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| Jewelry industry professionals at the 2014 Portland Jewelry Symposium |
The Portland Jewelry Symposium, a forum for the jewelry industry to discuss advancements and new artistic approaches to jewelry manufacturing and design, will be held October 4 and 5 at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, Ore.
In its eighth year, the Symposium is known for bringing together top industry talent to present on current trends in design, technology, bench work and business. It’s tailored to the needs of manufacturing professionals, retailers and designers.
“We like to think of it as the ‘Great Think Tank’ for jewelers that are passionate about their craft,” said Teresa Frye, who founded the Symposium. “I believe there is growing interest in the trade for events like ours where in-depth networking opportunities complement a full educational program.”
On October 4, the event will kick off at the Portland Art Museum with a dinner and keynote address from Benjamin Smithee, chief strategy officer of Relevents, an events company. Smithee is a highly acclaimed speaker and has consulted for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Coca-Cola, Del Monte, General Mills and Sterling Jewelers.
On Monday, there will be a line-up of 10 industry presenters including David Geller, director of Shop’s Profits, sharing his decades of experience in consulting on profitability in the custom jewelry business; renowned designer, Paul Klecka, offering his unique insights on digital design; pulse-arc welding expert, Sessin Durgham of Rio Grande; and digital manufacturing guru Kevin Abernathy.
Event sponsors include TechForm Advanced Casting Technology, MJSA, Stuller, Rio Grande, Gemological Institute of America, Platinum Guild International, Johnson Matthey, Solidscape, Chris Ploof Designs, Asiga, United Precious Metals Refining, The Richline Group and Jewelers of America.
For more details on how to register and a complete list of speakers, visit www.portlandjewelrysymposium.com.
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