2025 International Jade Summit - at the Monterey Bay Jade Festival

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

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

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

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.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Monterey History and Art Museum, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, United States