American Gem Society Announces Mentoring Program Launch

(IDEX Online) – The American Gem Society (AGS) has announced the launch of a unique mentoring program designed to foster professional growth and personal development for the membership.

The program provides an opportunity for experienced members of the AGS to give back and assist in the professional development of other members. It gives those being mentored the chance to build their professional network, define career goals and overcome obstacles in obtaining those goals. As every mentoring relationship is unique and may take on different forms, the AGS has created resources to help guide participants through the process. Mentors are selected based on the ability to match with a mentee that is looking to acquire the skills or aptitude that the members have to offer.

“The AGS Mentoring Program can make a real difference to our industry. The launch of the Young Titleholders Program, back in the 1980s, fostered a new generation of industry leaders, who are now continuing the important work of passing on the wisdom they received,” said Georgie Gleim, Senior Advisor to the AGS Board of Directors. “The mentors in this program are the connecting thread between the leaders who built this industry (Robert M. Shipley, Dick Liddicoat, Bob Crowninshield, Mike Roman, and Al Woodill, to name a few) and the industry’s leaders of tomorrow.”

“The Young Titleholders are excited to help introduce the new AGS mentoring program,” said Denise Chislett, Chair of the Young Titleholders Steering Committee. “This program goes hand in hand with our mission of connecting the next generation of our industry to the current leaders. Without my mentors I would not be where I am today. It is my hope that this program will make strong connections and lasting friendships, and that both the mentor and mentee can mutually benefit from their professional association.”