Paul S. Harter
Board Chairman
Paul S. Harter is a native Arizonan who graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in business administration (1970) and law (1973). His legal career has revolved around civil litigation, government contracts and mining activities. He continues to actively practice law in the Phoenix area. In 1992 he was elected to the Madison Elementary School District Governing Board where he served for twelve years, including nine years as its president.
His interest in mining and minerals was fostered by his grandfather, a mining engineer who graduated from the University of Utah. Family trips always focused on mines, minerals and geology in Arizona and Utah. His great uncle was the noted author A. B. Parsons. The combined mentor influence and proximity to the great copper mines of Arizona afforded him the opportunity to visit and explore these properties in the 1950’s. Paul first competitively exhibited at the Arizona State Fair in 1958 and has continued to do so. Between 2011 and 2015 he served as the Show Chair for the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. In concert with Bryan K. Lees, he co-authored the chapter in American Mineral Treasures on the Sweet Home Mine. He also serves on the Board of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. His collection focuses on minerals of Arizona, with other smaller sub-collections.
Paul has been a member of the Advisory Board since 2016.
Board Chairman
Paul S. Harter is a native Arizonan who graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in business administration (1970) and law (1973). His legal career has revolved around civil litigation, government contracts and mining activities. He continues to actively practice law in the Phoenix area. In 1992 he was elected to the Madison Elementary School District Governing Board where he served for twelve years, including nine years as its president.
His interest in mining and minerals was fostered by his grandfather, a mining engineer who graduated from the University of Utah. Family trips always focused on mines, minerals and geology in Arizona and Utah. His great uncle was the noted author A. B. Parsons. The combined mentor influence and proximity to the great copper mines of Arizona afforded him the opportunity to visit and explore these properties in the 1950’s. Paul first competitively exhibited at the Arizona State Fair in 1958 and has continued to do so. Between 2011 and 2015 he served as the Show Chair for the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. In concert with Bryan K. Lees, he co-authored the chapter in American Mineral Treasures on the Sweet Home Mine. He also serves on the Board of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. His collection focuses on minerals of Arizona, with other smaller sub-collections.
Paul has been a member of the Advisory Board since 2016.
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Allan Norville
A longtime Tucson real estate developer, Allan Norville provided the initial gift for the new museum to memorialize his wife, Alfie. She had played a key role in the mid-1990s in persuading the shows that bring tens of thousands of visitors to Tucson every January and February to remain in Tucson rather than relocate to Phoenix or Las Vegas. In 1993, to demonstrate their commitment, the Norvilles founded the Gem & Jewelry Exchange (GJX), one of the leading gem/jewelry venues that annually boost revenue for Tucson and the county. Today, GJX, which opens in early February and is across from the Tucson Convention Center, is one of the city’s major show attractions. |
Richard Graeme
Richard Graeme, a native of Bisbee, Arizona, has been a collector and student of the minerals from this classic locality since 1950, and worked as an underground miner at Bisbee for a dozen years. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geological Engineering and continued to work in Bisbee as the Resident Geologist. The mineral Graemite was named in his honor in 1975, as the discoverer of this the type material in 1959.
Professionally, Mr. Graeme, now retired, has served most recently as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lumina Copper SAC, and Vice-President and General Manager of Gold Fields La Cima, both located in Peru, and as Vice President and Country Manager of Gold Fields Venezuela. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Head of Operations for Gold Fields Ghana, Ltd., located in West Africa.
He was also Vice President of Operations for Sharon Steel Natural Resources based in Denver and later Vice President of Operations for Golden Queen Mining Company in Mojave, California. Before that Mr. Graeme was the General Manager of gold mines in California, New Mexico and Nome, Alaska as well as a coal mine in Utah and a copper mine in New Mexico. In all, he worked in the mining industry for 55 consecutive years. He is also a member of the Society of Mining Engineers.
Mr. Graeme has been on the Advisory Board since its inception in 2007.
Richard Graeme, a native of Bisbee, Arizona, has been a collector and student of the minerals from this classic locality since 1950, and worked as an underground miner at Bisbee for a dozen years. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geological Engineering and continued to work in Bisbee as the Resident Geologist. The mineral Graemite was named in his honor in 1975, as the discoverer of this the type material in 1959.
Professionally, Mr. Graeme, now retired, has served most recently as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lumina Copper SAC, and Vice-President and General Manager of Gold Fields La Cima, both located in Peru, and as Vice President and Country Manager of Gold Fields Venezuela. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Head of Operations for Gold Fields Ghana, Ltd., located in West Africa.
He was also Vice President of Operations for Sharon Steel Natural Resources based in Denver and later Vice President of Operations for Golden Queen Mining Company in Mojave, California. Before that Mr. Graeme was the General Manager of gold mines in California, New Mexico and Nome, Alaska as well as a coal mine in Utah and a copper mine in New Mexico. In all, he worked in the mining industry for 55 consecutive years. He is also a member of the Society of Mining Engineers.
Mr. Graeme has been on the Advisory Board since its inception in 2007.
Robbie McCarty
Robbie McCarty grew up in Tucson, attending local schools and graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Education. She spent her 37-year teaching career in California with the Fountain Valley School District. While she taught every grade from 2nd to 8th, Robbie spent most of her time with 7th and 8th grade math and science classes. When computers arrived, that became her challenge, learning all she could, writing grants to purchase computers for her school, and developing curriculum appropriate for middle school students. She mentored other teachers in the district and made presentations at local, state and national conventions. She left the classroom for the district office to provide technology training for teachers, curriculum development, and one on one support for teachers and students at all of the schools. In the early 1970's Robbie and husband Bill fell in love with minerals and began on their life-long collecting journey. After realizing that they could not have one of everything, they took the advice of their mentors, Wayne and Dona Leicht, and narrowed their focus. They picked Arizona Miniatures, learning not only about the vast array of minerals from Arizona but the mining and history of the state as well. Minerals from their collection have been included in various publications such as American Mineral Treasures and the Mineralogical Record. Their calcite from Ray Arizona won best Arizona Calcite at a TGMS Show. A large part of her collection is on display at the University of Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum. Robbie has been on the Board since 2013. |
Patricia Syvrud
Patricia Syvrud is the Program Manager for Minerals, Materials and Society, a University of Delaware (UD) education, research and training program. She was the first Executive Director of the World Diamond Council, an international non-profit organization that represents the diamond pipeline at the UN-mandated Kimberley Process forum, the regulatory body charged with global tracking of rough diamonds from mine to manufacture. A GIA graduate gemologist (G.G.) with an MBA from the University of Southern California, she is passionate about the responsible sourcing of fine gems and minerals and supply chain transparency, and is currently overseeing the creation of the Jewelry Development Impact index (JDI), a technical evaluative research project of the Minerals, Materials and Society program.
Syvrud is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Kimberley Process Authority, the Governance Committee of the Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade and sits on the standards committee for the development of an SCS Global Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Diamonds.
Her career highlights include cataloging the entire National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, developing a world-class museum collection for the Gemological Institute of America and working as a pro bono jewelry industry consultant to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to assist with Albright's pin exhibition and book, “Read My Pins, Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box”.
Patricia Syvrud is the Program Manager for Minerals, Materials and Society, a University of Delaware (UD) education, research and training program. She was the first Executive Director of the World Diamond Council, an international non-profit organization that represents the diamond pipeline at the UN-mandated Kimberley Process forum, the regulatory body charged with global tracking of rough diamonds from mine to manufacture. A GIA graduate gemologist (G.G.) with an MBA from the University of Southern California, she is passionate about the responsible sourcing of fine gems and minerals and supply chain transparency, and is currently overseeing the creation of the Jewelry Development Impact index (JDI), a technical evaluative research project of the Minerals, Materials and Society program.
Syvrud is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Kimberley Process Authority, the Governance Committee of the Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade and sits on the standards committee for the development of an SCS Global Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Diamonds.
Her career highlights include cataloging the entire National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, developing a world-class museum collection for the Gemological Institute of America and working as a pro bono jewelry industry consultant to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to assist with Albright's pin exhibition and book, “Read My Pins, Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box”.
Shelly Sergent
Shelly Sergent, a Phoenix resident, is the Collection Manager of the Somewhere in the Rainbow gemstone and jewelry collection, which had been on display at the UA’s Flandrau Planetarium and Science Center’s main floor until the end of the year 2018. In 2013, the collection was the subject of a feature article in The New York Times. The mission of the collection is to bring hands-on education, understanding and appreciation of fine colored gems and artisan crafted jewelry to museums, retail stores and educational facilities dedicated to enjoying and appreciating the rarity, beauty and value of these gems and master artisan’s works.
Shelly spent 35 years in the jewelry industry, starting at age 16 as a holiday season giftwrap girl for Zales Jewelers. She quickly realized her passion for fine gems, design, and first-class client services, and learned the business of the jewelry industry by climbing the ranks from giftwrap gal to sales, service, philanthropy, and management. She has been a featured guest presenter with JTV, keynote speaker for many industry events, and travels extensively sharing gem and jewelry passion with guests and museum attendees here and abroad. Shelly is also a Curator of Boutique Gem Sourcing and a Professional Member of the American Gem Trade Association.
Shelly was appointed to the Museum Board in 2017, as part of the Board and Museum’s expansion to emphasize the importance to the Gem and Mineral Museum’s expanding interest in the science and technology of gems and gemology.
Shelly Sergent, a Phoenix resident, is the Collection Manager of the Somewhere in the Rainbow gemstone and jewelry collection, which had been on display at the UA’s Flandrau Planetarium and Science Center’s main floor until the end of the year 2018. In 2013, the collection was the subject of a feature article in The New York Times. The mission of the collection is to bring hands-on education, understanding and appreciation of fine colored gems and artisan crafted jewelry to museums, retail stores and educational facilities dedicated to enjoying and appreciating the rarity, beauty and value of these gems and master artisan’s works.
Shelly spent 35 years in the jewelry industry, starting at age 16 as a holiday season giftwrap girl for Zales Jewelers. She quickly realized her passion for fine gems, design, and first-class client services, and learned the business of the jewelry industry by climbing the ranks from giftwrap gal to sales, service, philanthropy, and management. She has been a featured guest presenter with JTV, keynote speaker for many industry events, and travels extensively sharing gem and jewelry passion with guests and museum attendees here and abroad. Shelly is also a Curator of Boutique Gem Sourcing and a Professional Member of the American Gem Trade Association.
Shelly was appointed to the Museum Board in 2017, as part of the Board and Museum’s expansion to emphasize the importance to the Gem and Mineral Museum’s expanding interest in the science and technology of gems and gemology.
Duncan Pay
As GIA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Duncan Pay oversees the Institute’s global education operations in gemology and jewelry design and manufacturing, including on-campus, distance education, the GemKids program for school children and the GIA Alumni Association.
Pay’s 20-year career at GIA has bridged education and research, strengthening both. He led the adaptation of GIA’s course material for distance education and strengthened GIA’s gemology courses by enabling timely integration of new findings from the Institute’s research and laboratory teams. As editor-in-chief of Gems & Gemology since 2013, he oversaw a renaissance of the 84-year-old journal, expanding the range of research-based articles and building print and online readership.
Prior to joining GIA in 1998, Pay had more than 13 years’ experience in the jewelry industry including jewelry and gemological instrument retail sales, jewelry manufacturing, and colored stone buying and wholesaling. He was previously course development manager for the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences in Bangkok, Thailand. Pay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Wales, Great Britain and a Graduate Gemologist diploma (GG) from GIA. He is also a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) and received the association’s Tully Medal – as the best student of 1987
As GIA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Duncan Pay oversees the Institute’s global education operations in gemology and jewelry design and manufacturing, including on-campus, distance education, the GemKids program for school children and the GIA Alumni Association.
Pay’s 20-year career at GIA has bridged education and research, strengthening both. He led the adaptation of GIA’s course material for distance education and strengthened GIA’s gemology courses by enabling timely integration of new findings from the Institute’s research and laboratory teams. As editor-in-chief of Gems & Gemology since 2013, he oversaw a renaissance of the 84-year-old journal, expanding the range of research-based articles and building print and online readership.
Prior to joining GIA in 1998, Pay had more than 13 years’ experience in the jewelry industry including jewelry and gemological instrument retail sales, jewelry manufacturing, and colored stone buying and wholesaling. He was previously course development manager for the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences in Bangkok, Thailand. Pay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Wales, Great Britain and a Graduate Gemologist diploma (GG) from GIA. He is also a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) and received the association’s Tully Medal – as the best student of 1987