The Worldwide Gemological Institute has appointed John Pollard (pictured) to be its senior director of training.

On this newly created function, Pollard will oversee and increase IGI’s academic choices at its 14 faculties of gemology world wide, together with its gemstone grading and jewellery design programs, interactive e-learning, and tutorial seminars and webinars.

“IGI presently teaches extra programs in additional areas than some other gemological institute,” Pollard tells JCK. “Not too long ago, in North America, there was heavy demand for training about lab-grown diamonds, which IGI is offering, in addition to training for gross sales professionals on quite a lot of gemological matters, beginning with diamond 4Cs fundamentals, which will be utilized at level of sale.”

“I’m happy that John is taking over this necessary function,” added Roland Lorie, IGI CEO, in a press release. “At IGI we’ve at all times felt a duty to offer correct gemological training to all who select to enter this area. Solely then can we’ve a robust business, trusted by shoppers.”

Pollard was most just lately director of training for PriceScope.com and has collaborated on initiatives with IGI for greater than a decade. In 2020, he designed curriculum and coaching for the lab’s purchasers.

He has been a daily advisor for diamond producers, sellers, and grading laboratories, home and abroad, and has led academic seminars at JCK Las Vegas, the American Gem Society Conclave, the Gemological Institute of America Alumni Affiliation, and IGI commerce conferences in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

At PriceScope, he performed a number of webinars, together with one with this author.

A former Texas public college educator, Pollard holds levels in training, gemology, and music. He was twice honored together with his district training basis’s Award of Excellence.

He stays energetic in training advocacy on a nationwide degree, holding a place on the board of administrators of Music for All, America’s largest and most influential music training group.

(Photograph courtesy of Worldwide Gemological Institute)

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