July 21, 2026 • 45 mins
Mike sits down with outgoing AGS president Alexis Padis and incoming president Bryan Moeller to talk about what a smooth leadership handoff really takes and why education, ethics, and consumer protection keep the organization aligned.
We also discuss the upcoming AGS Conclave, the pressures reshaping jewelry retail, and how independent jewelers can earn trust with today’s hyper-informed customers.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_02 (00:01):
Welcome back everybody to In the Loop.
What is up, everybody?
My name is Michael Burpo.
Thanks again for listening to Inthe Loop.
And this week, we got someillustrious guests.
I'm speaking with Alexis Pattis,the former president of AGS.
She just finished her two-yearterm, and I've had two previous
(00:23):
interviews with her, one whenshe started and one with a
one-year check-in.
And now as she calls it a closeand hands the torch to Brian
Moeller, and he's the newpresident of AGS.
And they're talking aboutConclave, their event in
September that's all educationfocused for retail jewelers, but
also what Alexis has learned intwo years.
(00:44):
What Brian hopes to learn, hisvision for the industry and the
future of the industry.
It is really a specialinterview.
I'm so kind of pleased.
Sometimes I finish these and I'mon like a little bit of a buzz.
You know, I can't believe thatwent so well.
And I'm so inspired afterspeaking with people that really
seem like they are in thedriver's seat.
I hope you enjoy it.
(01:05):
It's a really cool one.
Go check out Conclave.
I hope you do.
I'll see you soon.
Bye.
SPEAKER_00 (01:15):
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And now back to the show.
SPEAKER_03 (02:30):
Hello, Michael.
Hi, Michael.
Nice to be back.
And here with my buddy Brian.
SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
Nice to be back.
I'm so excited.
Alexis, I had you on as for yourfirst exclusive interview uh
when you were first namedpresident two years ago.
It's crazy how the time flies.
And then we did a one-yearcheck-in, which was really cool.
I I loved hearing um you have areal learner's mindset in how
um, you know, this positioncomes with like, I'm sure you
have to learn a lot of thingsrather quickly.
(02:56):
And then uh now you are in, youknow, you just handed off the uh
the I don't know, scepter, Iguess you might say.
It's a medal, actually.
It's a medal.
Yeah, it's a medal.
To uh to Brian.
Um maybe just to kind of set itup, Alexis.
What's the the last two yearsbeen like for you?
SPEAKER_03 (03:14):
Uh well, you said it was a blur, and that could not
be more accurate in my worlds.
Uh, you take on something likethe AJS presidency, and you
know, it feels like this finitetwo years to anyone looking in
from the outside, but it'sreally a capstone to about 10
years of serving on the boardand serving under, you know, a
variety of different presidents,and then eventually going on to
(03:36):
the executive committee,becoming secretary,
president-elect, and thenpresident.
Uh, sitting on the other side ofthis is a little still very um
odd for me.
Uh, the one thing that I am 100%confident in is that Brian is
the perfect person to be ourcurrent president.
And he knows this.
I've said it a million times,but I'm not sure our
(03:57):
organization has seen a moreprepared president, uh, both
from just his general knowledgeand ability to interact with
people, the fact that he servedas chair of a variety of our
committees, but also that hecomes from such an amazing
family history of the AmericanGems Society.
Brian's father, who was one ofthe founding members of our
laboratory, was a past presidentas well, Chipley Award winner.
(04:20):
So, Brian, uh, for somebodythat's really struggling with
the fact that I'm no longerpresident, I loved every single
second of serving on the AGSboard and interacting with the
AGS team.
I'm working with the boardmembers themselves.
I really get to sit here uhfeeling relaxed, relieved, and
uh here to support Brian howeverI can.
SPEAKER_01 (04:41):
But I doubt he needs my help in any way, shape, or
form.
It's so funny.
I was just gonna say, Michael,uh, Alexis must have separation
anxiety because she has calledme no fewer than five times
asking if there's anything thatI need from her, which of course
she's been very supportivethrough the entire transition.
And yes, um, there is going tobe some opportunity, Alexis,
sooner or later.
(05:02):
And um stay stay tuned.
SPEAKER_02 (05:04):
Yes.
And Brian, uh AJS is kind ofunique in that you guys do have
this whole um format forleadership, which I I think is
quite unique to uh to the group.
Um there's a acting president,and then there is also a um, I
guess a president-elect.
Uh that that will be the nextone.
Um, maybe could you set up uhwhat it was like shadowing for
(05:28):
the last two years and thenbeing president-elect, and then
um maybe just a little bit aboutyourself and your history.
I'd love to.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
Uh so you know, if you talk about the whole path
through the board, it startswith generally with a director
at large position way back whenum if you so desire, you move
into a committee chair position.
And at that point, the uhnominee nominating committee
will um ask you to becomesecretary.
(05:56):
Um and at that point, your sixyears starts.
Um, two years as secretary, twoyears uh as president-elect, and
into the president chair.
Um, I have been in so manymeetings with Alexis.
I am so ready for the position.
Three years, four years ago, Imay not have said I was ready,
but the American Gem Societydoes such a great job of
(06:18):
preparing you for what's tocome.
Um, and so I know all the insand outs of obviously as you
know the chair, but I even solast year, year before, um,
Alexis, you know, made sure thatI was involved in every
decision, um, in everydiscussion.
Um, and that really gave me theum, you know, the the ability
(06:38):
and the knowledge to to takeover a seamless, a seamless
transition from Alexis.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:44):
Wow.
And it what one thing that's atits core, AGS is uh is an
education, education-based umgroup.
So I imagine that education oftheir leadership is also likely
important.
SPEAKER_01 (06:58):
Aligns with the core values, no doubt about it.
Yeah, I mean, and um, you know,the the the pillars of the
American General Society ismaking sure that we uh educate
jewelers um and they're usingtheir education uh with
integrity and ethics.
So um it's something that reallywe all believe in, um, not just
as, you know, because we'reinvolved, but just it's how we
(07:18):
run our businesses and it alignswith our own personal values.
So it just, you know, it madesense for me to um be involved
in this organization because italigns with my ideals.
SPEAKER_02 (07:28):
Yes.
And you are quite obviously a uha retailer at heart.
Um uh what how what's yourexperience with the uh with the
jewelry industry?
SPEAKER_01 (07:37):
So I own two jewelry stores in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul area of Minnesota.
Um the business started 75 yearsago.
It's our 75th anniversary.
My grandfather started thebusiness as a little mom and
pop, repair, fix it shop.
Um, and then um myself, mybrother, and my uncle purchased
the business for my father, Iwant to say six, seven years
(07:57):
ago.
So um 40 employees, twolocations.
Um, it's a family businessthrough and through.
Not only my brother, my uncle,my aunts, my cousin, um, my
mother and father are stillpretty involved in the business.
It's uh yeah, you can swing adead cat and hit a molar around
here.
So it's it's it is reallyrewarding.
(08:19):
We um we we um, you know, I getto you know be surrounded by
family and I get to help peoplecelebrate.
So it is a really rewardingindustry and a rewarding
business.
Now I tried to avoid it as longas I possibly could.
Yeah.
And I was in my 20s, I was inthe glamorous world of health
insurance sales.
And then when I turned 30 andwised up and became a little bit
(08:39):
more mature, I decided maybe thefamily business is not the worst
thing in the world.
SPEAKER_02 (08:43):
Man, and what a and I was just mentioning this to
you beforehand.
It's I think that is theseemingly the best way.
Uh I I think actuallyinterestingly, um, I am quite
close with uh Craig McBean fromOspie.
And he was he was saying that umoh, no way, yeah.
He was saying that he um, youknow, spent some time away,
didn't want to do it, and thenhe got caught at a weak moment
(09:06):
and he and he was able to stepin.
And I think that uh maybe sometime away in different
industries kind of gives you alittle bit of perspective, a
little bit of distance, can uhmake the heart grow fonder.
But um, when did this transitiontake place?
The um the president-elect intopresident position.
SPEAKER_01 (09:23):
Certainly.
So um normally it um the thetransition happens in the spring
and it aligns with our annualconference conclave.
Uh normally conclave is in theApril-May um area timeline.
Um however, this with the thisfall conclave being in September
in Orlando, the transitionhappened at our spring board
(09:45):
meeting in Lexington, Kentucky.
Um, and so at the end of theboard meeting, Alexis stood up,
said some very, very kind thingsabout me, handed me the medal,
put it over my head.
I said some very kind thingsabout Alexis, all true.
Um and um then, you know, that'sthat started the transition.
But like I said, it didn't itdidn't feel that different from
(10:06):
you know a um workloadstandpoint or you know, a um,
you know, it just it it was justokay, yeah, I've been waiting a
long time for this, let's go.
So that's kind of personally howhow that transition felt.
And in Orlando, yep.
SPEAKER_03 (10:22):
I was just gonna say in Orlando, so we have Conclide
coming up.
It's September 14th through17th.
And of course, I encourage allof your listeners to sign up and
register.
It is our industry's bestnetworking and education
conference.
There's no trade show floor.
Your focus is on the education,on networking, on improving your
business, improving yourself.
(10:43):
I cannot give a bigger umcheerleading remark than to
anyone who's interested in justreally embracing all that our
industry is to please registerfor Conclave.
But we get to do because of thisodd timing, I do get to re-metal
Brian on stage and give someclosing remarks.
SPEAKER_01 (11:02):
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (11:02):
So it's a strange combination of things, but
courtesy of Brian being flexibleand being so wonderful, we're
able to kind of find a way tomake it work.
He gets to do all the hard workright now, and I still get to
have my moment on stage inSeptember and get to meddle him.
SPEAKER_01 (11:18):
You get the medal back for all of one or two
minutes before I get it backagain.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
Man, what a really uh interesting thing, especially
just to touch on the educationaspect again.
Um, it's so funny.
Every jewelry show has educationas part of their shows.
I will say, I would never pointyour fingers, but I do feel like
some shows, it's like onepercent of the show, or maybe
even less, where it's like, andpeople go there to do their
(11:44):
buying.
But hearing that it there's no,there's no uh show, you know,
floor, no vendor floor, it'sjust education.
It's it allows you to put 100%of your focus on uh get making
people uh learn and get better.
That's that's such a cool focus.
SPEAKER_01 (11:58):
It is the only educational conference in the
jewelry industry, and it isthree days of hard-hitting
courses on every topic you canpossibly think of.
Uh succession being a hot topicin the industry, obviously, um
lab grown gemology, um, sales,marketing, you name it, there is
a course for you.
So if you are in any sector ofthe jewelry industry, you will
(12:21):
find value at Conclave and youwill learn something.
So that's and it's just it's agreat chance just to be around
other um individuals that havethe same philosophy as you, that
they they all want to grow theirbusiness.
They all want to be a little bitbetter.
And so we're all there for ashared purpose in, you know,
educating ourselves, supportingeach other, and growing the
(12:42):
business, growing our personalbusinesses.
SPEAKER_02 (12:44):
Wow, I'm so excited.
And I know that um uh we alwayshear really great things about
it.
We try our best to uh we haveour own client workshop where we
try our hardest to educate ourclients because uh we've learned
that well-educated clients arethe best clients.
Uh the ones that understand theproducts, understand where it
fits into their business, wheretheir business is even going,
(13:06):
uh, those are the ones that wewant to have as our clients that
are sticking around the longest,that are the healthiest.
Um, so that's fantastic.
But Alexis, are there anyresponsibilities as former
president?
Do you are do they send you offto this this farm upstate and
and and then what?
SPEAKER_03 (13:22):
They put me off to pasture.
Off to pasture.
Georgie Glime coined the termhas been for when uh John Carter
and Michael Richards both rolledoff as uh board president, and
Lisa Bridge probably wore thattitle, and I will be doing the
same.
Um, I still sit on a fewcommittees, I still bug Brian
all the time with how I canhelp.
Uh, but AJS is an organization,whether or not I sit on the
(13:45):
board, I will always be involvedwith and be supportive of
because it's made such a hugedifference for me personally,
uh, me professionally, and forour business.
I really can't give a bigger umwhat's the word?
I apologize.
It's a Friday.
Yeah, endorsement is a perfectword.
I really just live and breedthis organization by choice
(14:05):
because it's meant so much tome.
SPEAKER_02 (14:07):
That's that's fantastic.
Now, um, Alexis, uh, when I hadinterviewed the first time, one
of the things I found veryinteresting is that you were
saying because the two-yearwindow as president is so short
that you, by nature of it, willtake uh, I think you use the
term, take some bows for thehard work of the people who came
(14:30):
before you.
But then undoubtedly that youwill leave some things uh
unfinished that will be close,that you will then uh
undoubtedly pass to Brian, andBrian will pass to his elect.
Um, could you are you able totalk just a little bit about
your time as president and likewhat your most proudest um time
(14:50):
and and what you're proud of aspresident of AGS?
SPEAKER_03 (14:53):
I think you hit the nail on the head.
This two-year time period isremarkably short considering the
amount of disruptors that aregoing on in our industry, the
things that AGS, especiallyrecently, has really tried to
focus on.
Uh, I was fortunate to get tobecome president on our 90th
anniversary at Conclave, our90th year as an organization.
(15:14):
And one of the things that Brianand I both really focused on is
how do we future proof thisorganization?
And that was a process thatbegan quite a bit before I
became president.
And it's something that wereally focused on as the last
two years is how do we futureproof, both in making sure that
our committee chairs havedeputies, making sure we're
embracing the youngergenerations and really focusing
(15:36):
on our young title holders,making sure we're embracing the
older generations and our pastpresidents rather than truly put
them out to pasture.
We created a group called thePresident Circle, where every
quarter or so we engage with thepast presidents, we let them
know what's going on within theorganization.
And then at Conclave, we allcome together and meet, which is
always so wonderful to get toreconnect with some of in my
(15:58):
mind, these people are legends,right?
You get to sit down at a tablewith these people you've looked
up to your whole life.
And for me, that's in particularwhat I'm especially proud of is
the focus we've really taken onensuring that AGS has a very
long future.
We've had 90 successful years,we want to have at least 90
more.
So through our duesrestructuring, through our
(16:20):
membership categories, uh, we'rereally trying to embrace the
changes and the evolution that'shappening in our industry.
And like I said, that processstarted well before my time and
will definitely continue onthrough Brian's presidency and
then through Mitchell Clark'spresidency and Denise Richards'
presidency.
But for me personally, that'swhat I'm really proud of.
Um, and you know, those twoyears go really quickly, but
(16:43):
Catherine Bodo, our CEO, isreally that glue that makes sure
that that strategic continuitycontinues on throughout each
presidency.
So that it's not these reallyquick to your terms where
everybody has differentobjectives.
We really all try to alignourselves throughout our
progress on the board to makesure that we're really taking a
long-term strategic look at theAmerican Gem Society.
SPEAKER_02 (17:05):
Wow.
That's I mean, you have to allbe unified in a in a view.
Otherwise, I couldn't imagine itbeing like stilted or or feel
like kind of um like herky jerkyif if it's gonna end up going
from one person with a a viewthat doesn't exactly align.
Uh at the same time, those thefuture proofing, just to kind of
(17:28):
touch upon that, so funny.
It's like the the least sexiestpart of a business is sometimes
like the infrastructure.
SPEAKER_03 (17:36):
100%.
SPEAKER_02 (17:37):
You can make you can make your entire career off of
infrastructure building.
Uh it's it's what I kind of feellike my main aspect at Punchmark
has been is like a lot ofreporting, like figuring out how
are we tracking all the teamsand how are we actually figuring
out if we're doing well besidesjust on a revenue level?
Like what are the otherindicators?
(17:57):
Seeing that you guys arebuilding that is really quite
cool.
But is there anything that wasthat maybe was just on the on
the the top of the ninth inningand you just haven't brought it
home that you think Brian isgoing to be picking up next?
SPEAKER_03 (18:11):
We're really fortunate as an organization to
have such a strong missionstatement, which is focused on
education and consumerprotection, which is why by
default we're all so alignedwith the strategic initiatives,
is that North Star really keepsus all very focused.
I don't necessarily see anythingthat, you know, is kind of the
(18:31):
period at the end of thesentence because there's been a
pretty dramatic progression withour divestment of the lab, uh,
our reinvigorating therelationship that we have with
our sibling organization, GIA,uh, and converge our GIA and AGS
version of Conclave thathappened last year.
Um, and now through ourmembership dues restructuring
(18:54):
and our new membershipcategories embracing new types
of members, it's very easy nowto say that focus moves into
let's bring in new types ofmembers.
Let's really, instead of AGSbeing an exclusive organization,
we want to be an inclusiveorganization.
Anyone that's willing to adhereto the American Gem Society
standards, we want them in ourcamp.
We want them to feel welcomed.
We want them to feel a part ofthis community.
(19:15):
And I know Brian shares that.
So I don't see a moment of pausebetween our presidencies.
He really, you know, that'sreally a strength of his is
creating that community.
And he's the perfect person totake over at this time,
considering a lot of thenon-sexy work has been done
behind the scenes primarily bythe board and the AGS team.
We've got new bylaws, the sexything, right?
(19:38):
We're rewriting bylaws for whybylaws.
SPEAKER_01 (19:41):
That's a real hot topic.
I mean, I agree.
I mean, the definition of retailhas changed so dramatically in
the past 10, 15, 20 years.
And the American Gym Society ummembership standards um really
um focused on traditionalretail.
And we started to seeapplications from
non-traditional um businessmodels.
(20:02):
When maybe they have a retailand a wholesale um contingent,
maybe they are online, maybethey work out of a um, you know,
a office building rather thanyour traditional brick and
mortar.
And so we, as the industry isshrinking, we all know this,
right?
You know, the the mom and popsare closing their their doors,
um, the fewer jewelers thanthere were 10 years ago.
(20:24):
How do we make ourselvesrelevant for the next 10 years?
And that's really the torch thatI'm carrying on is, you know,
um, Alexis set the table.
Uh, and so now, you know, I haveto take it to the next level.
And much of what I've been doingfor the past two or three months
is just talking to people,listening.
SPEAKER_02 (20:42):
I agree.
SPEAKER_01 (20:42):
Listening to, you know, their own individual
concerns within theirbusinesses, what they envision
um the direction of the AmericanGem Society, um, and you know,
empathizing a bit with them andeverything that they got going
on in their lives.
So that's really gonna take ituh us to the next level is just
connecting with the industry.
(21:03):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (21:04):
And you know, uh, I guess of of interest and of note
is you both come from similaryet different backgrounds.
So um Alexis out of uhCalifornia, um, and then Brian
out of Minneapolis.
Uh do you find that that givesyou a different perspective?
Um, you know, having someonefrom um maybe like uh, because
(21:27):
Alexis, you're in San Francisco,correct?
Having uh one of the ourlargest, largest cities.
Minneapolis still quite large,but most likely with a uh, you
know, a different demographic ofof shoppers as well.
Um, do you find I'm sure thatthat's also pretty uh important
to your consumer base where youryour client base that you have
(21:48):
people from all over as membersof AGS.
Is that something that um yougive a focus to to make sure
that you have presidents fromall different parts of the US?
SPEAKER_03 (21:58):
A big focus when we look The overall compilation of
the board is to make sure thatwe have representation from
different areas of the country.
The Midwest, right now, theMidwest is kind of taking over
the ABS board.
We're very aware of that.
Um, but making sure we havedifferent age ranges, obviously,
gender, um, socioeconomicbackground.
And I think you hit the nail onthe head, store size is a big
(22:20):
one.
A good portion of our membershipor, you know, two, three, four
people.
One of our um board members,Kevin Mays, our education chair,
he makes a point of saying, Ihave to close my store for three
days in order to attendConclave.
That's how much Conclave meansto me and how important it is to
me in my business that we justshut our doors.
And that's a good portion of ourmembership.
(22:41):
So that's definitely a focus ofsomething, a focus in general
that we really um make a pointof acknowledging is our
membership is very broad and wewant to make sure we're hearing
from those voices.
And Brian, especially, from themoment he joined the board, has
been the guy that takes thephone calls, that is willing to
talk to anybody, have thoseconversations.
(23:02):
And I really think that willserve him well and serve the
organization very well.
SPEAKER_01 (23:06):
And let's not forget about our partner members, um,
you know, our vendors, oursuppliers, the uh industries
that support the jewelryindustry, whether that be
technology, whether that besecurity, um all of these member
categories are inclusive withthe American Gem Society.
And we're all we're all we'reall the same people, right?
We're all looking to better ourbusiness, to um make sure that
(23:27):
the the end consumer is gettingaccurate information, is um, you
know, um taken care of.
And that's it's it's sorefreshing to be surrounded by
people with the same, you know,the same thought process in a
variety of different areas,demographics, business types,
you name it.
So I mean, I've learned a lotfrom Alexis, you know, not only
(23:49):
professionally, but just, youknow, because things are
different in the West Coast,right?
And so her consumer umpreferences and habits are
different than mine.
Um, and that just, you know, itjust kind of uh makes it um a
little bit larger than just whatwe do at the board table.
SPEAKER_02 (24:06):
Man, that's really quite interesting.
It it really does uh representlike a cross-section of the US.
And um having I've what I'velearned is the people who I find
the most inspiring andinterested, uh interesting are
the people with education aslike a yeah, as a core
foundation, with a learner'smindset.
(24:26):
And like I had mentioned in thebeginning, when I spoke with you
first, Alexis, I was really kindof struck by how you you do have
a hunger to learn and improve.
Now, two years later, you'vekind of learned and improved.
Now, as you become, what wasyour term, uh a presidential has
been, if you will, uh, like yousaid, uh how has that informed
(24:48):
you as a business owner, as a asa mother, as a um, I I guess
because you run it with yourparents, as a daughter.
Um, how has that informed you inother aspects of your life?
SPEAKER_03 (24:59):
The real answer is that I thrive in chaos.
Um, you know, people are justpeople at the end of the day,
and everybody has a very coremotivation, their why.
Uh, and in my business anddealing as a daughter, as you
know, a mom, as a former ADSpresident, as a part of this
(25:19):
industry, I really just try tounderstand people's why.
And that works really well withmy team here as well.
Um we're all just doing the bestwe can, and all of us, in some
way or another, thrive in chaos.
Uh, but for me, you know, thatlearner's mindset is crucial to
me.
You say, you know, you'velearned and improved over the
last two years.
I guess that's true, but there'sstill a whole heck of a lot more
(25:41):
learning and improving to do,and that's what I'm here for.
SPEAKER_02 (25:44):
That's lovely to hear.
That's the that's the truth.
And and there's always more.
There's always, always will bemore.
If your term was 50 years, I'msure that you'd probably get to
that 50th year and still belike, ah, you know what?
There was more to be done.
Um, but at the same time, Brian,uh, a lot of the people that are
going to be turning into thisepisode, I'm sure, are gonna
want to hear your kind of yourvision for where AGS is gonna
(26:07):
look uh be going for the nextuh, you know, few years.
Um, could you just give me maybejust an overview on where you
think the industry as a whole isright now?
You had alluded to it in one ofyour previous answers, but um
where are we right now, wouldyou say?
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
Uh the industry is in transition, but it seems like
it's been in transition since Istarted in the industry 18 years
ago, right?
There's always disruptors.
Um, and it's just what's thedisruptor now and what's the
next disruptor going to be.
So, you know, if at the globallevel, you know, what's going on
with uh the diamond mines anddemires is really, really
(26:44):
concerning.
Um, at the national level, it'sthe um shrinking of the industry
and the consolidation of the ofthe majors.
And, you know, if you're talkingabout my day-to-day operations,
I don't know if there's going tobe people that are willing to
work in luxury retail in thenext 10 or 15 years.
(27:06):
So there's all um, you canalmost drown yourself in
thinking out, but really it'sabout the what the what are the
things that you can control andwhat are the things that you
can't control.
In the end, we help peoplecelebrate and people like shiny
things.
So we're very lucky about that.
People like baubles.
Um, and so from that standpoint,we're always going to be here,
(27:29):
we're always going to berelative.
You know, AI is another, youknow, um, outlier or disruptor
or whatever you want to call it,but it'll never replace us
because people want the personalconnection.
People want to know that theyhave somebody that's in their
corner.
Uh, and that's the best partabout what we get to do every
single day is to help people.
(27:51):
So um, you know, it it'll beinteresting to see what the
industry looks like in the next10, 15 years.
What happens to the independentjeweler?
Um, are they still relevant orthe majors just kind of gobble
everything up?
But in the end, people want thatpersonal service and they want
to know who they're workingwith.
And we're again really fortunatefor that.
SPEAKER_02 (28:12):
You know, wow.
That what a what a reallyinteresting kind of you really
did sum it up quite well.
Uh the human connection is justbecoming increasingly more
important.
I guess it's more stark of a ofa contrast with the the more
generic version.
I'm quite fortunate uh since Iactually in the two years um
since I uh first interviewedAlexis, uh, I I did um move back
(28:38):
to my hometown.
I was able to move in and get ahouse in my hometown.
And it's a small town.
And what I've learned about thevalue of connection and the the,
I guess, like the inquantifiablevalue and price of these like
one-to-one or one-to-manyconnections that are beyond
(29:00):
just, for example, buying froman Amazon.
Uh it's so funny.
It's amazing how your shoppinghabits change.
When I used to want a book, uh,I used to just buy it off Amazon
when I lived in major cities.
Now I shop online, I see it andI screenshot it and I actually
order through my uh localbookstore.
Yeah, and I just send it to themand it's the exact same price,
(29:22):
pretty much.
And I know that I'll pick it upnext time.
It's right next to my localcoffee shop.
So I walk over there, I'd pickup my book instead of buying it
through an Amazon.
Why?
Because I want that bookstore tobe there.
And I think you're you're ontosomething with what will happen
to jewelers?
Man, if I knew, I'd be able tomake a lot of money, I'm sure.
However, I do feel like there isthis feeling that I don't think
(29:48):
is going to go away.
And I don't, I'm sure that themajors will need to be out
there, but I do think you'reright.
I think maybe we're gettingclose to a point where um the
independents need to kind ofidentify what that feeling is,
the one I just described at thisbookstore, and kind of latch
onto it.
And and that is what theirstrength is, I guess, if that if
(30:11):
that makes any sense, I guess.
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
I know that we are fortunate in that we have a
succession plan with my cousinwho just joined the business,
who's 20 years younger than me.
Um, so we're set for the nextseveral decades, God willing.
Um, but I know that most of theindustry does not have that
luxury.
Yes.
Um, and we've done such greatthings within the society to
(30:34):
address that by creating a umsuccession planning task force
and partnering with Obsidian ona and create a course specific
for jewelers on successionplanning that covers all the
various um scenarios, right?
It could be um, you know, yeah,you have some an error parent,
it could be that error parent isnot in the family business,
(30:55):
right?
Um, and all those differentpossible scenarios.
And so um, you know, it is, I doconsider myself us to be one of
the fortunate ones, but I alsohave a broader understanding of
what's going on out there.
And, you know, it'll be, like Isaid, it'll be interesting.
I'll be here, but I don't know,you know, I don't know what the
industry will look like.
So um you also mentioned whatthe vision is for the American
(31:18):
Gem Society in the next twoshort years that I get to be at
the helm.
First of all, our committees aredoing amazing things.
The education committee just umis creating new um education
platforms and courses, um, salesfocus, repair taken focus, um,
giving you know jewelers thetools that they need in our
store.
(31:38):
The title holder, young titleholders, Alexis mentioned it,
it's you know, uh invitingyounger generation to be more
involved in the jewelryindustry, which is sorely
needed, um, to my point earlier.
Uh, and membership, uh, and uhthe guilds, taking taking the
American Gem Society out to thelocal communities.
And then, of course, theConclave Committee is at hard
(32:01):
work right now, making sure wehave just an unbelievable event
in September.
So, you know, part of it issupporting them, but also making
sure that their initiativesalign with um our core values
and what Robert Shiple, youknow, uh created the
organization based on.
Uh, you know, the buzzwords areknowledge, ethics, and consumer
protection.
(32:21):
But what does that actuallymean?
Making sure that the decisionsthat we're making are in the
best interest of the consumer,help create a more ethical
industry, and really um, youknow, help the the people that
that are standing on the otherother side of the counter.
Um, so supporting them, talkingto people, um, and you know,
(32:42):
developing the um the frameworkfor the next successful two
years.
SPEAKER_02 (32:46):
Wow, it's so interesting to hear uh because
at the same time, like we said,two years is so is very short,
but at the same time, there is alot of impact that you can have.
Uh you you were talking abouteducation.
It just kind of spawned anotherthought for me.
And Alexa, I'd love your kind offor you to weigh on this as
well.
I am not a shopper, but I do alot of uh I'm not a um a retail
(33:09):
owner, but I do a lot of theseconversations with uh consumers.
And the one kind of fact that'skind of um become apparent to me
is shoppers are the most welleducated they've ever been.
The amount of information youcan find about any product is, I
mean, incredible, especiallywith pre-shopping.
(33:30):
You can you have AI to help youexplain everything that you
want.
Uh, the kind of some of themysticism is maybe going away
from jewelry.
Whereas before, it's like you'veprobably never seen a diamond
that big when you walked in, andthen someone can like show it to
you, and there's like a oh wow,uh moment.
What do you think is theresponsibility of these
(33:52):
well-educated retailers tohandle well-educated shoppers as
well?
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
I'm sure Brian has these as well.
Uh, the term that Deb Hiss uhcoined way back when is folder
boys.
And folder boys have existedsince, you know, the internet,
but even before that, you know,engineers are engineers and
they're gonna geek out overdominant proportions and things
like that.
Um, you know, at the end of theday, I think this consumer now
(34:18):
is overwhelmed by information.
Uh, paralysis by analysis is avery real thing.
And because there's so muchinformation out there, a lot of
times people almost get sonervous by it that they can't
make a decision.
And we've continued topromulgate that uh type of
shopping with things likeAmazon, where you don't really
(34:40):
have to make a finite decision,right?
You can order three dresses andreturn two of the three and call
it a day.
So the consumer now, in buyingan important piece of jewelry,
an engagement ring or somethingthat commemorates an anniversary
or birthday, they're making thissomewhat finite decision and are
looking to the subject matterexpert on the other side of the
counter to really help themthrough that process and to wade
(35:03):
through all of that informationthat they're getting on the
internet.
There's a reason they begin onthe internet, they want to have
kind of a baseline.
But they come into the storebecause they need somebody to
help them filter through thecrap.
Everything on the internet iswritten by a biased source, with
the exception of perhaps ingemological terms, you know, GIA
has a fantastic website and it'spretty neutral.
Um, but other than that, whenyou Google something about
(35:25):
diamonds, you're getting anonline retailer that's gonna
spit back out what they want youto know.
SPEAKER_02 (35:29):
It's gonna tell you what's yeah, the truth.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (35:32):
So the consumer needs to have somebody that they
trust sitting across and helpingthem get through it.
And that's why I think theAmerican Gem Society is so
important and why we're withinthe top 10 resources that
consumers use when they'relooking to start the jewelry
purchase process because theyeverybody's just looking for
(35:52):
somebody that they can trust.
And our organization's focus isconsumer protection through
gemological expertise andeducation.
And it all plays a part in kindof this ecosystem and making
sure the consumer finds whatthey want and know exactly why
it is what they want.
SPEAKER_02 (36:08):
Yeah.
Now, Brian, do you do you getbinder boys at your your shop in
Minneapolis as well?
SPEAKER_01 (36:14):
We all do.
And now, and now it's on all thein their notes in their phone.
And, you know, um, first of all,you know, you compliment them on
their research, right?
Because they they put a lot oftime into it.
And you have to understand thatthis is one of the most
important purchases of theirentire lives.
Yeah.
Um, it has the is certainly themost symbolic, and I'm talking
(36:37):
specifically of engagementrange, right?
Um, it is certainly symbolic.
Um, but you know, what else areyou going to own and wear and
enjoy and love every day for therest of your life?
And then your kids and yourgrandkids will fight over that
that that special memento, uhuh, that special piece.
(37:00):
So um I understand, I get it.
Um, and you know, they yes, theywant somebody that they can
trust, but also uh trust comesis built based on not only a
personal connection, but alsoknowing that the person that
you're working with knows whatthey're talking about, right?
They're not just umregurgitating uh training
(37:20):
material, they're not just um,you know, blowing smoke.
Um people see through that in aninstance.
And so having an educated team,being educated personally is
what gives that end buyer faithin us.
And so that really that's soimportant um to continue to grow
(37:41):
every single day.
And I've always said that ifyou're not learning something
every day, you might as wellretire.
You're done, right?
Just just shut her down.
Um, and so you know, being themost educated staff in our
certainly our area and one ofthe most educated in the in the
country is really important tous because it does help build
that trust with that, that, um,with that, with that buyer.
SPEAKER_02 (38:05):
Man, trust is also just one of those, you can't put
a price on it.
Uh, you can't buy it, you candefinitely uh sell it away,
that's for sure.
But uh it sounds like somethingthat is you guys understand the
importance of it.
And I think that increasinglywhen I speak with retailers,
man, they really appreciate howpeople come back generation
after generation to be the onesto buy with them.
SPEAKER_01 (38:28):
So rewarding.
SPEAKER_02 (38:28):
Yes.
And uh I guess maybe Brian, justto kind of maybe put a little
bow on this, is um, I'm veryinterested in hearing where
leaders are getting theirimprovements.
Obviously, you learn a lot fromfrom your board and from the
people that you work with.
Uh, do you have any any mentorsor anybody that or like a peer
(38:51):
group for how you are improving?
Um, you said that you got toimprove and learn something
every single day.
Uh, where's your source forthat?
SPEAKER_01 (38:58):
I surround myself with people that are a lot
smarter than I am, Michael.
Um and so yeah, I I do.
Um CEOs, um, there's there is alocal bank CEO that I've become
good friends with.
And, you know, not only kind ofunderstanding the differences
between our business, but alsounderstanding the similarities,
(39:20):
right?
Um, and he has a greatphilosophy for the people that
he hires.
He um the first interview isjust just chatting, not even any
hard-hitting questions.
It's just getting to know thethe individual and um are they
good people and do they alignwith it with that organization's
core values, right?
And so um really I've hadseveral mentors over the years.
(39:44):
I've um, you know, and I learn alittle bit from from everybody I
talk to.
Um, and you know, similarities,differences, differences in
industries, you name it, butit's just um it's just about you
know surrounding people yourselfwith people that that are have
the same ideals as yourself.
And again, the society is greatfor that because everybody in
(40:05):
the American Gender Society hassimilar ideals to us.
SPEAKER_02 (40:08):
So that's fantastic.
Well, I can't I can't thank youall enough.
Uh it's so crazy, Alexis.
I I I literally remember it likeit was yesterday sitting down
with you.
I was just so excited that umsomeone that I knew was going to
be leading this this majororganization.
And uh now to see that you knowyour time uh is kind of run its
(40:29):
course and now you get to tomove on is so exciting.
And then to see that Brian kindof comes in.
Um, but to see the that you guysdo come from like this
well-educated and kind of stillinspired background, it's not
doing it because you have to,it's gonna do it because you
want to.
Um, maybe Alexis, is thereanything you want to leave?
Um, maybe any AGS members thatare going to be listening, um,
(40:51):
anything you want to leave withthem uh as you kind of you know
wrap up your your two-yearstint?
SPEAKER_03 (40:57):
You know, the last few years was very much a
reminder to me that AGS is somuch more than just a personal
organization.
It's truly this family, thiscommunity that's built on
integrity and on generosity, onmentorship, on real genuine
friendship.
And it was such a privilege andan honor to get to be at the
(41:18):
helm.
Um, I just encourage anyonethat's on the fence, if they've
ever considered joining theAmerican Gem Society, now is the
time to do it.
The organization is in such awonderfully inclusive place.
Uh, and there's no moreimportant time.
Brian hit the nail on the head.
We are constantly interrupted bydisruptors, whether it's the
internet, whether it's labgrown, whether it's AI, and
(41:40):
we're all in this together.
Yeah, terrible.
I mean, gosh, it's what did whatdid I see today?
Brazil's now at 25%.
Um it's, you know, you have tokeep a pulse on so many
different things as a businessowner.
And that's not even factoring onwhat happens day and day out on
the sales floor, to have thiscommunity of peers that really
just wants what's best for ourindustry.
A rising tide raises all boats.
(42:01):
Uh, the American Gem Society, inmy mind, is the strongest
organization our industry has.
And I really just encourageeveryone who's considering being
a member to stick your neck outand put it in application, but
also to please come to Conclavein Orlando again, September 14th
through 17th, because it reallywill change your life within
this industry.
SPEAKER_02 (42:22):
That's fantastic.
And Brian, anything you wantedto uh leave off on as you begin
your two-year stint?
Um, anything for listeners thatmight be either on the edge or
they are AGS members already?
SPEAKER_01 (42:34):
I want to hear from you.
I want to hear your thoughts andyour perspectives.
I want to talk to you.
I want to hear your concernswith the industry.
Um, I want to hear what you feelis the benefits of your um
American Gems Society membershipor maybe why you're reluctant to
make the jump.
Um, you know, I just I lovetalking to people.
(42:55):
I love getting to know people.
And I think that that's going toum, you know, really benefit me
in my next couple of years isjust gaining um different
perspectives.
So um, you know, you can get ahold of me pretty easily through
American Genom Society.
I'd love to have a personalconversation with with
everybody, or you know, stop mein the hallways at an at
(43:17):
Conclave and shake my hand.
Um so I'd really appreciatethat.
SPEAKER_02 (43:21):
Brian, where can people go if they want to uh to
to potentially sign up?
What's the uh where should theyuh be going on?
SPEAKER_01 (43:27):
That's just probably info at American Genom
Society.org.
Um is that doc or dot org or dotcom, Alexis?
SPEAKER_03 (43:34):
It's dot org, but it might be AGS.org.
SPEAKER_01 (43:38):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (43:38):
Um AGS website is the easy answer.
SPEAKER_01 (43:42):
Yes, easy for us to say because we could just, you
know, we just call them right upand they answer our phone.
So um so yeah, and um the themembership team is um
delightful.
They're fun people to work with.
SPEAKER_02 (43:55):
Fantastic.
Well, I can't thank you allenough.
Um, Brian, maybe we can have afollow-up in a year, like I did
with Alexis.
I would love to get a chance tohear about your perspective on
uh, because I'm sure, like yousaid, so much to learn in one
year.
I'm sure we'll we'll teach youquite a lot and we'll see how it
goes from there.
Alexis, congratulations on agreat uh two years, and uh I
can't wait to see what you donext.
(44:16):
I'm sure it'll be amazing.
Um, but everybody, thanks somuch for listening.
Check out their website, maybesee you at Conclave.
Um, and I will be back nextweek, Tuesday, with another
episode.
Cheers.
Bye.
All right, everybody.
That's the end of the show.
Thanks so much for listening.
(44:37):
My guest this week was AlexisPattis, the former president of
AGS, and Brian Moller, thecurrent president of AGS.
This episode was brought to youby Punchmark and produced and
hosted by me, Michael Burpo.
This episode was edited by PaulSuarez and with music by Ross
Cochran.
Don't forget to rate the podcaston Spotify and Apple Podcasts,
(44:59):
and leave us feedback onpunchmark.com slash loop.
That's L-O-U-P-E.
Thanks, and be back next week,Tuesday, with another episode.
Cheers.
Bye.
Welcome back everybody to In the Loop.
What is up, everybody?
My name is Michael Burpo.
Thanks again for listening to Inthe Loop.
And this week, we got someillustrious guests.
I'm speaking with Alexis Pattis,the former president of AGS.
She just finished her two-yearterm, and I've had two previous
(00:23):
interviews with her, one whenshe started and one with a
one-year check-in.
And now as she calls it a closeand hands the torch to Brian
Moeller, and he's the newpresident of AGS.
And they're talking aboutConclave, their event in
September that's all educationfocused for retail jewelers, but
also what Alexis has learned intwo years.
(00:44):
What Brian hopes to learn, hisvision for the industry and the
future of the industry.
It is really a specialinterview.
I'm so kind of pleased.
Sometimes I finish these and I'mon like a little bit of a buzz.
You know, I can't believe thatwent so well.
And I'm so inspired afterspeaking with people that really
seem like they are in thedriver's seat.
I hope you enjoy it.
(01:05):
It's a really cool one.
Go check out Conclave.
I hope you do.
I'll see you soon.
Bye.
SPEAKER_00 (01:15):
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(01:35):
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Schedule a guided demo today atpunchmark.com slash go.
And now back to the show.
SPEAKER_03 (02:30):
Hello, Michael.
Hi, Michael.
Nice to be back.
And here with my buddy Brian.
SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
Nice to be back.
I'm so excited.
Alexis, I had you on as for yourfirst exclusive interview uh
when you were first namedpresident two years ago.
It's crazy how the time flies.
And then we did a one-yearcheck-in, which was really cool.
I I loved hearing um you have areal learner's mindset in how
um, you know, this positioncomes with like, I'm sure you
have to learn a lot of thingsrather quickly.
(02:56):
And then uh now you are in, youknow, you just handed off the uh
the I don't know, scepter, Iguess you might say.
It's a medal, actually.
It's a medal.
Yeah, it's a medal.
To uh to Brian.
Um maybe just to kind of set itup, Alexis.
What's the the last two yearsbeen like for you?
SPEAKER_03 (03:14):
Uh well, you said it was a blur, and that could not
be more accurate in my worlds.
Uh, you take on something likethe AJS presidency, and you
know, it feels like this finitetwo years to anyone looking in
from the outside, but it'sreally a capstone to about 10
years of serving on the boardand serving under, you know, a
variety of different presidents,and then eventually going on to
(03:36):
the executive committee,becoming secretary,
president-elect, and thenpresident.
Uh, sitting on the other side ofthis is a little still very um
odd for me.
Uh, the one thing that I am 100%confident in is that Brian is
the perfect person to be ourcurrent president.
And he knows this.
I've said it a million times,but I'm not sure our
(03:57):
organization has seen a moreprepared president, uh, both
from just his general knowledgeand ability to interact with
people, the fact that he servedas chair of a variety of our
committees, but also that hecomes from such an amazing
family history of the AmericanGems Society.
Brian's father, who was one ofthe founding members of our
laboratory, was a past presidentas well, Chipley Award winner.
(04:20):
So, Brian, uh, for somebodythat's really struggling with
the fact that I'm no longerpresident, I loved every single
second of serving on the AGSboard and interacting with the
AGS team.
I'm working with the boardmembers themselves.
I really get to sit here uhfeeling relaxed, relieved, and
uh here to support Brian howeverI can.
SPEAKER_01 (04:41):
But I doubt he needs my help in any way, shape, or
form.
It's so funny.
I was just gonna say, Michael,uh, Alexis must have separation
anxiety because she has calledme no fewer than five times
asking if there's anything thatI need from her, which of course
she's been very supportivethrough the entire transition.
And yes, um, there is going tobe some opportunity, Alexis,
sooner or later.
(05:02):
And um stay stay tuned.
SPEAKER_02 (05:04):
Yes.
And Brian, uh AJS is kind ofunique in that you guys do have
this whole um format forleadership, which I I think is
quite unique to uh to the group.
Um there's a acting president,and then there is also a um, I
guess a president-elect.
Uh that that will be the nextone.
Um, maybe could you set up uhwhat it was like shadowing for
(05:28):
the last two years and thenbeing president-elect, and then
um maybe just a little bit aboutyourself and your history.
I'd love to.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
Uh so you know, if you talk about the whole path
through the board, it startswith generally with a director
at large position way back whenum if you so desire, you move
into a committee chair position.
And at that point, the uhnominee nominating committee
will um ask you to becomesecretary.
(05:56):
Um and at that point, your sixyears starts.
Um, two years as secretary, twoyears uh as president-elect, and
into the president chair.
Um, I have been in so manymeetings with Alexis.
I am so ready for the position.
Three years, four years ago, Imay not have said I was ready,
but the American Gem Societydoes such a great job of
(06:18):
preparing you for what's tocome.
Um, and so I know all the insand outs of obviously as you
know the chair, but I even solast year, year before, um,
Alexis, you know, made sure thatI was involved in every
decision, um, in everydiscussion.
Um, and that really gave me theum, you know, the the ability
(06:38):
and the knowledge to to takeover a seamless, a seamless
transition from Alexis.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:44):
Wow.
And it what one thing that's atits core, AGS is uh is an
education, education-based umgroup.
So I imagine that education oftheir leadership is also likely
important.
SPEAKER_01 (06:58):
Aligns with the core values, no doubt about it.
Yeah, I mean, and um, you know,the the the pillars of the
American General Society ismaking sure that we uh educate
jewelers um and they're usingtheir education uh with
integrity and ethics.
So um it's something that reallywe all believe in, um, not just
as, you know, because we'reinvolved, but just it's how we
(07:18):
run our businesses and it alignswith our own personal values.
So it just, you know, it madesense for me to um be involved
in this organization because italigns with my ideals.
SPEAKER_02 (07:28):
Yes.
And you are quite obviously a uha retailer at heart.
Um uh what how what's yourexperience with the uh with the
jewelry industry?
SPEAKER_01 (07:37):
So I own two jewelry stores in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul area of Minnesota.
Um the business started 75 yearsago.
It's our 75th anniversary.
My grandfather started thebusiness as a little mom and
pop, repair, fix it shop.
Um, and then um myself, mybrother, and my uncle purchased
the business for my father, Iwant to say six, seven years
(07:57):
ago.
So um 40 employees, twolocations.
Um, it's a family businessthrough and through.
Not only my brother, my uncle,my aunts, my cousin, um, my
mother and father are stillpretty involved in the business.
It's uh yeah, you can swing adead cat and hit a molar around
here.
So it's it's it is reallyrewarding.
(08:19):
We um we we um, you know, I getto you know be surrounded by
family and I get to help peoplecelebrate.
So it is a really rewardingindustry and a rewarding
business.
Now I tried to avoid it as longas I possibly could.
Yeah.
And I was in my 20s, I was inthe glamorous world of health
insurance sales.
And then when I turned 30 andwised up and became a little bit
(08:39):
more mature, I decided maybe thefamily business is not the worst
thing in the world.
SPEAKER_02 (08:43):
Man, and what a and I was just mentioning this to
you beforehand.
It's I think that is theseemingly the best way.
Uh I I think actuallyinterestingly, um, I am quite
close with uh Craig McBean fromOspie.
And he was he was saying that umoh, no way, yeah.
He was saying that he um, youknow, spent some time away,
didn't want to do it, and thenhe got caught at a weak moment
(09:06):
and he and he was able to stepin.
And I think that uh maybe sometime away in different
industries kind of gives you alittle bit of perspective, a
little bit of distance, can uhmake the heart grow fonder.
But um, when did this transitiontake place?
The um the president-elect intopresident position.
SPEAKER_01 (09:23):
Certainly.
So um normally it um the thetransition happens in the spring
and it aligns with our annualconference conclave.
Uh normally conclave is in theApril-May um area timeline.
Um however, this with the thisfall conclave being in September
in Orlando, the transitionhappened at our spring board
(09:45):
meeting in Lexington, Kentucky.
Um, and so at the end of theboard meeting, Alexis stood up,
said some very, very kind thingsabout me, handed me the medal,
put it over my head.
I said some very kind thingsabout Alexis, all true.
Um and um then, you know, that'sthat started the transition.
But like I said, it didn't itdidn't feel that different from
(10:06):
you know a um workloadstandpoint or you know, a um,
you know, it just it it was justokay, yeah, I've been waiting a
long time for this, let's go.
So that's kind of personally howhow that transition felt.
And in Orlando, yep.
SPEAKER_03 (10:22):
I was just gonna say in Orlando, so we have Conclide
coming up.
It's September 14th through17th.
And of course, I encourage allof your listeners to sign up and
register.
It is our industry's bestnetworking and education
conference.
There's no trade show floor.
Your focus is on the education,on networking, on improving your
business, improving yourself.
(10:43):
I cannot give a bigger umcheerleading remark than to
anyone who's interested in justreally embracing all that our
industry is to please registerfor Conclave.
But we get to do because of thisodd timing, I do get to re-metal
Brian on stage and give someclosing remarks.
SPEAKER_01 (11:02):
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (11:02):
So it's a strange combination of things, but
courtesy of Brian being flexibleand being so wonderful, we're
able to kind of find a way tomake it work.
He gets to do all the hard workright now, and I still get to
have my moment on stage inSeptember and get to meddle him.
SPEAKER_01 (11:18):
You get the medal back for all of one or two
minutes before I get it backagain.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
Man, what a really uh interesting thing, especially
just to touch on the educationaspect again.
Um, it's so funny.
Every jewelry show has educationas part of their shows.
I will say, I would never pointyour fingers, but I do feel like
some shows, it's like onepercent of the show, or maybe
even less, where it's like, andpeople go there to do their
(11:44):
buying.
But hearing that it there's no,there's no uh show, you know,
floor, no vendor floor, it'sjust education.
It's it allows you to put 100%of your focus on uh get making
people uh learn and get better.
That's that's such a cool focus.
SPEAKER_01 (11:58):
It is the only educational conference in the
jewelry industry, and it isthree days of hard-hitting
courses on every topic you canpossibly think of.
Uh succession being a hot topicin the industry, obviously, um
lab grown gemology, um, sales,marketing, you name it, there is
a course for you.
So if you are in any sector ofthe jewelry industry, you will
(12:21):
find value at Conclave and youwill learn something.
So that's and it's just it's agreat chance just to be around
other um individuals that havethe same philosophy as you, that
they they all want to grow theirbusiness.
They all want to be a little bitbetter.
And so we're all there for ashared purpose in, you know,
educating ourselves, supportingeach other, and growing the
(12:42):
business, growing our personalbusinesses.
SPEAKER_02 (12:44):
Wow, I'm so excited.
And I know that um uh we alwayshear really great things about
it.
We try our best to uh we haveour own client workshop where we
try our hardest to educate ourclients because uh we've learned
that well-educated clients arethe best clients.
Uh the ones that understand theproducts, understand where it
fits into their business, wheretheir business is even going,
(13:06):
uh, those are the ones that wewant to have as our clients that
are sticking around the longest,that are the healthiest.
Um, so that's fantastic.
But Alexis, are there anyresponsibilities as former
president?
Do you are do they send you offto this this farm upstate and
and and then what?
SPEAKER_03 (13:22):
They put me off to pasture.
Off to pasture.
Georgie Glime coined the termhas been for when uh John Carter
and Michael Richards both rolledoff as uh board president, and
Lisa Bridge probably wore thattitle, and I will be doing the
same.
Um, I still sit on a fewcommittees, I still bug Brian
all the time with how I canhelp.
Uh, but AJS is an organization,whether or not I sit on the
(13:45):
board, I will always be involvedwith and be supportive of
because it's made such a hugedifference for me personally,
uh, me professionally, and forour business.
I really can't give a bigger umwhat's the word?
I apologize.
It's a Friday.
Yeah, endorsement is a perfectword.
I really just live and breedthis organization by choice
(14:05):
because it's meant so much tome.
SPEAKER_02 (14:07):
That's that's fantastic.
Now, um, Alexis, uh, when I hadinterviewed the first time, one
of the things I found veryinteresting is that you were
saying because the two-yearwindow as president is so short
that you, by nature of it, willtake uh, I think you use the
term, take some bows for thehard work of the people who came
(14:30):
before you.
But then undoubtedly that youwill leave some things uh
unfinished that will be close,that you will then uh
undoubtedly pass to Brian, andBrian will pass to his elect.
Um, could you are you able totalk just a little bit about
your time as president and likewhat your most proudest um time
(14:50):
and and what you're proud of aspresident of AGS?
SPEAKER_03 (14:53):
I think you hit the nail on the head.
This two-year time period isremarkably short considering the
amount of disruptors that aregoing on in our industry, the
things that AGS, especiallyrecently, has really tried to
focus on.
Uh, I was fortunate to get tobecome president on our 90th
anniversary at Conclave, our90th year as an organization.
(15:14):
And one of the things that Brianand I both really focused on is
how do we future proof thisorganization?
And that was a process thatbegan quite a bit before I
became president.
And it's something that wereally focused on as the last
two years is how do we futureproof, both in making sure that
our committee chairs havedeputies, making sure we're
embracing the youngergenerations and really focusing
(15:36):
on our young title holders,making sure we're embracing the
older generations and our pastpresidents rather than truly put
them out to pasture.
We created a group called thePresident Circle, where every
quarter or so we engage with thepast presidents, we let them
know what's going on within theorganization.
And then at Conclave, we allcome together and meet, which is
always so wonderful to get toreconnect with some of in my
(15:58):
mind, these people are legends,right?
You get to sit down at a tablewith these people you've looked
up to your whole life.
And for me, that's in particularwhat I'm especially proud of is
the focus we've really taken onensuring that AGS has a very
long future.
We've had 90 successful years,we want to have at least 90
more.
So through our duesrestructuring, through our
(16:20):
membership categories, uh, we'rereally trying to embrace the
changes and the evolution that'shappening in our industry.
And like I said, that processstarted well before my time and
will definitely continue onthrough Brian's presidency and
then through Mitchell Clark'spresidency and Denise Richards'
presidency.
But for me personally, that'swhat I'm really proud of.
Um, and you know, those twoyears go really quickly, but
(16:43):
Catherine Bodo, our CEO, isreally that glue that makes sure
that that strategic continuitycontinues on throughout each
presidency.
So that it's not these reallyquick to your terms where
everybody has differentobjectives.
We really all try to alignourselves throughout our
progress on the board to makesure that we're really taking a
long-term strategic look at theAmerican Gem Society.
SPEAKER_02 (17:05):
Wow.
That's I mean, you have to allbe unified in a in a view.
Otherwise, I couldn't imagine itbeing like stilted or or feel
like kind of um like herky jerkyif if it's gonna end up going
from one person with a a viewthat doesn't exactly align.
Uh at the same time, those thefuture proofing, just to kind of
(17:28):
touch upon that, so funny.
It's like the the least sexiestpart of a business is sometimes
like the infrastructure.
SPEAKER_03 (17:36):
100%.
SPEAKER_02 (17:37):
You can make you can make your entire career off of
infrastructure building.
Uh it's it's what I kind of feellike my main aspect at Punchmark
has been is like a lot ofreporting, like figuring out how
are we tracking all the teamsand how are we actually figuring
out if we're doing well besidesjust on a revenue level?
Like what are the otherindicators?
(17:57):
Seeing that you guys arebuilding that is really quite
cool.
But is there anything that wasthat maybe was just on the on
the the top of the ninth inningand you just haven't brought it
home that you think Brian isgoing to be picking up next?
SPEAKER_03 (18:11):
We're really fortunate as an organization to
have such a strong missionstatement, which is focused on
education and consumerprotection, which is why by
default we're all so alignedwith the strategic initiatives,
is that North Star really keepsus all very focused.
I don't necessarily see anythingthat, you know, is kind of the
(18:31):
period at the end of thesentence because there's been a
pretty dramatic progression withour divestment of the lab, uh,
our reinvigorating therelationship that we have with
our sibling organization, GIA,uh, and converge our GIA and AGS
version of Conclave thathappened last year.
Um, and now through ourmembership dues restructuring
(18:54):
and our new membershipcategories embracing new types
of members, it's very easy nowto say that focus moves into
let's bring in new types ofmembers.
Let's really, instead of AGSbeing an exclusive organization,
we want to be an inclusiveorganization.
Anyone that's willing to adhereto the American Gem Society
standards, we want them in ourcamp.
We want them to feel welcomed.
We want them to feel a part ofthis community.
(19:15):
And I know Brian shares that.
So I don't see a moment of pausebetween our presidencies.
He really, you know, that'sreally a strength of his is
creating that community.
And he's the perfect person totake over at this time,
considering a lot of thenon-sexy work has been done
behind the scenes primarily bythe board and the AGS team.
We've got new bylaws, the sexything, right?
(19:38):
We're rewriting bylaws for whybylaws.
SPEAKER_01 (19:41):
That's a real hot topic.
I mean, I agree.
I mean, the definition of retailhas changed so dramatically in
the past 10, 15, 20 years.
And the American Gym Society ummembership standards um really
um focused on traditionalretail.
And we started to seeapplications from
non-traditional um businessmodels.
(20:02):
When maybe they have a retailand a wholesale um contingent,
maybe they are online, maybethey work out of a um, you know,
a office building rather thanyour traditional brick and
mortar.
And so we, as the industry isshrinking, we all know this,
right?
You know, the the mom and popsare closing their their doors,
um, the fewer jewelers thanthere were 10 years ago.
(20:24):
How do we make ourselvesrelevant for the next 10 years?
And that's really the torch thatI'm carrying on is, you know,
um, Alexis set the table.
Uh, and so now, you know, I haveto take it to the next level.
And much of what I've been doingfor the past two or three months
is just talking to people,listening.
SPEAKER_02 (20:42):
I agree.
SPEAKER_01 (20:42):
Listening to, you know, their own individual
concerns within theirbusinesses, what they envision
um the direction of the AmericanGem Society, um, and you know,
empathizing a bit with them andeverything that they got going
on in their lives.
So that's really gonna take ituh us to the next level is just
connecting with the industry.
(21:03):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (21:04):
And you know, uh, I guess of of interest and of note
is you both come from similaryet different backgrounds.
So um Alexis out of uhCalifornia, um, and then Brian
out of Minneapolis.
Uh do you find that that givesyou a different perspective?
Um, you know, having someonefrom um maybe like uh, because
(21:27):
Alexis, you're in San Francisco,correct?
Having uh one of the ourlargest, largest cities.
Minneapolis still quite large,but most likely with a uh, you
know, a different demographic ofof shoppers as well.
Um, do you find I'm sure thatthat's also pretty uh important
to your consumer base where youryour client base that you have
(21:48):
people from all over as membersof AGS.
Is that something that um yougive a focus to to make sure
that you have presidents fromall different parts of the US?
SPEAKER_03 (21:58):
A big focus when we look The overall compilation of
the board is to make sure thatwe have representation from
different areas of the country.
The Midwest, right now, theMidwest is kind of taking over
the ABS board.
We're very aware of that.
Um, but making sure we havedifferent age ranges, obviously,
gender, um, socioeconomicbackground.
And I think you hit the nail onthe head, store size is a big
(22:20):
one.
A good portion of our membershipor, you know, two, three, four
people.
One of our um board members,Kevin Mays, our education chair,
he makes a point of saying, Ihave to close my store for three
days in order to attendConclave.
That's how much Conclave meansto me and how important it is to
me in my business that we justshut our doors.
And that's a good portion of ourmembership.
(22:41):
So that's definitely a focus ofsomething, a focus in general
that we really um make a pointof acknowledging is our
membership is very broad and wewant to make sure we're hearing
from those voices.
And Brian, especially, from themoment he joined the board, has
been the guy that takes thephone calls, that is willing to
talk to anybody, have thoseconversations.
(23:02):
And I really think that willserve him well and serve the
organization very well.
SPEAKER_01 (23:06):
And let's not forget about our partner members, um,
you know, our vendors, oursuppliers, the uh industries
that support the jewelryindustry, whether that be
technology, whether that besecurity, um all of these member
categories are inclusive withthe American Gem Society.
And we're all we're all we'reall the same people, right?
We're all looking to better ourbusiness, to um make sure that
(23:27):
the the end consumer is gettingaccurate information, is um, you
know, um taken care of.
And that's it's it's sorefreshing to be surrounded by
people with the same, you know,the same thought process in a
variety of different areas,demographics, business types,
you name it.
So I mean, I've learned a lotfrom Alexis, you know, not only
(23:49):
professionally, but just, youknow, because things are
different in the West Coast,right?
And so her consumer umpreferences and habits are
different than mine.
Um, and that just, you know, itjust kind of uh makes it um a
little bit larger than just whatwe do at the board table.
SPEAKER_02 (24:06):
Man, that's really quite interesting.
It it really does uh representlike a cross-section of the US.
And um having I've what I'velearned is the people who I find
the most inspiring andinterested, uh interesting are
the people with education aslike a yeah, as a core
foundation, with a learner'smindset.
(24:26):
And like I had mentioned in thebeginning, when I spoke with you
first, Alexis, I was really kindof struck by how you you do have
a hunger to learn and improve.
Now, two years later, you'vekind of learned and improved.
Now, as you become, what wasyour term, uh a presidential has
been, if you will, uh, like yousaid, uh how has that informed
(24:48):
you as a business owner, as a asa mother, as a um, I I guess
because you run it with yourparents, as a daughter.
Um, how has that informed you inother aspects of your life?
SPEAKER_03 (24:59):
The real answer is that I thrive in chaos.
Um, you know, people are justpeople at the end of the day,
and everybody has a very coremotivation, their why.
Uh, and in my business anddealing as a daughter, as you
know, a mom, as a former ADSpresident, as a part of this
(25:19):
industry, I really just try tounderstand people's why.
And that works really well withmy team here as well.
Um we're all just doing the bestwe can, and all of us, in some
way or another, thrive in chaos.
Uh, but for me, you know, thatlearner's mindset is crucial to
me.
You say, you know, you'velearned and improved over the
last two years.
I guess that's true, but there'sstill a whole heck of a lot more
(25:41):
learning and improving to do,and that's what I'm here for.
SPEAKER_02 (25:44):
That's lovely to hear.
That's the that's the truth.
And and there's always more.
There's always, always will bemore.
If your term was 50 years, I'msure that you'd probably get to
that 50th year and still belike, ah, you know what?
There was more to be done.
Um, but at the same time, Brian,uh, a lot of the people that are
going to be turning into thisepisode, I'm sure, are gonna
want to hear your kind of yourvision for where AGS is gonna
(26:07):
look uh be going for the nextuh, you know, few years.
Um, could you just give me maybejust an overview on where you
think the industry as a whole isright now?
You had alluded to it in one ofyour previous answers, but um
where are we right now, wouldyou say?
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
Uh the industry is in transition, but it seems like
it's been in transition since Istarted in the industry 18 years
ago, right?
There's always disruptors.
Um, and it's just what's thedisruptor now and what's the
next disruptor going to be.
So, you know, if at the globallevel, you know, what's going on
with uh the diamond mines anddemires is really, really
(26:44):
concerning.
Um, at the national level, it'sthe um shrinking of the industry
and the consolidation of the ofthe majors.
And, you know, if you're talkingabout my day-to-day operations,
I don't know if there's going tobe people that are willing to
work in luxury retail in thenext 10 or 15 years.
(27:06):
So there's all um, you canalmost drown yourself in
thinking out, but really it'sabout the what the what are the
things that you can control andwhat are the things that you
can't control.
In the end, we help peoplecelebrate and people like shiny
things.
So we're very lucky about that.
People like baubles.
Um, and so from that standpoint,we're always going to be here,
(27:29):
we're always going to berelative.
You know, AI is another, youknow, um, outlier or disruptor
or whatever you want to call it,but it'll never replace us
because people want the personalconnection.
People want to know that theyhave somebody that's in their
corner.
Uh, and that's the best partabout what we get to do every
single day is to help people.
(27:51):
So um, you know, it it'll beinteresting to see what the
industry looks like in the next10, 15 years.
What happens to the independentjeweler?
Um, are they still relevant orthe majors just kind of gobble
everything up?
But in the end, people want thatpersonal service and they want
to know who they're workingwith.
And we're again really fortunatefor that.
SPEAKER_02 (28:12):
You know, wow.
That what a what a reallyinteresting kind of you really
did sum it up quite well.
Uh the human connection is justbecoming increasingly more
important.
I guess it's more stark of a ofa contrast with the the more
generic version.
I'm quite fortunate uh since Iactually in the two years um
since I uh first interviewedAlexis, uh, I I did um move back
(28:38):
to my hometown.
I was able to move in and get ahouse in my hometown.
And it's a small town.
And what I've learned about thevalue of connection and the the,
I guess, like the inquantifiablevalue and price of these like
one-to-one or one-to-manyconnections that are beyond
(29:00):
just, for example, buying froman Amazon.
Uh it's so funny.
It's amazing how your shoppinghabits change.
When I used to want a book, uh,I used to just buy it off Amazon
when I lived in major cities.
Now I shop online, I see it andI screenshot it and I actually
order through my uh localbookstore.
Yeah, and I just send it to themand it's the exact same price,
(29:22):
pretty much.
And I know that I'll pick it upnext time.
It's right next to my localcoffee shop.
So I walk over there, I'd pickup my book instead of buying it
through an Amazon.
Why?
Because I want that bookstore tobe there.
And I think you're you're ontosomething with what will happen
to jewelers?
Man, if I knew, I'd be able tomake a lot of money, I'm sure.
However, I do feel like there isthis feeling that I don't think
(29:48):
is going to go away.
And I don't, I'm sure that themajors will need to be out
there, but I do think you'reright.
I think maybe we're gettingclose to a point where um the
independents need to kind ofidentify what that feeling is,
the one I just described at thisbookstore, and kind of latch
onto it.
And and that is what theirstrength is, I guess, if that if
(30:11):
that makes any sense, I guess.
SPEAKER_01 (30:12):
I know that we are fortunate in that we have a
succession plan with my cousinwho just joined the business,
who's 20 years younger than me.
Um, so we're set for the nextseveral decades, God willing.
Um, but I know that most of theindustry does not have that
luxury.
Yes.
Um, and we've done such greatthings within the society to
(30:34):
address that by creating a umsuccession planning task force
and partnering with Obsidian ona and create a course specific
for jewelers on successionplanning that covers all the
various um scenarios, right?
It could be um, you know, yeah,you have some an error parent,
it could be that error parent isnot in the family business,
(30:55):
right?
Um, and all those differentpossible scenarios.
And so um, you know, it is, I doconsider myself us to be one of
the fortunate ones, but I alsohave a broader understanding of
what's going on out there.
And, you know, it'll be, like Isaid, it'll be interesting.
I'll be here, but I don't know,you know, I don't know what the
industry will look like.
So um you also mentioned whatthe vision is for the American
(31:18):
Gem Society in the next twoshort years that I get to be at
the helm.
First of all, our committees aredoing amazing things.
The education committee just umis creating new um education
platforms and courses, um, salesfocus, repair taken focus, um,
giving you know jewelers thetools that they need in our
store.
(31:38):
The title holder, young titleholders, Alexis mentioned it,
it's you know, uh invitingyounger generation to be more
involved in the jewelryindustry, which is sorely
needed, um, to my point earlier.
Uh, and membership, uh, and uhthe guilds, taking taking the
American Gem Society out to thelocal communities.
And then, of course, theConclave Committee is at hard
(32:01):
work right now, making sure wehave just an unbelievable event
in September.
So, you know, part of it issupporting them, but also making
sure that their initiativesalign with um our core values
and what Robert Shiple, youknow, uh created the
organization based on.
Uh, you know, the buzzwords areknowledge, ethics, and consumer
protection.
(32:21):
But what does that actuallymean?
Making sure that the decisionsthat we're making are in the
best interest of the consumer,help create a more ethical
industry, and really um, youknow, help the the people that
that are standing on the otherother side of the counter.
Um, so supporting them, talkingto people, um, and you know,
(32:42):
developing the um the frameworkfor the next successful two
years.
SPEAKER_02 (32:46):
Wow, it's so interesting to hear uh because
at the same time, like we said,two years is so is very short,
but at the same time, there is alot of impact that you can have.
Uh you you were talking abouteducation.
It just kind of spawned anotherthought for me.
And Alexa, I'd love your kind offor you to weigh on this as
well.
I am not a shopper, but I do alot of uh I'm not a um a retail
(33:09):
owner, but I do a lot of theseconversations with uh consumers.
And the one kind of fact that'skind of um become apparent to me
is shoppers are the most welleducated they've ever been.
The amount of information youcan find about any product is, I
mean, incredible, especiallywith pre-shopping.
(33:30):
You can you have AI to help youexplain everything that you
want.
Uh, the kind of some of themysticism is maybe going away
from jewelry.
Whereas before, it's like you'veprobably never seen a diamond
that big when you walked in, andthen someone can like show it to
you, and there's like a oh wow,uh moment.
What do you think is theresponsibility of these
(33:52):
well-educated retailers tohandle well-educated shoppers as
well?
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
I'm sure Brian has these as well.
Uh, the term that Deb Hiss uhcoined way back when is folder
boys.
And folder boys have existedsince, you know, the internet,
but even before that, you know,engineers are engineers and
they're gonna geek out overdominant proportions and things
like that.
Um, you know, at the end of theday, I think this consumer now
(34:18):
is overwhelmed by information.
Uh, paralysis by analysis is avery real thing.
And because there's so muchinformation out there, a lot of
times people almost get sonervous by it that they can't
make a decision.
And we've continued topromulgate that uh type of
shopping with things likeAmazon, where you don't really
(34:40):
have to make a finite decision,right?
You can order three dresses andreturn two of the three and call
it a day.
So the consumer now, in buyingan important piece of jewelry,
an engagement ring or somethingthat commemorates an anniversary
or birthday, they're making thissomewhat finite decision and are
looking to the subject matterexpert on the other side of the
counter to really help themthrough that process and to wade
(35:03):
through all of that informationthat they're getting on the
internet.
There's a reason they begin onthe internet, they want to have
kind of a baseline.
But they come into the storebecause they need somebody to
help them filter through thecrap.
Everything on the internet iswritten by a biased source, with
the exception of perhaps ingemological terms, you know, GIA
has a fantastic website and it'spretty neutral.
Um, but other than that, whenyou Google something about
(35:25):
diamonds, you're getting anonline retailer that's gonna
spit back out what they want youto know.
SPEAKER_02 (35:29):
It's gonna tell you what's yeah, the truth.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (35:32):
So the consumer needs to have somebody that they
trust sitting across and helpingthem get through it.
And that's why I think theAmerican Gem Society is so
important and why we're withinthe top 10 resources that
consumers use when they'relooking to start the jewelry
purchase process because theyeverybody's just looking for
(35:52):
somebody that they can trust.
And our organization's focus isconsumer protection through
gemological expertise andeducation.
And it all plays a part in kindof this ecosystem and making
sure the consumer finds whatthey want and know exactly why
it is what they want.
SPEAKER_02 (36:08):
Yeah.
Now, Brian, do you do you getbinder boys at your your shop in
Minneapolis as well?
SPEAKER_01 (36:14):
We all do.
And now, and now it's on all thein their notes in their phone.
And, you know, um, first of all,you know, you compliment them on
their research, right?
Because they they put a lot oftime into it.
And you have to understand thatthis is one of the most
important purchases of theirentire lives.
Yeah.
Um, it has the is certainly themost symbolic, and I'm talking
(36:37):
specifically of engagementrange, right?
Um, it is certainly symbolic.
Um, but you know, what else areyou going to own and wear and
enjoy and love every day for therest of your life?
And then your kids and yourgrandkids will fight over that
that that special memento, uhuh, that special piece.
(37:00):
So um I understand, I get it.
Um, and you know, they yes, theywant somebody that they can
trust, but also uh trust comesis built based on not only a
personal connection, but alsoknowing that the person that
you're working with knows whatthey're talking about, right?
They're not just umregurgitating uh training
(37:20):
material, they're not just um,you know, blowing smoke.
Um people see through that in aninstance.
And so having an educated team,being educated personally is
what gives that end buyer faithin us.
And so that really that's soimportant um to continue to grow
(37:41):
every single day.
And I've always said that ifyou're not learning something
every day, you might as wellretire.
You're done, right?
Just just shut her down.
Um, and so you know, being themost educated staff in our
certainly our area and one ofthe most educated in the in the
country is really important tous because it does help build
that trust with that, that, um,with that, with that buyer.
SPEAKER_02 (38:05):
Man, trust is also just one of those, you can't put
a price on it.
Uh, you can't buy it, you candefinitely uh sell it away,
that's for sure.
But uh it sounds like somethingthat is you guys understand the
importance of it.
And I think that increasinglywhen I speak with retailers,
man, they really appreciate howpeople come back generation
after generation to be the onesto buy with them.
SPEAKER_01 (38:28):
So rewarding.
SPEAKER_02 (38:28):
Yes.
And uh I guess maybe Brian, justto kind of maybe put a little
bow on this, is um, I'm veryinterested in hearing where
leaders are getting theirimprovements.
Obviously, you learn a lot fromfrom your board and from the
people that you work with.
Uh, do you have any any mentorsor anybody that or like a peer
(38:51):
group for how you are improving?
Um, you said that you got toimprove and learn something
every single day.
Uh, where's your source forthat?
SPEAKER_01 (38:58):
I surround myself with people that are a lot
smarter than I am, Michael.
Um and so yeah, I I do.
Um CEOs, um, there's there is alocal bank CEO that I've become
good friends with.
And, you know, not only kind ofunderstanding the differences
between our business, but alsounderstanding the similarities,
(39:20):
right?
Um, and he has a greatphilosophy for the people that
he hires.
He um the first interview isjust just chatting, not even any
hard-hitting questions.
It's just getting to know thethe individual and um are they
good people and do they alignwith it with that organization's
core values, right?
And so um really I've hadseveral mentors over the years.
(39:44):
I've um, you know, and I learn alittle bit from from everybody I
talk to.
Um, and you know, similarities,differences, differences in
industries, you name it, butit's just um it's just about you
know surrounding people yourselfwith people that that are have
the same ideals as yourself.
And again, the society is greatfor that because everybody in
(40:05):
the American Gender Society hassimilar ideals to us.
SPEAKER_02 (40:08):
So that's fantastic.
Well, I can't I can't thank youall enough.
Uh it's so crazy, Alexis.
I I I literally remember it likeit was yesterday sitting down
with you.
I was just so excited that umsomeone that I knew was going to
be leading this this majororganization.
And uh now to see that you knowyour time uh is kind of run its
(40:29):
course and now you get to tomove on is so exciting.
And then to see that Brian kindof comes in.
Um, but to see the that you guysdo come from like this
well-educated and kind of stillinspired background, it's not
doing it because you have to,it's gonna do it because you
want to.
Um, maybe Alexis, is thereanything you want to leave?
Um, maybe any AGS members thatare going to be listening, um,
(40:51):
anything you want to leave withthem uh as you kind of you know
wrap up your your two-yearstint?
SPEAKER_03 (40:57):
You know, the last few years was very much a
reminder to me that AGS is somuch more than just a personal
organization.
It's truly this family, thiscommunity that's built on
integrity and on generosity, onmentorship, on real genuine
friendship.
And it was such a privilege andan honor to get to be at the
(41:18):
helm.
Um, I just encourage anyonethat's on the fence, if they've
ever considered joining theAmerican Gem Society, now is the
time to do it.
The organization is in such awonderfully inclusive place.
Uh, and there's no moreimportant time.
Brian hit the nail on the head.
We are constantly interrupted bydisruptors, whether it's the
internet, whether it's labgrown, whether it's AI, and
(41:40):
we're all in this together.
Yeah, terrible.
I mean, gosh, it's what did whatdid I see today?
Brazil's now at 25%.
Um it's, you know, you have tokeep a pulse on so many
different things as a businessowner.
And that's not even factoring onwhat happens day and day out on
the sales floor, to have thiscommunity of peers that really
just wants what's best for ourindustry.
A rising tide raises all boats.
(42:01):
Uh, the American Gem Society, inmy mind, is the strongest
organization our industry has.
And I really just encourageeveryone who's considering being
a member to stick your neck outand put it in application, but
also to please come to Conclavein Orlando again, September 14th
through 17th, because it reallywill change your life within
this industry.
SPEAKER_02 (42:22):
That's fantastic.
And Brian, anything you wantedto uh leave off on as you begin
your two-year stint?
Um, anything for listeners thatmight be either on the edge or
they are AGS members already?
SPEAKER_01 (42:34):
I want to hear from you.
I want to hear your thoughts andyour perspectives.
I want to talk to you.
I want to hear your concernswith the industry.
Um, I want to hear what you feelis the benefits of your um
American Gems Society membershipor maybe why you're reluctant to
make the jump.
Um, you know, I just I lovetalking to people.
(42:55):
I love getting to know people.
And I think that that's going toum, you know, really benefit me
in my next couple of years isjust gaining um different
perspectives.
So um, you know, you can get ahold of me pretty easily through
American Genom Society.
I'd love to have a personalconversation with with
everybody, or you know, stop mein the hallways at an at
(43:17):
Conclave and shake my hand.
Um so I'd really appreciatethat.
SPEAKER_02 (43:21):
Brian, where can people go if they want to uh to
to potentially sign up?
What's the uh where should theyuh be going on?
SPEAKER_01 (43:27):
That's just probably info at American Genom
Society.org.
Um is that doc or dot org or dotcom, Alexis?
SPEAKER_03 (43:34):
It's dot org, but it might be AGS.org.
SPEAKER_01 (43:38):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (43:38):
Um AGS website is the easy answer.
SPEAKER_01 (43:42):
Yes, easy for us to say because we could just, you
know, we just call them right upand they answer our phone.
So um so yeah, and um the themembership team is um
delightful.
They're fun people to work with.
SPEAKER_02 (43:55):
Fantastic.
Well, I can't thank you allenough.
Um, Brian, maybe we can have afollow-up in a year, like I did
with Alexis.
I would love to get a chance tohear about your perspective on
uh, because I'm sure, like yousaid, so much to learn in one
year.
I'm sure we'll we'll teach youquite a lot and we'll see how it
goes from there.
Alexis, congratulations on agreat uh two years, and uh I
can't wait to see what you donext.
(44:16):
I'm sure it'll be amazing.
Um, but everybody, thanks somuch for listening.
Check out their website, maybesee you at Conclave.
Um, and I will be back nextweek, Tuesday, with another
episode.
Cheers.
Bye.
All right, everybody.
That's the end of the show.
Thanks so much for listening.
(44:37):
My guest this week was AlexisPattis, the former president of
AGS, and Brian Moller, thecurrent president of AGS.
This episode was brought to youby Punchmark and produced and
hosted by me, Michael Burpo.
This episode was edited by PaulSuarez and with music by Ross
Cochran.
Don't forget to rate the podcaston Spotify and Apple Podcasts,
(44:59):
and leave us feedback onpunchmark.com slash loop.
That's L-O-U-P-E.
Thanks, and be back next week,Tuesday, with another episode.
Cheers.
Bye.
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