MARCH 16-18, 2025
 |  JAVITS CENTER, NYC

Q


MARCH 16-18, 2025
 |  JAVITS CENTER, NYC

Q

EDUCATION

Check Out Our Fall 2024 Speaker Lineup 

Sunday Speakers

Ronnie VanderLinden
President, Diamex

Discover the intricate connection between diamond cutting and grading in this dynamic session featuring top experts from both fields. Learn how the precision of cutting impacts a diamond’s overall grade, value, and beauty, and gain insight into the grading process that ensures the highest standards are met. Our panel will explore how advancements in cutting techniques can elevate grading outcomes, while understanding the critical factors that graders consider when evaluating cut, clarity, color, and carat. This session is essential for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of the diamond supply chain and the symbiotic relationship between craftsmanship and assessment.

Halina Kaban
Lab Director, GCAL by Sarine

Halina Kaban is a highly respected diamond expert with over 36 years of experience in the field of gemology. She holds a Master’s Degree in Geology and Gemology and began her career in 1988 as a diamond grader at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Rising through the ranks, she became Director of Diamond Grading, where she was responsible for ensuring consistency between the East and West Coast labs. After 18 years with GIA, Halina moved to GCAL as Lab Director. She helped develop the lab’s ISO procedures and enforce its zero-tolerance grading policy.

Throughout her career, Halina has graded hundreds of thousands of diamonds, including some of the largest and most valuable in the world. Her expertise extends to consulting on recutting projects, which have significantly increased the value of many diamonds by improving their clarity, color, or cut. She has been instrumental in implementing GCAL’s prestigious 8X cut grade standards and is widely regarded as one of the top diamond graders in the industry.

Anna Samsonova
Certified Gemologist

An independent jewelry consultant and founder of Samsonova Consulting. With almost 20 years in the jewelry industry, I have experience working with large to small brands in retail, lab, quality control, fashion merchandising and wholesale. Here to help your business grow with brand strategy, operations upscaling, merchandising, events and much more.

Sharrie Woodring
Senior Gemologist, GCAL by Sarine

Sharrie Woodring, GIA GG, FGA, is an experienced gemologist with over 25 years in the field. Since 2005, she has served as a Senior Gemologist at the GCAL lab in New York, where her expertise lies in analyzing and grading a wide range of gemstones, with a particular focus on lab-grown and colored diamonds. Her experience includes international assignments like the analysis of the remarkable 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona diamond for Sotheby’s and Lucara in 2016. Throughout her career, Sharrie has been at the forefront of gemological advancements, from the HPHT color treatment process introduction to the progression of lab-grown diamonds.

She has played a key role in developing GCAL’s diamond certification procedures, ensuring accuracy through research instrumentation and adherence to strict ISO standards. Her passion for the field is further reflected in her contributions to gemological education and her authorship of a book on lab-grown diamonds. She is actively engaged in facilitating the global expansion of laboratory services at GCAL, and the integration of AI diamond grading instrumentation from Sarine Technologies into their grading processes.

Lyn Falk
Founder & President, Retailworks, Inc.

Ms. Falk is founder and President of Retailworks, Inc. (1995), an international, award-winning branding, design, display and consulting firm. Her expertise in design, business, and consumer psychology has helped her develop solutions that not only meet but often exceed her clients’ projected goals. She understands the importance of branding a business from the beginning of the shopper journey through to the end, creating strong first and last impressions, and establishing an emotional connection with customers via memorable experiences. Falk has worked in over 35 different retail industries with extensive experience in jewelry, shoe, and specialty food retailing.

She is an international speaker, a consultant for the Main Street America, and has spoken to thousands of professionals over the past 30 years. Her work has been acknowledged over 150 times in over 80 different publications.

Once you hear Lyn speak, you’ll never look at your business the same way again.

Kevin Shaw
Financial Controller, Picup Media

Kevin is a dynamic professional who combines a passion for jewelry photography with expertise in leveraging AI technology to drive e-commerce success. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge AI solutions, he strives to revolutionize the jewelry industry and help businesses thrive in the digital age. Kevin has been featured in industry podcasts and has conducted seminars at numerous trade shows, sharing insights on how AI and photography can help jewelers sell online.

Monday Speakers

Sara Yood
CEO & General Counsel, JVC

Sara Yood, Deputy General Counsel at the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), is an attorney admitted in the state of New York with extensive experience in legal and regulatory compliance. Sara’s responsibilities at JVC include anti-money laundering compliance, FTC Guides compliance, trademark litigation, copyright, advertising monitoring and review, creating legal compliance tools and publications, and advanced legal strategy. She is also an expert in U.S. and international laws concerning the importation and exportation of animal materials used in jewelry and has authored multiple JVC publications on a broad range of topics. Yood came to JVC from a fellowship at the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School, where she received her law degree. She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. Yood serves on the board of the United States Kimberley Process Authority (USKPA), previously served on the board of the Women’s Jewelry Association (2016-2022), and outside of work, sings with (and chairs the Board of Trustees of) the New York City Master Chorale.

Sara Murphy
Executive Director, JFC

Sara Murphy holds an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University, where she specialized in fostering nonprofit growth through strategic long-term planning and research-driven initiatives. Throughout her career, Sara has focused on fundraising and board development for organizations in education, global human rights, public safety, and the arts as service. Most recently, she served as Director of Development at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. Sara joined Jewelers for Children as Executive Director in October 2023 and resides in Brooklyn with her husband, a cinematographer, and their 13-year-old daughter.

Tammy Lail
Business Professional, TSL Solutions, Inc.

Tammy Lail is an accomplished business leader with a proven track record of driving profitability and operational efficiency across diverse industries. As the owner of TSL Solutions LLC, she specializes in guiding businesses through the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that improve performance, streamline operations, and generate significant cost savings. Prior to founding TSL Solutions, Lail served in key executive positions at Stuller Inc., where she spearheaded initiatives that boosted revenue and optimized resource management. Her expertise spans operations, finance, and supply chain management, with a particular focus on manufacturing processes and talent development.

Lail is also heavily involved in the jewelry industry at-large, holding leadership roles in the 24 Karat Club SEUS and Prime Jewelry Group. Her academic credentials include an MBA from Louisiana State University and advanced executive education from Harvard University. Lail’s blend of practical business experience and academic insight allows her to deliver impactful results for her clients, positioning her as a sought-after expert in business transformation and operational excellence.

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