CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2016
At AGS, the Search Is On to Replace Ruth Batson
The American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories have begun the hunt to find a new CEO, as Batson is set to retire next summer.
Ruth Batson has headed the American Gem Society since 2002 and has been with the organization since 1993. She’ll retire in June 2017, and the search is on for her replacement.
Las Vegas--The American Gem Society officially has begun the search to find a replacement for Ruth Batson, who has been the organization’s CEO for the past 14 years.
The AGS said Wednesday that it has posted the opening on its website, AmericanGemSociety.org, as well as on other job sites.
It also has organized a committee of AGS members to lead the search and hired Carlson Beck, a nonprofit executive search firm with offices in New York and San Francisco that focuses on searches for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Batson announced her retirement in February. She’s been with the AGS since 1993 and was named its CEO in 2002. She became CEO of AGS Laboratories as well in 2012.
In that time, she’s racked up numerous awards from organizations including the Women’s Jewelry Association, Jewelers for Children and her own.
Batson received the Robert M. Shipley Award at Conclave this year in Washington, D.C., an award named for the man whose vision Batson said inspired her leadership.
Heading the internal AGS committee to find her replacement is Louis Smith of Smithworks Fine Jewelry, who just completed his term as AGS board president.
Also on the committee are current AGS board President Scott Berg, President-Elect John Carter, Ed Bridge, Mark Moeller and Yancy Weinrich.
To learn more about the CEO opening at AGS, contact Sally Carlson, managing partner at Carlson Beck, at 415-433-2299 or sally@carlsonbeck.com.
The deadline for potential candidate submissions is Sept. 9.
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