AGS Releases 2019 Conclave Speaker Lineup

Las Vegas—The American Gem Society has announced the keynote and featured speakers for its 2019 Conclave.

Dan Thurmon

The featured speaker for that day will be Steve Gutzler, known for his ability to communicate clear leadership and sales solutions with humor, clarity and insight.

Steve GutzlerTuesday, April 9, will start with some humor, as the keynote breakfast speakers will be Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” The improv masters will perform a live variation of their hit show, relying heavily on audience participation.

The day’s featured speaker is Kelly McDonald, author and marketing and advertising expert whose company was twice named one of the “Top Ad Agencies in the U.S.” by Advertising Age.

Kelly McDonaldMcDonalds’s presentation combines high content and high humor, AGS said, and uses audience interaction to increase engagement and learning.

Meanwhile, the closing session keynote and featured speaker on Wednesday, April 10, is Galen Emanuele, who works with teams to create a shift in how people communicate and do business.

His unique, interactive keynotes and programs teach organizations how to apply the improv concept of “Yes, and” to create a culture of high-level performance and engagement.

Galen EmanueleJoel Zeff—acclaimed motivator, public speaker, humorist and actor—will return as the event’s emcee.

Each featured speaker will teach both a morning and afternoon session. There also will be more than 90 breakout sessions and 13 networking events to allow the AGS community the opportunity to mingle and network with other professionals.

The AGS said more announcements regarding additional speakers, registration information, breakout sessions and more are forthcoming.

“Seattle is a unique and innovative city with such an amazing energy,” said Alexis Padis, chair of the International Conclave Committee. “Our speakers are much like our host city in that way. This year’s Conclave has a wide variety of talent and leading experts, ready to infuse our members with invaluable information they can use in both their professional and personal lives.”

For more information about the American Gem Society and Conclave, visit AmericanGemSociety.org.