Change in the Age of Technology

“Change is like heaven,” says Carly Fiorina, “Everybody wants to go there, but nobody wants to die.” It's a universal law of nature: whoever can't adapt to change will perish. The same holds true for businesses as they must be willing and able to change and adapt as new information and circumstances present themselves. Those who don't or can't, simply won't survive. Every person and every organization that wants to be successful must learn how to manage change, thrive on change, and master change as a way of life. Carly Fiorina, former chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, shares with audiences her framework for successfully managing change. In this informative presentation, Fiorina outlines her four-point system for managing change -- Strategy, Structure and Process, Rewards and Metrics, Culture and Behavior -- giving audiences a comprehensive manuscript for adapting for success.

Carly Fiorina Bio:

Carly Fiorina has been highlighted as among the world's most admired and powerful business leaders by many publications including Forbes, FORTUNE, Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. Under her tenure as Chairman/CEO of Hewlett Packard, she achieved the highest rate of innovation in its history, substantially improved its cost structure and profitability and doubled its revenues. Prior to joining HP, Fiorina spent 20 years with AT&T and Lucent. She directed Lucent's 1996 IPO and spin-off from AT&T, one of the largest and most successful IPOs ever. Fiorina chronicles her experiences in her best-selling memoir, Tough Choices. She is also a frequent contributor to Fox Business Network (FBN).

Surviving the Information Deluge: How Remarkable Companies Are Thriving in a 360 Degree, Always On, Million Channel Universe

This session will examine the critical trends at the intersection of culture, technology, and global society. Renown marketer and speaker, Seth Godin, will detail how the industry can learn to identify, understand and prepare for the communication changes and opportunities that await them and how they can impact their business both positively and negatively. Discover how new approaches to user experience and communications may just save your business.

Seth Godin Bio:

Seth Godin was recently chosen as one of 21 Speakers for the Next Century by Successful Meetings and is consistently rated among the very best speakers by the audiences he addresses. Godin is author of nine books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change and work.

Seth was founder and CEO of Yoyodyne, the industry's leading interactive direct marketing company, which Yahoo! acquired in late 1998. Godin worked as VP Direct Marketing at Yahoo! before leaving to become a full time speaker, writer and blogger. He holds an MBA from Stanford, and was called "the Ultimate Entrepreneur for the Information Age" by Business Week.

MITCH JOEL - Web 2.0

Six Pixels Of Separation - The New World Of New Marketing

Marketers are struggling to understand online marketing as a new generation of digital opportunities takes place. Consumers have never been so powerful. Mitch Joel unravels the fascinating world of new marketing, Consumer Generated Content and Social Media. Discover the ins and outs of podcasting, blogging and online communities and how these tools can be used to both sell product and create/sustain your own brand. It’s clear that new marketing touch points are creating conversations where the results are staggering and loyalty is off the charts. Welcome to the new conversation. Welcome to Six Pixels of Separation.

Mitch Joel Bio:

Mitch Joel is a marketing and communications visionary, interactive expert, community leader, Blogger, Podcaster and believer in doing the impossible. But mostly, he is a passionate entrepreneur and speaker who connects with people worldwide by sharing his marketing insights on personal branding, the digital marketing space and how to be a great networker. Marketing Magazine dubbed him, “Canada’s Rock Star of Digital Marketing” and in 2006 he was named one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world. He has shared the stage with former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, Anthony Robbins and Dr. Phil and is presently writing his first book, Six Pixels of Separation – How Marketing Connects in a World Where We’re All Connected.

PHIL McCARTY - Web 2.0

Utilizing Cause Marketing to Drive Business

Cause marketing is about creating strategies that evoke passion in stakeholders and lead to measurable success for both the nonprofit and corporate partners. Learn how a multi-disciplined strategy can help your business build brand awareness, loyalty, generate new revenue and create employee goodwill.

Phil McCarty Bio:

CEO of McCarty Partners, Phil McCarty brings more than 15 years of integrated marketing experience, including cause marketing, public service and strategic communications campaigns and has worked with some of the nation’s leading nonprofits and corporations. His work has raised millions through the creation of cause initiatives for companies including Chili’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Visa and Domino’s Pizza.

The Commoditization of Diamonds

The introduction of the Rapaport price list by Martin Rapaport 30 years ago has so far been the single greatest act in the history of diamond commoditization. Martin Rapaport is a firm believer in not only full transparency in diamond pricing but also the opportunities that can be created by having listed pricing. For consumers, the advent of Internet players such as Blue Nile have been furthering diamond commoditization to even greater levels, providing them with pricing information literally at their fingertips . Martin Rapaport discusses the advent of commoditization, the establishment of a diamond futures market and what it means for the industry as a whole.

Martin Rapaport Bio:

Rapaport began his career in the diamond industry as a broker of rough and polished diamonds in New York in 1975. In 1978 he established the Rapaport Diamond Price List, which has become the primary source of diamond price and market information for the diamond trade. Over the years the price list expanded into the Rapaport Diamond Report and in 1982, Rapaport established RapNet, an online interactive diamond trading market that has been expanded to include Diamonds.Net on the Internet and INDEX, the Internet Diamond Exchange and electronic market for diamond trading.

SIR KEN ROBINSON - The Fashion Connection

Unlocking Creativity – Finding the Right Key to Success

Finding and keeping the best employees in business and education in the new global economy lies in revolutionary approaches to unlocking creativity in a company’s most important asset – its talent. Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally renowned expert in the field of creativity and innovation in business and education, tells our industry just what we should be doing to unearth our own creativity. Whether it’s a matter of changing a corporate thought process (‘Our problem isn't that we aim too high and fail, but that we aim to low and succeed’) or simply understanding within a team structure that "it's not how intelligent you are, but rather how you are intelligent," Sir Ken provides the tools every organization needs to reveal the hidden potential of their most valuable assets.

Sir Ken Robinson Bio:

Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally renowned expert in the field of creativity and innovation in business and education. Born in Liverpool in 1950, he earned a Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of London for research into drama and theatre in education. He was the principal author of "The Arts in Schools: Principles, Practice and Provision", a standard text in the UK and around the world. An inspirational business speaker and workshop leader, he was named European Business Speaker of the Year in 2000 and in June 2003 was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding achievements as a writer, speaker and leader in creativity, the arts and education.

DON TAPSCOTT - Web 2.0

Dialogue vs. Monologue

With dramatically lower entry costs and the limitless innovative potential of digital media, leading marketers are learning that strategy, content, and channel must all be integrated into your online business models - and retailers, suppliers and content providers (professional and consumer) must find new ways to partner. This feature presentation discusses the latest advancements in building trusted and engaging environments that attract influencers and uncovers the relevancy of social media for retailers.

Explore the consumer’s growing desire to create, share and influence content – shifting power from traditional brands and placing it with the communal consumer. How can you “connect” with these highly networked people, spread the word and inspire others with their recommendations?

Don Tapscott Bio:

Don Tapscott is an internationally renowned authority on the strategic value and impact of information technology. He has authored or coauthored eleven widely read books on technology and business. His most recent book—Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything—is an international bestseller, has appeared on the New York Times and BusinessWeek bestseller lists, and has been translated into 19 languages. Don is Chief Executive of New Paradigm and an Adjunct Professor of Management at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

LIZ CHATELAIN

Co-Founder and President of MVI Marketing  

Prior to the conference, consumer research will be conducted and tabulated by MVI Marketing Ltd. to formulate a comprehensive overview of the consumer’s awareness of many of the issues discussed in each sphere of the Forum.

Bringing all of the Forum’s themes together, this closing session will reveal not only the consumer survey results, but using an Audience Response System, attendees will be able to see in real-time the disconnect (if any) between what the industry perceives as the consumer’s viewpoint and the fact of the matter.

Liz Chatelain Bio:
With over 25 years experience in the fine jewelry business, Ms. Chatelain has been involved with every sector of our industry, starting as a retailer, moving to the manufacturing segment, and now in marketing and research. As co-founder and CEO of MVI Marketing Ltd.® Ms. Chatelain has worked closely with mining concerns, financial institutions, sight holders, jewelry manufacturers, major retailers and trade associations. She is also the recipient of many industry awards and the author of numerous articles on how to build profits and the future of the fine jewelry industry. Ms. Chatelain also takes a leading role in MVI’s newest division, the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC). JCOC is an Internet-based consumer research panel that has helped its clients to understand what consumers will want next, where they will shop, and how much they will spend. Included among MVI’s prestigious list of clients are: AGTA, Colibri, the Gemological Institute of America, Israel Diamond Institute, JC Penney, Lee Michaels, Perles de Tahiti, Rio Tinto Diamonds, Swarovski, Tiffany and the Zale Corporation.

GIA: FACTS OF THE MATTER
Facts of the Matter is an informative session presented by John King and Shane McClure of the GIA detailing the recent gemological developments in the diamond and gemstone world – from origin identification to synthetic detection and color gem treatments. Gemological facts related to irradiated Blue Topaz and Burmese Rubies will also be discussed. What do retailers need to be aware of when it comes to these issues and the latest certification developments? This session will cover it all.

John King Bio:
John King is respected worldwide as an authority on fancy colored diamonds. He has held his current position as technical director at GIA since the beginning of 2006. In that position, Mr. King oversees the grading operations of Institute’s New York laboratory as well as assisting in the coordination of activities between the Carlsbad lab, GIA Research, Education and Instruments.

Shane McClure Bio:
Shane F. McClure is Director of West Coast Identification Services at the GIA Laboratory in Carlsbad, California, USA. A frequently requested speaker at national and international conferences and trade shows with more than 29 years experience in the field of gemstone identification and treatment, he has been a contributing author on many articles published in GIA’s quarterly journal Gems & Gemology as well as many other publications.

Panel: Retailing in the Age of Web 2.0

The Web is fast becoming the center of our universe, or as one of our panelists puts it "the Hub of the Enterprise." Companies are bringing social networking and the lessons of Web 2.0 into every area of their business. Find out how the jewelry industry can leverage the Web to draw in consumers.

Moderator: Scott Kirsner - Fast Company (Bio)

Panelists:   Pinny Gniwisch - Ice.com (Bio)
                      Steve Larkin - ZLC Direct/Zale Corp. (Bio)
                      Catherine Levene - DailyCandy (Bio)
                      Brian McDevitt - Google Inc. (Bio)

Panel: Lessons from the Fashion Industry

Through a series of case studies, discover key strategies utilized by the fashion industry to create consumer demand. Colors, trends and seasonal “must-haves”…what does the fashion industry do that the jewelry industry should be doing?

Moderator: Rebecca Foerster - Rio Tinto Diamonds (Bio)

Panelists:   Daniel J. Cohen - Swarovski Crystal Business (Bio)
                      Paul Masturzo - Mana Products (Bio)
                      Hilton Hollis - Hilton Hollis International, LLC (Bio)
                      Suzanne Yalof Schwartz - Glamour Magazine (Bio)

Panel: It’s a Rough World

In less than a decade, the diamond business has evolved from a monopoly to a multi-channel, multi-producer, market-driven industry. How is this changing the marketing and distribution of rough and polished diamonds?

Moderator: Chaim Even-Zohar - Tacy Ltd (Bio)

Panelists:   Jeff Fischer - IDMA (Bio)
                      Jean-Marc Lieberherr - Rio Tinto Diamonds (Bio)
                      Richard Lennox - JWT/DPS (Bio)

Panel: Issues That Keep You Up at Night

Panelists will discuss ramifications of treatment/synthetic nondisclosure, Burmese rubies, irradiated gems, smuggling, money laundering, and conflict diamonds from both an ethical and consumer confidence point of view.

Moderator: Mark Smelzer - JCK Magazine (Bio)

Panelists:   Peggy Jo Donahue - JA (Bio)
                      Cecilia Gardner - JVC (Bio)
                      Doug Hucker - AGTA (Bio)
                      Beryl Raff - JCPenney (Bio)

Panel: Where Is Gold Going?

The prices and sourcing of raw materials has recently been on an extended trek taking them to new heights. This panel will shed light on the dynamics behind the short and long-term fluctuation of gold and other precious metals. Learn how the market works and how to utilize various hedging techniques to protect your margins.

Moderator: George Milling-Stanley - WGC (Bio)

Panelists:   Tim Dinneny - ScotiaMocatta (Bio)
                      Philip Newman - GFMS (Bio)

Panel: The Ethics of Jewelry

What should the industry be doing at the source to ensure responsibility in mining and environmental practices, child labor issues, and the legitimate flow of diamonds and gemstones downstream? What tools are now available to jewelers so they can ensure consumer confidence in the products they sell?

Speaker/Moderator: Michael Rae - CRJP (Bio)

Panelists: John Hall - Rio Tinto Diamonds (Bio)
                    Bill Montalto - Sterling Jewelers, Inc. (Bio)