Second AGS Virtual Education Conference Is All About Negotiation Skills

Las Vegas—The American Gem Society has announced its keynote speakers for the second “Confluence” virtual education conference.

Planned for Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. PST, Confluence 2022 will focus on negotiation skills.

“Each year, Confluence offers our members a great opportunity to hone specific skills that can enrich their career and help them achieve their goals,” said American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories CEO Katherine Bodoh.

“Successful negotiation is essential to many of our members’ careers. We are pleased we can provide them with this important learning opportunity.”

The half-day of sessions will feature presentations from four negotiation experts.

Phil Jones will lead a session called “Exactly What to Say—The Magic Words for Influence and Impact.” Author of the internationally best-selling book of the same name, as well as six other business books, Jones is also the founder of five multi-million-dollar companies.

He is one of less than 200 living members of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame and will teach virtual attendees how to make conversations count.

Kate Vitasek will present “The New Economics of Commerce: How to Leverage Nobel Prize-Winning Theory in Your Next Negotiation.” The author of seven books including “How P&G, McDonald’s and Microsoft Are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships,” and, “Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships,” Vitasek provides research-based advice on innovation through strategic partnerships.

After a career with positions at P&G and Microsoft, among other companies, she is now a faculty member at the University of Tennessee.

Victor Antonio will present a session titled: “Position Your Value, Not Your Price.” He is a sales trainer and consultant with 14 books on sales and motivation to his name.

He is also the founder of an online sales training platform with over 60 courses called SalesVelocityAcademy.com.

Tony Perzow will speak on: “Negotiating Price Like a Pro.” Perzow has trained executives in the art of negotiation as a former negotiation trainer at the Karrass Organization and vice president of negotiation training at Strategic Pricing Associates.

He will deliver concrete actions, ideas and techniques based upon his experience as a buyer and seller that negotiated with companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco.

Only open to AGS members, they can register for Confluence online.

GIA is the 2022 event sponsor. 

Bodoh said, “Because of their generous support, we are able to bring this valuable education to our membership. We are very grateful to GIA for all they do for the AGS community.”