Carlsbad Career Fair


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Friday, October 6, 2023
GIA World Headquarters, Carlsbad, California

REGISTER NOW

Come spend the afternoon at GIA's Career Fair, and be prepared to leave inspired and empowered. You'll have the opportunity to meet with recruiters from more than 40 gem and jewelry companies like Tiffany & Co., Ben Bridge, Mark Schneider, Sterling Jewelers, and Zales. Listen to industry VIPs share their insights on the gem and jewelry industry and participate in a career coaching session. The few hours you invest can translate into a future full of opportunities. Career Fair is free for general attendees.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn from opening panel of gem and jewelry industry leaders.
  • Meet with recruiters promoting open job positions.
  • Consult with a career coach from a variety of industry sectors and professions.
  • Network with representative of prominent gem and jewelry companies, industry professionals, GIA Carlsbad staff and other attendees.
  • Visit classroom demonstrations to learn more about GIA Education offerings.

SCHEDULE

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

  • Check In

  • Sign up for Career Coaching appointments

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Visit Industry Association Tables

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  

  • Welcome – Susan Jacques, President and CEO, GIA

  • Keynote Speaker – Jordan Harbinger, Host, the Jordan Harbinger Show Podcast

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Snack and Stretch Break   
    
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. State of the Industry Discussion Panel

  • Angela Hope – Vice President of Merchandise, Ben Bridge Jeweler
  • Marty Hurwitz – CEO and Founder, THE MVEye
  • Johanna Levy – Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance Programs, GIA
  • Moderator: Mark Smelzer – Vice President, Content, Jewelers Mutual Group

12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  

  • Meet with Recruiters

  • Classroom Demonstrations

    • Gemology – featuring content from GIA programs and GIA Alumni Collective seminars

    • Bench Jewelry – featuring content from GIA programs and GIA Alumni Collective seminars

    • Jewelry Design – featuring content from GIA’s hand rendering program

    • Jewelry Design & Technology – featuring content from GIA’s intensive computer aided-design program

  • Professional Headshots (complimentary)

12:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Career Coaching

  • Make appointments between 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. & 12:45 – 3:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m. Career Fair Concludes

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

 

Jordan Harbinger (Keynote)
Host, the Jordan Harbinger Show Podcast

Once referred to as “The Larry King of podcasting” — Jordan is a Wall Street lawyer turned talk show host. He’s interviewed over a thousand guests, deconstructing the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and sharing their strategies, insights and perspectives with the rest of us. He’s hosted a Top 50 Apple podcast for nearly two decades, making The Jordan Harbinger Show one of the most popular podcasts in the world.
 
 

Angela Hope
Vice President of Merchandise, Ben Bridge Jeweler

With over 20 years in the jewelry industry, Angela Hope is a passionate leader and an unapologetic jewelry nerd. As the Vice President of Merchandise for Ben Bridge Jeweler, Angela oversees the curation, distribution, and aftersales service for all of the jewelry and timepieces across Ben Bridge’s 36 locations. In 2018, she designed and created Bella Ponte bridal, now Ben Bridge’s top selling jewelry brand. Winning a Jewelers of America Case Award in 2021 for engagement ring design and as a member of JA’s 2023 20 under 40 class, Angela brings a unique eye to all that she does.
 

Marty Hurwitz
CEO and Founder THE MVEye

Marty Hurwitz became a third-generation jewelry retailer when he partnered with a childhood friend in a store in 1984. He founded MVI Marketing LLC (THE MVEye) in 1989, together with his wife Liz Chatelain, and grew THE MVEye into an internationally recognized organization.

THE MVEye provides consumer and trade market research along with strategic consulting services to a global client list in the gem, jewelry and watch industries. In 2004 THE MVEye completed its first consumer research study on awareness and acceptance of lab-grown diamonds. Each year since, THE MVEye has monitored the progress of the lab-grown diamond category with consumers and trade organizations globally.

Marty Hurwitz is a subject matter expert on lab-grown diamonds and the technologies and processes currently operating and in development in the prime growing sectors. He also publishes the highly regarded Lab-Grown Diamond Market Intel Report.
 

Johanna Levy
Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance Programs, GIA

Johanna comes to GIA from Firmenich, the largest privately-owned company in the flavor and fragrance industry. As senior director of global environmental excellence and previously director of sustainability for North America, she built ambitious, company-wide programs, client-facing initiatives and collaborations with non-governmental organizations and ESG risk-rating agencies focused on supply chain transparency and net positive impact. Before Firmenich, she worked in-house and as a consultant to global brands, including Google, Nestlé and the World Gold Council.

Johanna has prior experience in marketing and marketing communications. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts in extension studies with a concentration in environmental sciences from Harvard University; a Master of Science in sustainability management from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Management from ESCP in Europe.
 

Mark Smelzer
Vice President, Content, Jewelers Mutual Group

Mark oversees the production of all content used by the organization for branding, traffic building, data acquisition and more. At Jewelers Mutual, Mark has launched a new B2B online publication, The Zing Report, the jewelry industry’s first thought leader retreat, Conversations in Park City, and in Fall 2023, a new consumer jewelry magazine, Gem + Jewel.

From 2004 to 2021, Mark was the publisher of JCK magazine and JCKonline. As publisher, Mark oversaw the business side of the industry’s oldest trade publication and the brand’s evolution from print to digital, including the launch of the JCK Content Studio, an in-house content marketing agency.

Mark received his undergraduate degree in political science from UCLA, and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He, his husband Eric, and their son Nolen reside in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.