills in as the director when Batson is out of the office.
The position has been vacant since November, when Donna Jolly vacated it to concentrate on her role as director of marketing for both AGS and AGS Labs. Past deputy executive directors have included Cindy Chandler and, when the organization was still headquartered in California, Charlotte Preston.
The Latest

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.


The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

José Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.

It has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.

The owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.

The company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.

The retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.

Of the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.

Megan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.

Following decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.

The museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.

The new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.





















