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CEO At the American Gem Society (AGS) we are pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Bodoh as the new CEO. Ms. Bodoh will assume responsibilities on March 1, 2017 and will succeed the current CEO, Ruth Batson, who is retiring in May 2017. Ms. Bodoh is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the American Gem Society and was previ- ously at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company ( JM), serving as the Director of Commercial Lines Market- ing and Industry Relations. It was at JM that she began working in a strategic partnership role with the Amer- ican Gem Society, and was very active as a liaison be- tween the AGS Guilds and JM. It's a role that contin- ued after she joined the AGS. "It is an honor to serve the membership of the American Gem Society. I will resolutely uphold our esteemed legacy and seek new ways to bring value to our membership and laboratory clients," said Ms. Bodoh. "I joined AGS because of its mission and its extraordinary members. I had the opportunity to learn from the incomparable Ruth Batson. I look forward to partnering with the Board of Directors and the wonderful team at AGS and AGS Laboratories. Together we will serve the next generation of industry professionals and keep AGS vibrant, relevant and in- dispensable." "Katherine is our ideal candidate," said Scott Berg, CG, President of the AGS Board of Directors. "She has many of the qualities that have made Ruth a great CEO: they share a dedication and passion for the AGS mission of consumer protection, business ethics and ongoing education." Louis Smith, CG, former President of the AGS Board of Directors, headed up the CEO Search Com- mittee. "A lot of talented professionals applied for this position. In the end, it was clear that with Katherine's experience in the industry, and, particularly, at AGS, makes her the perfect choice to carry on Ruth's legacy of excellence." "I couldn't be prouder of the Board's choice for the next era of leadership at the American Gem Society," said Ms. Batson, who will stay on with the AGS through the end of May, and will work side-by-side with Ms. Bodoh to assist in the transition. "Having worked closely already with Katherine, I know that she is member-focused with a deep commitment to our mission of consumer protection. I look forward to watching the Society reach new heights with Katherine and the rest of our amazing team at AGS and AGS Laboratories." Ms. Bodoh fi rst learned the ropes of association management when she began her career in the industry working at the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) in Providence, RI. She has additionally served on the Women's Jewelry Association Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Jewelers Association, the JFC Fundraising Com- mittee, and the Event Committee. She is currently involved in the Jewelers Leadership Forum and the US Jewelry Council, and she's an active mem- ber of ASAE (American Society of Association Executives). She earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans, and is an American Gem Society Regis- tered Jeweler (RJ). About the American Gem Society The American Gem Society, founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, is a nonprofi t trade association dedicated to proven eth- ics, knowledge, and consumer protection within the jewelry indus- try. The American Gem Society is a professional organization awarding credentials for its members, who are held to the highest ethical and professional standards in the industry and must pass annual recertifi cation examinations to maintain their titles. Less than one in twenty jewelers in the country have chosen to meet the exacting standards necessary for membership. Website: americangemsociety.org Facebook: AmericanGemSociety1934 Instagram: @AmericanGemSociety Twitter: @AmerGemSociety Meet American Gem Society's Next CEO - Katherine Bodoh BY AMERICAN GEM SOCIETY Katherine Bodoh 45 www.thejewelrybook.com A G S N E X T C E O

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