Management

Angelo W. Palmieri

President

Angelo Palmieri brings an exciting and well rounded level of experience, intellect, leadership, and integrity to the industry as President of the GEMPRINT® Corporation, acquired by the Palmieri Group of Companies in 2011. Angelo is currently Vice President and partner of GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc.), and Gemological Appraisal Association, Inc. As GCAL’s ISO 17025 Accredited Forensic Laboratory Internal Auditor and Management Representative since 2007, he is responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and recording all processes and procedures, and quality assurance standards in the laboratory. Angelo spearheaded the RJC Audit that resulted in GCAL becoming a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

A 2002 Graduate of Cornell University, he majored in business and played football (Sprint) as a four year starter, the last as captain of the team. He most recently received his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at New York University, the Stern School of Business, while working full time and playing rugby for the NYU Rugby Club for 2 ½ years, the last as captain of the team. A current student of both the Gemological Institute of America (Graduate Gemologist Program) and the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), Angelo holds the title of Cert GA, and is currently finishing his FGA. Angelo has also completed the ASA Accelerated GJ205/206 Master Gemologist Appraiser course, the 15 Hour USPAP Course, and is anticipating completing requirements for ASA Certification.

Angelo has contributed significant works in litigation support, research, and reports for government, financial institutions, and accounting firms. Angelo has lectured and assisted with on-air national TV interviews (NBC The Today Show, ABC Good Morning America, and WABC-TV New York), concerning gold buying in the U.S. Since 2005, he has been trained by world class gemological and appraisal experts.

Angelo completed the 1997 Pittsburgh Marathon, while fundraising for Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma), and completed the 2011 NYC Marathon, while fundraising for LIVESTRONG (The Lance Armstrong Foundation).

Donald A. Palmieri

Chairman of the Board, Partner

Donald A. Palmieri, jewelry appraiser, forensic expert, consultant and broker, is President and founder of Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. (GCAL), an ISO 17025 Accredited Forensic Laboratory. Don is also the President of Gemological Appraisal Association, Inc., publisher of Palmieri’s Market Monitor®, Chairman of Gemprint Corporation, and is currently serving as Chapter 11 Trustee in a $40 million diamond manufacturer bankruptcy case, appointed by the US Trustee, New York Southern District. Don has worked in all levels of the jewelry and gemstone profession during his 47-year career, attaining advanced gemological, advanced ISO, and appraisal certifications, including Master Gemologist Appraiser®.

Mr. Palmieri has worked in all levels of the jewelry and gemstone profession during his 45-year career. Starting at the age of 18 as a jewelry apprentice, designer and special order jeweler, then to retail as salesman, designer, buyer, appraiser, and later as a wholesale representative of two major companies, Seiko Time Corporation and Baumgold Bros. Inc. (diamond cutters) covering New England, New York and Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Military from 1966-1969 and is a decorated Vietnam veteran. Palmieri started his own business in 1978 and is a 1971 graduate in residence of the Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, CA (now located in Carlsbad, CA).

Palmieri has been under contract with the Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs Bureau, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Trustee’s Office, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and The Ontario Attorney General as a consultant, appraiser, mediator, forensic expert witness and trustee. His expertise is frequently sought by banks, museums, foundations, insurance companies, the jewelry trade – both wholesale and retail, law firms, accounting firms and individuals as jewelry quality and value comes into question, and has been called upon to testify as an expert witness in major court cases throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore and The Bahamas.

Palmieri has been interviewed frequently for such publications as Forbes, New York Times, NY Post, NY Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, Barron’s, Money Magazine, The Straight Times in Singapore and others. In addition, he has been interviewed regularly in international and national news programs, i.e. CNN International, CNN American Morning, The Today Show (NBC), The Early Show (CBS), Good Morning America (ABC), Inside Edition, The History Channel and Consumer Reports TV, and Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania magazines and publications, as well as national and local market television talk shows and radio programs in New York, Washington, DC, Norfolk, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. He also lectures at Trade Shows, Appraisal Conferences, Museums (Carnegie and Smithsonian), The National Forensic Center and Business and Professional Group Meetings.

A Graduate Gemologist (GIA), Senior Member, Master Gemologist AppraiserÒ (American Society of Appraisers), Palmieri has served two terms as Regional Governor (Region 1, PA, NJ & DE) for the American Society of Appraisers, as well as Pittsburgh Chapter Director and President. He is a past Regional Governor and Chairman of the International Board of Examiners for the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) and past Director and co-author of the “Master Gemologist Appraiser” certification program before its merger into the American Society of Appraisers. He is past Director of Education for AGA and a past member of the International Board of Examiners and the Gems & Jewelry Committee of the American Society of Appraisers. Mr. Palmieri has been on staff as a research associate with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Earth Sciences division since 1983. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Museum. From 1986 until his move to New York in 1999, he taught classes for the Carnegie Education Division in gemology, gem sciences and jewelry. Mr. Palmieri is a member of the National Forensic Center, the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), the Diamond Dealers Club, and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).

Donald completed the 1998 Honolulu Marathon, while fundraising for Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma), and gave a talk to the Honolulu GIA Chapter later that evening.

Pamela C. Palmieri

Vice President, Partner

Pam joined the gems and jewelry industry in 1986 with Gemological Appraisal Association, Inc. (GAA, Inc.), a consulting and appraisal company, where she served as customer service manager and editor of Palmieri’s Market Monitor®, a wholesale price guide for the trade.

In 2001, Pam co-founded Gem Certification & Appraisal Lab, LLC with husband, Don. As COO of the company, she oversaw the day to day operations and forged solid relationships with GCAL’s client base.

Now Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc., GCAL’s integrity and excellence remain key to the lab’s success. GCAL now serves major retailers, both large and small, as well as diamond manufacturers and sightholders worldwide. GCAL stands behind their certificates by including a “Zero Tolerance 4C’s Consumer Grading Guarantee” in their bundle of consumer-oriented services.

Committed to GCAL’s standards of excellence, Pam continually strives to fulfill customer’s needs with the highest quality service and care, while promoting a supportive, empowered environment in the labs and offices.

Pam is a classically trained soprano who has performed on concert and cabaret stages in the New York City and Philadelphia areas, Pittsburgh, PA and Ireland, including the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Bandshell in Central Park, the Grand Ballroom in the Waldorf-Astoria and the Music Hall Foyer at the Carnegie Museum.

Passionate about many things, Pam has raised two sons, works to support children, animal and AIDS/HIV related causes, loves kitty cats, and has recorded a CD to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Pamela completed the 1998 Honolulu Marathon, while fundraising for Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma).