Bodoh named deputy executive director of AGS

Katherine Bodoh was just named the new deputy executive director of the American Gem Society. She’ll be relocating to Las Vegas and will report to Ruth Batson.Las Vegas--Katherine Bodoh is leaving Jewelers Mutual to become the deputy executive director of the American Gem Society, making her the second in command at the organization 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.