In the Loupe
In the Loupe
Exclusive First Interview with AGS President, Alexis Padis
What does it take to lead one of the most respected organizations in the jewelry industry? Mike sits down with Alexis Padis, the newly appointed President of the American Gem Society (AGS) and a driving force behind Padis Jewelry in San Francisco.
Alexis opens up about her unexpected journey from avoiding the family business to finding her passion when she sold her first engagement ring. Her story is one of transformation and innovation, and she's here to share how she plans to steer AGS into a future filled with growth and collaboration.
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Welcome back everybody to In the Loop. What is up everybody? My name is Michael Burpo. Thanks again for listening to In the Loop. Ladies and gentlemen, we've done it again Another In the Loop exclusive.
Michael Burpoe:First, an interview with Alexis Pattis of Pattis Jewelry, and she is the new president of the American Gem Society, which is also known as AGS, and it was so cool getting a chance to speak with Alexis.
Michael Burpoe:She is definitely someone that my boss has always spoke very highly of, and hearing that she was going to be the new president was very encouraging and exciting for all of us. And she talks about what her vision is for AGS it's a two-year stint as president. Talks about what her vision is for AGS it's a two-year stint as president, so there are several topics and decisions that she has to make in the shorter term, so in two years but also she has to be part of a grander vision that she will contribute to and then pass on to the next president. It was fantastic getting a chance to hear what her views were on all those things. I hope you enjoy and make sure you share this with your friends and leave us some feedback in the show notes below. We actually have a new text me line, so maybe send us your thoughts as well. Cheers everybody, bye.
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Michael Burpoe:And now back to the show. Welcome back everybody. I'm joined by Alexis Pattis. How are you doing today, alexis?
Alexis Padis:I'm great, Michael. Thank you so much for having me. It's an honor to be here.
Michael Burpoe:Wow, an honor is all mine. I'm so excited to be speaking with you First interview as new president of AGS. Could you tell me a little bit about your background and also about being president of AGS?
Alexis Padis:Oh, but it's gonna take a little bit. I apologize.
Michael Burpoe:I'm here for it.
Alexis Padis:So I am with Pattis Jewelry. We're based in San Francisco. We very much, like a lot of the businesses in our industry or family owned and operated. We're actually celebrating our 50th year in business this year, so we're very excited. It's, you know, one of those things when your parents start the company and you got to see very early on what those steps look like during that process, you have so much more respect for all that went into getting us to this 50-year mark, so it's really a joy.
Alexis Padis:We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have five locations, three of which are in San Francisco, a location in Walnut Creek, which is a suburb of the Bay Area kind, have five locations, three of which are in San Francisco, a location in Walnut Creek, which is a suburb of the Bay Area kind of east of San Francisco, and then we have a location in Napa, which is where I call home, and it is a combination of a jewelry store and tasting room. We also have Pattis Vineyard, our second, family-owned and operated business.
Alexis Padis:We deal in booze and bling. It's a fantastic combination, and you know true to form, with a lot of the next generations that have joined the business. I joined it begrudgingly. I joined. I'm one of four kids and as young kids we were all dragged into the stores against our will, pretty much so, of course when I got through college, found a job, then ended up going and getting my master's. I against our will, pretty much so, of course when I got through college, found a job, then ended up going and getting my master's. I wanted nothing to do with the jewelry business and then, of course, I got absolutely sucked in. I sold my first engagement ring. We were all forced into the stores during summer breaks and winter breaks and when I was home for the holidays I came into the store and I sold my first official engagement ring by myself, without any help, and it was totally the gateway drug for me.
Michael Burpoe:It was the best experience Were they like peeking over around the corner at you, like as you're making the sale, making sure that you're doing it right.
Alexis Padis:And not only that. There was literally a piece of duct tape, michael, on the floor to divide who was allowed to sell diamonds and who wasn't based off of training. So I crossed that line. It was like my moment of I'm doing it, I don't care, and I sold my first diamond. It happened to fit the setting. We set it same day, size that same day and the client proposed in store to his girlfriend I mean, you talk about the perfect setup to sucker me into this industry. It was it in.
Michael Burpoe:In a nutshell, Wow, what a great story that's. So first of all, congratulations. I can only imagine what that's like. But yeah, what are they going to do? Fire you? Oh, you're not authorized to sell diamonds. It's like huh, yeah, Well, that's just how it is.
Alexis Padis:But when you're born and raised in this industry you either have learned it through osmosis or have just kind of figured it out. And you know, during the holidays we were always on the floor, so you pick up the four C's fairly quickly. I was qualified without actually being qualified, but that took me into my kind of trajectory within the American Gem Society. So the first thing I did when I joined the industry officially I was working. I worked for a marketing analytics company and I was traveling all over the place and it was Detroit in January that broke me.
Alexis Padis:I was no longer willing to break my back for a company that weren't the family business.
Michael Burpoe:Back to California.
Alexis Padis:Yeah, that's.
Alexis Padis:Unfortunately, we're thin skinned and not so strong when it comes to bad weather.
Alexis Padis:Yeah, but went through the process of getting my graduate gemologist degree with GIA and up until that point, the highest credentialing within the industry past the GG was the certified gemologist appraiser credentialing that AGS offers.
Alexis Padis:And that was my first kind of entry into the world of the American Gem Society and, obviously, just like selling my first engagement ring, that too was a gateway drug and I just fell in love with this community that is devoted to consumer protection and making sure our customers they deserve the best, they should be getting the best. And also the concept of lifelong learning and continual education, that just getting a degree in checking a box isn't enough, because the rate in which our industry is evolving and changing and the technological advancements are moving so quickly that we can't just check that box. We have to be continually learning more, asking more questions, getting the newest instruments to make sure that what we're offering is what we say we're offering. And that's what got me involved and, needless to say, I sit here as president unbelievably honored and really excited about the next couple of years, not just as part of my presidency but for the organization during this ongoing evolution.
Michael Burpoe:Wow. So you've been really in it for, you know, starting starting from a very young age. So you're you're not just a passerby, but steeped in the in the you know the tradition and lifestyle of being a jeweler. Um, you mentioned being begrudging early on and it's just something I kind of want to focus on just for a second longer because, like I had mentioned in past episodes, punch mark is definitely doing more of a focus around next generation jewelers because we do see it as this very important demographic for the long term success of the jewelry industry.
Michael Burpoe:The number of jewelry stores is on the decline and we're trying our hardest to encourage people to at least have that conversation around. Is the rest of your family going to be involved? Is it going to be a store manager or employee that's going to be taking up the reign? Are you just planning on doing just a straight GOB when it comes to that age to retire, because you can't just work forever? Have you had that conversation with your parents, because I know that they're still very involved? Do you have that conversation on an ongoing basis or is it not yet time?
Alexis Padis:Oh, we definitely have that conversation, conversation on an ongoing basis, or is it not yet time? Oh, we definitely have that conversation. And you know, the joy of having gotten to watch them build the business over 50 years now is that I very much am the first person to say they need to enjoy their youth and their ability to travel and to be out of the office. So I'm the one pushing them out. They very much put their own guilt on themselves about leaving and I'm like guys, go, go to Greece, go to the Olympics, go to Hawaii. You've earned the right to enjoy the fruits of your labor for so long. But when I joined it was very much an initial conversation and it's ongoing.
Alexis Padis:I'm one of four kids and succession planning it's a little bit complicated and it needs to be ironed out and I had to have those conversations up upfront right before I was joining the business to ensure that things were at least addressed and handled and everyone from a family standpoint was on the same page. Because, unfortunately, you know, things can go awry very quickly and one of the perks of having gone through business school was to see the statistics. You know that the transition from first to second generation is high and then from second to third it gets even more complicated and that success rate is much, much lower. And making sure the family's on the same page is very important. And then I'm also going to take a page from my parents' book, from succession planning I mentioned. I have a new baby girl.
Alexis Padis:I have a nine-month-old, so succession plan number one check and then I'm just going to keep hopefully having more kids and hope that you know the rule of probability. Hopefully one of the few will want to go into the business, like my parents did. One of the four came into the business, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that maybe one of my own kids will want to join and keep that family ownership going. But what you mentioned too, the possibility of employee ownership has become more and more possible. Recently We've seen a couple stores Bernie Robbins and Days Jewelers. Both have successfully transitioned their business to interested employees, and I find that to be an interesting model as well, and one thing that I think our industry should really consider if there isn't a family member interested in joining, I think that the world needs to be very open to a lot of the opportunities out there, because going out of business is such a waste of so much hard work and a family legacy that's been earned, and I just hate seeing things like that go away.
Michael Burpoe:You know I'm totally with you and that conversation is. It's not easy, and but I think that the sooner you have it the better. And we've I've spoken with a number of next generation folks that are going through it and the one thing I have determined about it all is that it is not a one size fits all situation. You have to have that journey and conversation on your own, independently, and so major props to you. You're doing it on both ends, talking with your parents and already with a baby girl here already. That's fantastic news, so congratulations. Let's talk about AGS. So, new president, can you talk about the role that the American Gem Society plays for PADIS Jewelry and kind of why you were interested in becoming president?
Alexis Padis:When I joined AGS, my interest had nothing to do with eventually joining the leadership. It was very much around that desire to have an opportunity to network with jewelers just like me, but also the types of jewelers that inspire me. Punchmark and AGS have a lot in common in that our focus tends to be family-owned businesses, independent retailers, but we also have a fantastic membership base of larger stores as well. Benbridge is a great example, helzberg is an example, and I have gleaned so much insight and inspiration from those types of businesses as well as peer groups, and that just from the first time I walked into my first conclave at the Hotel Del Coronado in 2013,. I felt that energy and that possibility, and it's very different than a buying group or a school group, where perhaps there's geographic limitations or it's centered around certain vendors you can work with, or it's centered around stores that are exactly like you, because there's not a lot of opportunity for growth. The AGS is about getting to be in a room with industry icons and feeling welcome to walk up to them and talk with them. And talk with the Kathy Calhouns and the Bill Farmers and these people that I've heard their names of and I read about them in-store and National Jeweler and all these magazines, and when you're at Conclave in particular, it's that opportunity to really get to learn and connect with them and people that you look up to, and that shared knowledge. Everyone's so generous with it there and it's unlike anything I've ever been a part of and that's what inspired me to want to get more involved from a leadership standpoint.
Alexis Padis:I mean very much to the point. I started on the board as a direct at large, but I quickly transitioned to become conclave chair, because conclave was to me that, you know, that beautiful opportunity that I wanted to do anything I can to support. And then, after becoming conclave chair, I moved on to the executive committee. It's about a four-year trajectory. So I started as secretary, then I moved into the role as president-elect and then into president, and one of my favorite things about it was I got a call from Georgie Gleim, who is somebody that I've looked to in the industry for years as a mentor. She's located here in the Bay Area and just brings so much knowledge and wisdom and enthusiasm to the industry, and she called me to ask if I wanted to serve as secretary in March of 2020.
Michael Burpoe:Oh well, that's unfortunate.
Alexis Padis:It was a very strange time Exactly, I was literally standing in an abandoned showroom by myself because we were doing curbside delivery and doing anything we could to just kind of stay alive for lack of a better word when the world had shut down and, in particular, san francisco completely closed down.
Alexis Padis:Um, and I took that call and I said yes, I'm only I didn't know at the time what I was saying yes to you, because none of us knew what the world was going to look like post 2020, and I'm really glad I did because, especially the, the jewelry industry and those of us that have embraced change and embraced a lot of the curveballs that came along with covid and you know, the year 2020 that went into 2021 and into 2022 is the jewelry in general has been very successful because we celebrate important moments and sentimentality and the fact that you're wearing tangible history and at a time where, when people's emotions are at a peak, jewelry was really something that people prioritized and our industries really thrive because of it. So, thank goodness, I said yes, but it definitely definitely sets us in a unique position for the next few years during my presidency and what the organization is going to bring moving forward.
Michael Burpoe:Yeah. So I was interested to find out, and surprised to find out, that presidency is predetermined to be two years at a clip. So it almost kind of segments decisions and goals and things like that into things that are accomplishable under your presidency and then things that are going to be like almost long-term projects that you know you're going to have to hand off. And one of the quotes that everyone's like, oh, I know this quote.
Michael Burpoe:One of the quotes that actually kind of guides my life is you know, true wisdom is planting a tree whose shade you'll never sit underneath, and I find that so, um, kind of endearing and beautiful because I'm like, oh yeah, like what, if I'm never going to kind of reap the benefits, why should I go ahead and do that? But it kind of forces you to come to grips with that. Is that something that you kind of have to grapple with you? To come to grips with that? Is that something that you kind of have to grapple with as president of of AGS, to know that there are some things that you can accomplish. And then there are things that are going to be forever a long-term goal that you'll hand to your successor and they will most likely have to hand to their successor.
Alexis Padis:You know, I, my college, my alma mater's kind of motto was freely receive, freely give.
Alexis Padis:My alma mater's kind of motto was freely you receive, freely you give, and to me that means this industry was so wonderful to me on the offset.
Alexis Padis:It's now my turn to give back and there are going to be times where within the next few years I get to take bows for lisa bridge, who was a president before me, or michael richards, who was a president before me, or john carter, who was a president before me, and then brian moeller, for example, who's my president-elect, will get to take bows for certain things that maybe had started under my watch.
Alexis Padis:But the brilliant thing about ags and the way the organization and the board in particular operates, is that we all very much have that long-term perspective and I still will get to sit under the shade of that tree because as a member, as a lifelong member to AGS, perhaps something that started under Lisa's watch that I now get to see through fruition still benefits me and then hopefully my children and their children and our industries. You know the greater industry at large. So you can't take that two-year mentality because very little can be accomplished in that short period of time, but it's much more about the holistic approach and the big picture. Look at what do we want this industry organization to look like five years down the road, 10 years down the road, 15 years down the road? And start that process now and hopefully that puts us in a position to evolve at a rate matching what the industry is seeing, so that we are thriving and providing the value to our membership that they deserve.
Michael Burpoe:And I'd love to hear that. And that's, I think, the way that you need to view it is that it is a long-term trajectory, because if you're making decisions only for the short term, again it's just that's not the way to make things sustainable, or, you know, long-term kind of long-term picture. So definitely with you on that. But, alexis, we're going to take a quick break and hear a word from our sponsors. Everybody, stay with us just one minute break and hear a word from Podium. Podium consolidates all of your communication channels, including phone calls, texts, emails, online reviews and more, into one easy to use inbox so you can focus on what matters driving revenue and providing the best experience for your customers. Join the thousands of retail jewelers already experiencing the Podium advantage and take your customer interactions to the next level. Plus Podium's offering 25% off for In the Loop listeners. Visit Podiumcom slash loop to learn more. That's Podiumcom slash L-O-U-P-E. You can find the link in the episode description. And again, that's Podiumcom slash L-O-U-P-E. You can find the link in the episode description. And again, that's Podiumcom slash Loop for 25% off. Thanks and back to the show.
Michael Burpoe:All right, everybody Still joined by Alexis Pattis, the president of AGS. So, alexis, I wanted to talk about. You know measuring success, but also we just finished tapping up you know your vision for AGS in the short term, but also the long term, you know. As you have a two year presidency, can you kind of, you know, discuss or allude to some of the long-term and short-term goals for the group, but also what your main focuses are on the board?
Alexis Padis:Absolutely so. As president, I get to sit as board chair, which means I'm surrounded by some of the most brilliant and enthusiastic and passionate minds of our industry, and as the board we set the goals and the strategic plan for the organization that Catherine Bodo, who's our CEO, and the AGS team then put into action. So in terms of our goals, it really is to engage with as many members, both new and existing, as much as possible and when I say engage, I don't mean just have a conversation although every time we have a conversation with our membership it's important, and then there's a lot of things to be gleaned from it but to make sure that we're creating programs for people just like me and just like our fellow board members and just like you, that we're providing value for the membership and constantly working to create those tools and resources to best support that membership, constantly working to create those tools and resources to best support that membership. It seems kind of overarching as a goal, but right now, where the organization is at, we really are at a growth time and looking at what it means to be a part of our industry in a lot of different aspects because there's been a lot of vertical and horizontal integration and making sure our membership and our bylaws reflect that.
Alexis Padis:So it's a really exciting time, but it's also a time of definement and really fine tuning what the organization represents and what we're about, and, ultimately, education is such a huge part of that. So the programs we offer really center around that. Succession planning is a huge topic for all of us. As we've just talked about, we have a succession planning course. We have resources available to jewelers in terms of wording and in terms of tool recommendations, things like that, because we're all so busy running our businesses and keeping the lights on and engaging with our clients that it's also hard to keep a pulse on the industry happening. So that's, to me, where AGS serves such a crucial need is by connecting and being front of mind for retailers. If they need a resource for information, ags is where you're going to go for it.
Michael Burpoe:Man.
Michael Burpoe:It's so exciting, though, because the number one focus that Punchmark has always believed in is that education is like one of those renewable resources that it doesn't take from the source.
Michael Burpoe:People are just sharing it, and I find that the more education that a either you know a jewelry organization of any type is sharing, it's directly related to the long term success of that group, and I found that well. I mean, the reason why this podcast even started in the beginning was because of the pandemic we were, so we were looking around and we were like wow, everybody is a little bit on edge and nervous related to the lack of in-store visits, and for the longest time, julie has been very hesitant to adapt to the online environment, and when you know you could, you had to adapt to it. It felt like someone needed to talk, and that was kind of like our way of kind of filling the void, but knowing that you guys are focused on these important topics, like like succession planning, is so, you know, that's that's what we want to hear, and I'm really glad that you guys are making a focus out of it.
Alexis Padis:We have to, because that's the only way to guarantee we're all here in the next 50, 100 years.
Alexis Padis:AGS is celebrating our 90th year this year, and it's more, rather than resting on our laurels, it's more of a call to action, because we know that the next 90 years are going to be even more of a call to action, because we know that the next 90 years are going to be even more of a challenge than perhaps the previous 90. So how do we make sure that we're all here for our 100th anniversary, our 200th anniversary, because that means the industry is at a healthy point, and I think that the real joy to me about our industry is we are all working towards that. There's a lot of industry organizations and we're all starting to pull on the rope in the same direction to better the industry as a whole. And it's really great to feel that energy and to feel that coming together, because it hasn't necessarily existed previous to that, and I really applaud companies like Punchmark for being on the cutting edge of that.
Michael Burpoe:So talk to me a little bit about the demographic that you find in AGS, because you know, with your store, for example, much larger than many stores and, like you said, you have several different storefronts and different parts of the business. But it sounds like you are undergoing, I'm not going to say, the struggles, but more like you guys have the same questions and decisions that you have to decide on as a typical, what we might classify as a small store, but also there are stores that are even larger, the stores that have 50 locations. Can you talk to me about what you know how AGS is like, weighing you know, servicing the super large, the large and also the smaller size businesses, because you know there is some commonality but they all kind of require a more nuanced approach at each level.
Alexis Padis:I have a unique perspective in that our stores in San Francisco are underground. Our store in Walnut Creek is in a very traditional high-end mall where there's a Tesla store and a Peloton store and a Louis Vuitton and all these great things, which is very different than San Francisco and where we're operating there. And then Napa, we're in downtown Main Street, usa First Street kind of that small town feel, so I get a unique perspective just within the breadth of our own operations.
Alexis Padis:Yeah, and I will say nine times out of 10, the problems are very, very similar. The issues that are different tend to revolve around security and packing up, and it's less about the fundamental business questions. You know, marketing and driving traffic differs a little bit, but ultimately we all have to think about what it takes to get people to get into their car and drive to a jewelry store, whether that jewelry store is in San Francisco and you're battling traffic in the Bay bridge, whether it's Napa Valley and you're competing against wineries and and the tourists, uh things that are offered versus. You know you're competing in Walnut Creek against other mall operators.
Alexis Padis:It's very, very similar and I can tell you as somebody that gets to see that balance, more often than not the issues that our industry faces are far more similar than they are different, and AGS in particular as an organization, really has honed in on those few pain points. Whether it's getting the next generation involved, whether it's succession planning, whether it's G7 protocols and what that means for our individual businesses. Whether you're a single operating store or you're a 50 chain store, you still have to address all those things. So in a lot of ways it's a luxury that we're all battling the same issues and that we've got this organization that's here to support us through it. So I make the argument that we're far more similar than we are different.
Michael Burpoe:That's a good way to look at it and facilitate the conversations, because a lot of times, yeah, people can feel that they're I mean, inherently as a human. I think we're all this my situation in my life and my experiences are unique only to myself, and I do find that the more I talk to people and we realize that there is a lot of similarities, and I have found that people that listen, have been listening for years, will probably roll their eyes when they hear me say my number one takeaway from the jewelry industry is that people are remarkably transparent about nearly every aspect of their business and how you know how they run it and what they do with their, with their employees, and how they mark up their jewelry and things like that. I found it incredibly endearing that people are so willing whether they are a store that is much larger or a store that is much smaller being willing to ask for advice or provide advice, and I think it's been very cool to see that.
Alexis Padis:And I would say that's traditionally not been the jewelry industry. For a long time we all lived within our little geographic corners and didn't necessarily all work together. But I think as the world gets smaller and as opportunities like becoming a part of the American gem society continue to become, I would say, more important. There's so much more ability to learn from one another and to be generous with information and generous with learnings and things like that, so that we're all benefiting. Because it's been used a few times, jewelers mutual uses it as uses a lot.
Alexis Padis:A rising tide raises all boats right. If we all are working together as an industry to better the industry, it serves all of us. It means the consumer is going to trust when they walk into a jewelry store and they're going to be willing to spend more in there. You know that transparency and that increased transparency, like you reference, really benefits every single one of us at all levels, whether you're a retailer, your supplier, your demon tear. So the more that our industry embraces that mentality, I think the really benefits every single one of us at all levels, whether you're a retailer, you're a supplier, you're a demonter. So the more that our industry embraces that mentality, I think the stronger we'll be, and it's been really refreshing in the 14 short years excuse me, 13 short years I've been in the industry, I've seen even more of a push towards that willingness to communicate with each other and it's just been a breath of fresh air.
Michael Burpoe:So cool. But, alexis, we're going to take a quick break and hear a word from our sponsors. Everybody, stay with us just one minute. This week's episode is brought to you in part by AccessiBe, punchmark's ADA compliance partner. Creating inclusive websites is crucial in today's digital world. The Americans Disability Act, or ADA, requires website compliance and ensures equal access to information and services for individuals with disabilities, fostering a positive user experience and social responsibility. If you've had a website for a while, you might have previously received a threatening letter from a lawyer informing you that you will be sued for your website not being ADA compliant. The vast majority of the time, these letters are just shakedowns for money, but better safe than sorry. Accessibe provides a litigation support package for no extra charge and their plugin takes your website to a passing level of ADA compliance within 48 hours of initial installation. At Punchmark, we prioritize your website's accessibility and our in-house efforts in partnership with AccessiBe provides a comprehensive solution. With ongoing scans, we keep your website ADA compliant and safeguard your business. With Punchmark as your website platform, you'll get 20% off your AccessiBe subscription and you can visit accessiBecom. Slash A slash punchmark for more information. Again, that's accessibe A-C-C-E-S-S-I-B-E dot com. Slash A as in alpha slash, punchmark for more information, embrace accessibility, empower users and set the standard for the industry.
Michael Burpoe:And now back to the show. All right, everybody Still joined by Alexis Pattis, the president of AGS. Let's shift gears and talk about pretty much the main medium for sharing that information and kind of bringing the jewelry industry all together. I want to talk about pretty much the main medium for sharing that information and kind of bringing the jewelry industry all together. I want to talk about Conclave. So we, you know we've had members from Punchmark attending it and it sounds like a real blast every single time. I even heard some talks about this like brunch bus tour. That sounds like it's like a real highlight of the event. Can you talk to me a little bit about what the goals of Conclave is and then you know kind of how it presents itself?
Alexis Padis:Absolutely so. Conclave is probably my favorite thing to talk about, especially as a past chair, but our current chair, denise Richards, has just taken Conclave to a whole new level. She took over about two years ago and part of her takeover was enacting something we had talked about prior to, which was outside excursions, which is what the brunch bus was. Brian ross, me and a big crew of ags members had an amazing trip. The conclave itself was held in austin, texas, which, as a city to hold an event, is about as fun as you can ask for. The idea behind having these excursions really centers around us wanting to build community and opportunities for our members to interact with one another in an atmosphere that's perhaps a little bit more laid back. In this case it was a boozy brunch bus, so we had cocktails, we ate some great food, we heard some great music the best that Austin had to offer under the goal of getting to engage with one another and have a great time. And Conclave is unique in that it's our industry's only, as far as I know, education-only centric event. There's no trade show before or after, there's not a selling pressure, there's not a. If I'm going to this education seminar, I'm missing out on being on the buying floor.
Alexis Padis:The focus of everyone that attends Conclave centers around wanting to learn Right, and the beauty of it is that the offerings of conclave vary so broadly that there's a little something for everybody. And the things you're passionate about there's, you know, a ton of courses you can attend. But if there's something you're not passionate about and you just kind of want to dip your toe in and get your feet wet and see what it's about or learn, perhaps, what your social media manager does day in, day out, there's opportunities for that too. The AGS team really does an exceptional job of vetting the courses that are offered, the breakout sessions that are offered, the keynote sessions that are offered, to make sure that it's the industry's best and brightest that are presenting, that it's not the same presenters every year. There's a real focus on keeping it dynamic and keeping it the best of the best, so that there's a reason to come back and there's a reason to take that valuable time out of your store and separate yourself from the day in, day out operating your business and really take some time to focus on that professional development and that desire to improve personally as well as from a business perspective and I don't. You're obviously hearing. I can't shout its praises enough.
Alexis Padis:I wish everybody in the industry had a chance to come to Conclave. It is centered around our membership. So I encourage anyone that's interested to attend as a guest for the first year and really consider becoming a member of the American Gem Society, because it really is this unique offering that hasn't been able to be replicated by our industry. And it's just. You walk out of it so exhausted because you're educating yourself all day, and then you're networking and hanging out with friends and peers all night, and then you start over again the next day and the next day and the next day and by the end of it you've got a true conclave hangover. And it's not just alcohol induced, it's because you've just you've been expanding your mind and expanding your friend base and your networking group by so much that you come home exhausted but also so re-energized to come back into your store and take the learnings and enact them.
Michael Burpoe:And is it a different location every year?
Alexis Padis:Yes, and that to me is one of the best parts you get to go to places of the country you've never thought of going that you, you know, really have an opportunity to get involved in the local culture. Prior to this year, we were in Louisville, kentucky, and it happened to be the week of the Kentucky Derby, so we all had our our fascinators ready and it was a blast.
Alexis Padis:And you know we've been all over the country. We really try to really try to hold it in different places. So from New York you may not have wanted to go or been to Nashville, tennessee, but here's an opportunity to go. Or you're from San Francisco, here's your opportunity to go to Philadelphia, or go to Orlando or really expand not only the education component but also what you're exposed to day in, day out just by nature of being in a new city.
Michael Burpoe:So where's the next one going to be at? Because it was the last one, so you said at Austin. Where's this upcoming one coming?
Alexis Padis:So that's a big question.
Alexis Padis:So we this next year in 2025, are doing what we're calling Converge, and Converge is a whole new concept.
Alexis Padis:It's the combination and really the harnessing of strengths, with GIA's innovation and the best and brightest gemological minds and scientists, paired with AGS is professional development and approach to lifelong learning and networking opportunities, and it's convergence of those two to converge.
Alexis Padis:And it is September 7th through the 10th and it's at the Omni La Costa, which is in Carlsbad so beautiful hotel, beautiful resort, and then also, because of the partnership with GIA and the proximity to GIA's campus, we get the best of both worlds. So it'll be an event very much like Conclave A lot of the best parts that we love about Conclave, combined with GIA's gemological expertise and the brightest minds out there, at a fantastic location of both their campus, where you've got access to the laboratory and all the equipment and this beautiful resort that we all will get to enjoy. So it's super exciting for the membership. It's going to be conclave supercharged, but it is limited in terms of attendees, so as soon as registration opens, I do recommend everyone get on it if you want to attend, because we have a feeling it'll sell out sooner than not.
Michael Burpoe:Wow, I mean bringing together GIA. I know I haven't had any interactions with them personally, but people speak very highly of them. I mean, they're one of the gold standards for a variety of things in the jewelry industry. So the fact that there are these folks that are, you know, pillars of the industry you know, I think of, for example, you know people like the Edge, but also folks like, um, you know, david Geller, uh, and you know people like that the fact that they are, you know, tangible and like in front of you and like they, they do attend these things or you can reach out to them and send them an email and they'll probably respond has been pretty well a big benefit to me, because I have been able to reach out to them for interviews. But it's even crazier that that they are willing to share their, their expertise and their information or provide tours or educational opportunities. It's such a benefit for the industry as a whole.
Alexis Padis:And what I love. So the relationship with GIA has been basically since both organizations inception. We were both founded by Robert Shipley GIA was founded in 1931, AGS a few years later in 1934, which is why we're celebrating our 90th anniversary this year. But the goal of Robert Shipley in creating both organizations was for the two of them to work together to really better our industry and protect the jewelry buying public. So the convergence of both of our organizations, again for an education event, it just seems like such beautiful symbolism of the original goal of Robert Chipley and it's just a really exciting opportunity and, like you said, to have some of those names in the room, the names we've all known and seen as thought leadership for our industry. To have that possibility to go up and walk to them is again supercharged because of the combination of AGS's network and then add in GIA. It really is an opportunity unlike anything I've known in my short career in the industry.
Michael Burpoe:Very exciting though. So, alexis, as we kind of bring this home, I kind of want to just, you know, give you the floor as the new president of AGS. It sounds like you have your eyes on the future and that you're also have been, you know, deeply steeped in the in the industry. You know as a child, but, you know, made this your career. Can you tell me like what it is that you are most focused on during your two years of presidency and then what you hope the next president will carry with them to the finish line?
Alexis Padis:Yeah, my focus is the health and longevity of our industry. It really and it has to be a focus for all of us. It has to be. You know, there's a lot of factors coming for us right now and it's not just the internet, it's not just lab grown, it's global sanctions.
Alexis Padis:It's such a lot of things that, again, as a retailer, I'm so focused on running my business and managing my teams.
Alexis Padis:It's so much to take on that the industry organizations that are working to solve those problems for us or make resources and answers to questions more readily available, they become all the more important. And the beautiful thing about the way the AGS board works is that I can already tell you that Brian Moeller, who is the president after me, and then Mitchell Clark, who's going to be the president after me, I know they're completely aligned in that goal because of the way the overarching board works and how closely we all work with Catherine and the AGS team to bring those goals to fruition. So I can say confidently that, yes, I have a very strong focus within the next two years, but that focus was started many presidencies before me and will continue many presidencies after me to ensure that longevity and, hopefully, the security of our industry. If we have the best retailers and the best suppliers all working together and sustaining members all working together to better our industry, then we're all set up for success.
Michael Burpoe:Yeah, and it's so funny it's. I try sometimes to tell my friends about what's going on and I'll be like, oh, yeah, like. I work with jewelry stores and you know, a lot of times the first things that they think of is like these enormous big box stores and I'm like, oh, no, no, no More like the independent stores. And they're like oh, like, I'm like. You know, take any person's name and stick the word fine jewelry after it. That's like most of the people and it's a small family business and they've been running a lot of them for, yeah, like 60, 70, 80, 150 years.
Michael Burpoe:And I think that losing the stories that go along with them would be a great tragedy. And the fact that we do have we can't just rely on, you know, the old heads to lead us forevermore. It requires the next generation to pick up the leadership reins and to kind of keep steering the ship as best as possible. So I'm really grateful to have you guys at the helm among with the rest of your board. That sounds like you're there in very capable and enthusiastic hands, so I'm excited for that.
Alexis Padis:It's, you know, it's the mom and pop stores that are so crucial to the local economy. Jewelers are a huge part of every community. We, you know, we know our clients because they're our friends. We give back to our communities. We're the first ones. When a school needs a donation, we donate it because we live there, we're a part of those communities and we want to see that support go both ways.
Alexis Padis:And it's, you know, the it's heavy as the head to run a business because the shoulders that it falls on at the end of the day are our own. And it's, I hope, if nothing else, that that mindset of the general consumer, your friends are, that I want to support the local jeweler because they are a part of what makes our town, our city, so special and they're also giving back. And it's a call to action to all the jewelers too that we need to be active parts of our community and active parts of the, the infrastructure and donating all those things, because hopefully that's what will pay dividends in the long term and keep us going very much a symbiotic relationship we enjoy with the communities we serve, and we have to be giving back just as much as we expect clients to be coming in.
Michael Burpoe:Well, I definitely am excited for what. I'll be following AGS very closely, at least for the next two years, but even further than that. So I really appreciate your time and for allowing me to interview you. I know that our listeners are very excited as well. So thank you so much, alexis, it's been great.
Alexis Padis:Absolutely, and I do want to encourage anyone that is considering becoming a member or wants to learn more to visit. The AGS does have a booth at the CBG show in Las Vegas and then also we are at luxury booth 700A. The amazing AGS team will be there. They're there to answer any questions, to be of support and, of course, if you can't attend Converge in Carlsbad, our traditional conclave will be back in a big way September 14th through the 17th in Orlando, just a short six miles from Disney World in 2026.
Alexis Padis:I'm very excited about that one because the Padas family in general are huge Disney fans. So we go from Carlsbad a quick drive to Disneyland to Orlando. That happens to be a very quick drive to Disney World, but it should be a great few years for the organization and I would love to encourage any of your listeners and especially people from the Punchmark community. We are very thrilled with everything that we've learned from Punchmark and it really is a very like-minded company to what the AGS is as well. This focus on continuing education and how we better our industry is very much a common goal and I'm very appreciative to you and to Ross and to Brian and the leadership of Punchmark. You guys do an amazing job and I feel fortunate to know you.
Michael Burpoe:Wow, what a very kind shout out. I'll let them know. That sounds amazing. And just to plug it one more time, that's AmericanGemSocietyorg online, if you want to find out more, and I'll try my best to put that in the show notes below. Alexis, thank you so much. This has been a really enjoyable time. Thank you so much for your interview.
Alexis Padis:My pleasure. Thank you for having me. It really was an honor and I just really appreciate this industry and somebody like you who wants to interview and ask the right questions of people in our community.
Michael Burpoe:Well, cheers for that, everybody. We'll be back next week, tuesday with another episode. Cheers, bye. All right, everybody. That's the end of the show. Thanks so much for listening. If you liked it, leave us some feedback. We have a new text me line in the show notes below. It's a new feature on our podcasting platform. I would love to see if it works. My guest this week was Alexis Pattis. She's a co-owner of Pattis Jewelry as well as the new president of the American Gem Society, and it was so gracious of her to let me interview her. This episode was brought to you by Punchmark and produced and hosted by me, michael Burpo. This episode was edited by Paul Suarez with music by Ross Cockrum. Don't forget to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Subscribe for more episodes every Tuesday, leave us feedback on punchmarkcom slash loop and we'll be back next week Tuesday with another episode. Cheers, bye.
