EditorsApr 22, 2024
The 22 Best Quotes from AGS Conclave 2024 Events & AwardsApr 25, 2024
Alexis Padis Takes Over as AGS Board President
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Ben Bridge Jeweler CEO Lisa Bridge, left, welcomes Padis Jewelry President Alexis Padis as the new president of the American Gem Society International Board of Directors at AGS Conclave 2024, held April 15-17 in Austin, Texas.
Austin, Texas—The American Gem Society welcomed a new board president at Conclave last week in what was a historic first for the 90-year-old organization.
Ben Bridge Jeweler CEO Lisa Bridge completed her second one-year term and welcomed Alexis Padis as the new board president, marking the first time in history that the presidency has passed from one woman to another.
Padis is president of Padis Jewelry, a San Francisco-based independent jeweler with five stores that she runs alongside her parents, Steve and Judy Padis. She is also an AGS Certified Gemologist Appraiser.
Bridge passed the torch to Padis at the organization’s annual Membership Breakfast, held April 17, the final day of AGS Conclave in Austin, Texas.
For the 2024-2025 term, Padis will lead a board consisting of the following.
President-Elect: Bryan Moeller
Secretary: Mitchell Clark
Senior Advisor: William Farmer Jr.
Treasurer and Chair, Finance, Audit & Legal Committee: Sumit Dangi
Chair, Young Titleholders Committee: Dave Bindra
Chair, Gemological Sciences Committee: John Carter
Chair, Membership Committee: Sarah Person
Chair, International Guilds Council: Amanda Coleman-Phelps
Chair, Education Committee: Kevin Mays
Chair, Conclave Subcommittee: Denise Richards
Director-At-Large: Sarin Bachmann
Director-At-Large: Ryan Berg
Director-At-Large: Melissa Quick
Director-At-Large: Brad Hampton
Director-At-Large: David Mazer
Director-At-Large: Niveet Nagpal
Director-At-Large: Larry Rickert
Quick, Hampton, and Bindra are new additions to the board.
Related stories will be right here …
Ben Bridge Jeweler CEO Lisa Bridge completed her second one-year term and welcomed Alexis Padis as the new board president, marking the first time in history that the presidency has passed from one woman to another.
Padis is president of Padis Jewelry, a San Francisco-based independent jeweler with five stores that she runs alongside her parents, Steve and Judy Padis. She is also an AGS Certified Gemologist Appraiser.
Bridge passed the torch to Padis at the organization’s annual Membership Breakfast, held April 17, the final day of AGS Conclave in Austin, Texas.
For the 2024-2025 term, Padis will lead a board consisting of the following.
President-Elect: Bryan Moeller
Secretary: Mitchell Clark
Senior Advisor: William Farmer Jr.
Treasurer and Chair, Finance, Audit & Legal Committee: Sumit Dangi
Chair, Young Titleholders Committee: Dave Bindra
Chair, Gemological Sciences Committee: John Carter
Chair, Membership Committee: Sarah Person
Chair, International Guilds Council: Amanda Coleman-Phelps
Chair, Education Committee: Kevin Mays
Chair, Conclave Subcommittee: Denise Richards
Director-At-Large: Sarin Bachmann
Director-At-Large: Ryan Berg
Director-At-Large: Melissa Quick
Director-At-Large: Brad Hampton
Director-At-Large: David Mazer
Director-At-Large: Niveet Nagpal
Director-At-Large: Larry Rickert
Quick, Hampton, and Bindra are new additions to the board.
Also during Conclave, AGS handed out its traditional slate of awards.
Jewelers Mutual Group received the Sallie Morton Award, the award given to people or organizations for their contributions to the AGS’s national guilds.
The Guild of the Year Award went to Andy Martin, CEO of Wishfluence and president of the Northwest Arkansas Guild, while FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jeffrey Rolands received the John J. Kennedy Award, which honors law enforcement for outstanding service to and support of the jewelry industry.
Jewelers Mutual’s Krystle Craycraft, center, is pictured holding the Sallie Morton Award, surrounded by members of the Jewelers Mutual team.
At the Titleholders Luncheon, Mays of John Mays Jewelers received the Young Titleholder of the Year Award.
Valerie Madison of Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry was recognized as the recipient of the scholarship to attend Conclave presented by the Black in Jewelry Coalition and the Young Titleholders’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
The Young Titleholders also awarded scholarships to attend Conclave to seven jewelers this year.
They were: Daniel Abdallah, Maya Caroleena Jewelers; Lisa Bradshaw, John J. Bradshaw; Kimberly Ngarupe, Duke’s Jewelers; Leslie Rollins, Zachary’s Jewelers; David Rubenstein, Betz Jewelers; Torre Spellman, Skeie’s Jewelers; and Tiana Yamaguchi, Vardy’s Jewelers.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
