The inaugural 2025 International Jade Summit, presented by Mason-Kay Jade, will be an all-day event for jade sellers, gemologists and appraisers looking to expand their knowledge of jade and the international jade market. Open to customers and enthusiasts as well, this will be the first jade-centric conference in the United States and is set to take place during the Monterey Bay Jade Festival.
The event will open with a Welcome Breakfast featuring pastries and beverages, and continue with intermittent 50-minute lectures throughout the day. Attendees are encouraged to take breaks between seminars to browse the Georg Schmerholz Jade Carving Exhibition, and shop at the Monterey Bay Jade Festival just steps outside of the conference room.
Breakfast and lunch will be included in your ticket price, which gives you access to all of the lectures
2025 International Jade Summit
at the Monterey Bay Jade Festival
Saturday, June 14th
Inside Stanton Center
At Monterey State Historic Park
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MEET THE SPEAKERS
Kirk Makepeace, 
Owner of Jade West Group
Jade Miner and Nephrite Jade Expert
Kirk Makepeace is a prominent figure in the Canadian jade industry and is often regarded as one of the pioneers of jade mining in British Columbia. Makepeace has dedicated much of his career to promoting and developing the nephrite jade market in Canada and internationally. He founded Jade West Group, one of North America's largest jade mining and exporting companies, and his work has been instrumental in establishing British Columbia as a major source of high-quality nephrite jade.
Through Jade West Group, Makepeace has expanded Canadian jade's reach, especially in Asian markets where jade is highly valued. He has also been a strong advocate for the sustainable and ethical mining of jade, working closely with local communities, including Indigenous groups, to ensure that jade extraction respects environmental and cultural considerations.
Makepeace's influence is significant in the industry, not only for his business achievements but also for his efforts in educating people about jade's cultural importance and promoting it as a precious resource unique to Canada.
Mary Lou Ridinger, Owner of Jade Maya
Archaeologist and Discoverer of Guatemala's Jade Deposits
Mary Lou Ridinger holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an M.A. in Archaeology from the University of the Americas. After working on archaeological digs in Mexico, including the excavation for Mexico City’s subway system, she rediscovered ancient jadeite jade quarry sites in Guatemala, lost since the Spanish Conquest. Ridinger is widely recognized as the first archaeologist to identify these in-situ locations tied to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.
In 1975, with her late husband, Jay Ridinger, she discovered jadeite sources in Guatemala’s Motagua River Valley and evidence of ancient Maya artisans working there. They also identified previously unknown jade varieties, such as “Galactic Jade” and lavender jadeite. To revive jade craftsmanship, they founded Jades S.A., Guatemala’s first post-conquest jade workshop, training artisans and establishing a thriving jade industry.
In 2008, Ridinger co-founded The Maya Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Maya archaeological sites and cultural heritage across Central America and Mexico. The organization works with leading scholars and provides education and conservation support. Ridinger’s contributions, including a museum at Jades S.A. showcasing the history of jadeite, are chronicled in the book
 Stone of Kings
 by Gerard Helferich.
Jeff Mason, G.G., Owner of Mason-Kay Jade
Gemologist and Jade Valuation Expert
Jeff Mason is the owner of Mason-Kay Jade, a family-owned business that has specialized in natural, untreated jadeite jade since 1976. With the largest inventory of high-quality jadeite in the trade, Mason-Kay is renowned for its fine jade jewelry and expertise in jade testing and valuation.
Jeff joined the family business in the early 1980s and earned his Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) certification from GIA Santa Monica in 1984. A fourth-generation jeweler, he has dedicated over 35 years to the jade trade and is regarded as one of the leading jadeite jade experts in the United States. Jeff was elected to the AGTA Board of Directors in 2015 and re-elected in 2018, reflecting his commitment to integrity and education within the industry.
Under Jeff’s leadership, Mason-Kay has also established the industry’s most trusted jadeite testing laboratory, serving appraisers, stores, auction houses, and individual collectors. Alongside his wife Kristina, who designs one-of-a-kind jade creations, Jeff continues to uphold Mason-Kay’s legacy of excellence and passion for jade.
Eugene "Lou" Blanck
Geologist and Geophysicist
Eugene “Lou” Blanck is a highly accomplished geophysicist and geologist with over four decades of experience in engineering geology, hydrogeology, and mineral research. As Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Earth Design, Inc., he has led projects in geophysical surveying, mineral exploration, and environmental assessment since 1985. Lou has visited several jade deposits all over the world and is an expert on the topic of nephrite jade formation.
Lou has served as a lecturer at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, where he taught courses on geology, earthquakes, and seismology. His research has provided key insights into fault mechanics, tsunamis, and groundwater systems, with presentations at the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and other professional organizations.
Having a Master’s degree in Geology with a Geophysics emphasis from California State University, and a Bachelor’s in Engineering Geology from UCLA, Lou has contributed to advancing the understanding of geological hazards and mineral resources. His current work focuses on integrating geologic investigation into land-use planning to improve sustainability and risk mitigation.
Information Source: Monterey Bay Jade Festival | eventbrite

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