The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas 2008 will kick off with a keynote presentation on May 30 featuring hip-hop mogul and philanthropist Russell Simmons, with a Q&A session moderated by Martin Rapaport. USA Today recently named Simmons one of the “top 25 most influential people of the past 25 years,” calling him a hip-hop pioneer for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, television, and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.

Simmons, along with Kimora Lee Simmons and Scott H. Rauch, founded the Simmons Jewelry Co. in 2004, and in 2006 went to South Africa and Botswana to see how diamonds were positively affecting the lives of Africans. He then created the nonprofit Diamond Empowerment Fund to help Africa, sensitize the diamond industry to the plight of Africans, and raise funds for education initiatives in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. In an effort to support DEF’s mission, Simmons Jewelry Co. created the Green Initiative Collection of jewelry and its Green Bracelet.

The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas will sponsor a two-day conference program on May 28 and 29 at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. The program offers more than 35 complimentary education sessions in eight tracks: Hot Topics and Trends; JCK Style: Where Fashion Meets Jewelry; Business; Diamonds; Gemstones and Pearls; eBusiness; Jewelers Notebook: Practical Advice for Jewelers; and J-Biz: Jewelers of America Industry Insights.

For more information, call (800) 257-3626 or visit www.jckshows.com.