Board of Directors
Neal Goldman
Director and Chairman of the Board
Neal Goldman has served as a director with Charles & Colvard since June 2014 and as Chairman since January 2015. Mr. Goldman has served as President of Goldman Capital Management, Inc., an investment advisory firm, since he founded the firm in 1985. Prior to that, Mr. Goldman was an analyst and portfolio manager at Shearson/American Express Inc. Mr. Goldman served on the Board of Directors of Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH), a multi-channel company focused on the direct-to-consumer market, and includes in its portfolio two direct sales companies, PartyLite Gifts and ViSalus. He serves on the Board of Imageware Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: IWSY), a leading company in the emerging market for biometrically enabled software-based identity management solutions.
Chairman of the Board
Anne M. Butler
Director
Anne M. Butler has served as a director of Charles & Colvard since June 2012. As a leading executive in the direct selling industry, Ms. Butler has successfully run global businesses for Avon Products, Inc. , Aloette Cosmetics, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc., and PartyLite Gifts, Inc. Ms. Butler started her career with Avon, where she held a variety of progressive assignments across marketing, sales, new market expansion, and new business development while serving as Director of Marketing in Spain, Vice President of Avon Fashions in Brazil and as General Manager, Avon Fashions for Continental Europe. At Mary Kay, Ms. Butler served as President of the Western and Central Europe business. She then successfully expanded PartyLite's international business, and subsequently became President of PartyLite Worldwide from 2007 to 2012. Ms. Butler has held various board positions, including the Direct Selling Education Foundation, and the Direct Selling Association, where she served as Vice Chair. Anne currently serves on local charity boards in Naples, FL.
Benedetta Casamento
Director
Benedetta Casamento has served as a director of Charles & Colvard since May 2017. Ms. Casamento is Chairman and President of Allyke, Inc., an artificial intelligence company creating digital imagery insights for retail and other industries. Previously, Ms. Casamento served as CEO of luxury lifestyle brand, Calypso St. Barth. Prior to that, she served as Executive VP of Finance & Operations at The Talbots Inc. and she held various senior leadership positions at Liz Claiborne, Inc., including serving as President of Liz Claiborne Brands and President of the Ellen Tracy and Dana Buchman brands. Ms. Casamento started her career at Saks Fifth Avenue. Ms. Casamento is involved in various charitable organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of Women In Need, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides housing, programs, and other services to New York City’s homeless mothers and their children.
Don O'Connell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Don O'Connell serves as President & Chief Executive Officer for Charles & Colvard. He served most recently as Charles & Colvard's Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, joining the Company in 2016. In this role, Don managed all functional areas of distribution, operations, and global supply chain, including responsibility for gemstone procurement and faceting, jewelry production, merchandising, product development and customer experience. A highly accomplished jewelry manufacturing, supply chain and distribution executive, he has delivered positive and sustainable results for over 25 years with several organizations in the jewelry industry. Prior to joining Charles & Colvard, Don served as Executive Vice President Operations & Global Jewelry Business Solutions at OFT Investment & Management Group, a fine jewelry solutions and services group. He spent seven years with the Richline Group, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, as Vice President, Operations & Procurement, both Foreign & Domestic, and served on Richline’s executive steering committee and acquisition team. Prior to that, Don was Vice President, Operations at Aurafin's gem group divisions in Taramac, FL and La Paz, Bolivia as well as Vice President, Jewelry Manufacturing & Contracting with OCON Enterprise.
Ollin B. Sykes
Director
Ollin B. Sykes has served as a director of Charles & Colvard since May 2008. Since 1984, he has served as the President of Sykes & Company, P.A., a regional accounting firm specializing in accounting, tax, and financial advisory services. Mr. Sykes earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting at Mars Hill College and is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Certified Management Accountant.