Kate Donovan Appointed Executive Director of AGA
Donovan, currently the association’s marketing director, succeeds the retiring Jan Giamanco.

The AGA’s longtime marketing director is now also its executive director, with Donovan taking over for Jan Giamanco.
Giamanco is retiring after serving as AGA executive director for more than two decades.
“Kate is a familiar face to many of our members through her tenure as the global alumni manager for GIA and her involvement in the gem and mineral world,” AGA President Teri Brossmer said.
“Kate’s marketing genius, industry connections, and impeccable reputation will serve AGA well and we are lucky to have her.”
As executive director, Donovan will build upon her strong performance as marketing director, where she led the association’s international growth campaign, AGA said.
She will continue to work directly with AGA’s board of governors, coordinating and managing the front office while implementing an “ambitious” agenda focused on global membership growth, enhanced member benefits and increased brand awareness.
Donovan will continue in her role as marketing director as well.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build and add to the legacy of this prestigious organization focused on integrity and the advancement of professional gemologists for nearly 50 years,” she said.
Founded in 1974, AGA is a 501(C)3 nonprofit comprised of accredited gemologists and focused on continuing education and professional standards in gemology.
The Latest

Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.

Originally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.

Allison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.


Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.

Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.

Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.

The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.