Steve Forbes to address GIA Symposium 2011

Steve Forbes, chairman of Forbes Media and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Symposium 2011: Advancing the Science and Business of Gems. The conference will be held at the Institute’s world headquarters in Carlsbad, May 29-30.

The GIA Symposium 2011 is an international conference of gem industry business leaders and research scientists, who convene to share findings and insights that impact the global gem and jewelry industry. The Symposium’s business and research tracks will cover topics on consumer behavior, luxury marketing, design trends, social media, new gem localities, advances in gemstone treatments and technology, as well as the social, political, and ethical issues surrounding the production and distribution of gems and jewelry.

“We are extremely pleased to have Mr. Forbes serve as our keynote speaker,” said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA vice president and chief marketing officer, who is co-chair of Symposium. “Attendees will be challenged to think strategically and expand both the scope and geography of their business, which is necessary in today’s economic environment, ”she added.

Forbes, an economic prognosticator, is the only writer to receive the Crystal Owl Award for accurate economic forecasting four times. Besides suthoring multiple books on leadership, economics and capitalism, he campaigned for the American presidency in 1996 and 2000 and was named chairman of the bi-partisan Board for International Broadcasting by President Ronald Reagan, and he served in this role from 1985 until 1993.

The scope of the Forbes publications now includes ForbesLife, the dedicated luxury lifestyle and culture magazine; ForbesWoman, providing Forbes’ community of executive women with luxury lifestyle content; Forbes Asia; and Forbes licensee editions published in China, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

The 2011 Symposim will also be an opportunity to celebrate the 80th anniversary of GIA.