Portrait of Mike and Renée Hall

We live in the rich farming country of California's great Central Valley, in the city of Merced between Fresno and Stockton. We are retired from the retail jewelry business, having operated Brunelli Jewelry Store in downtown Merced for many years. We are both Diplomate Gemologists of the Gemological Institute of America. Mike now works as a substitute teacher in Jr. High and High Schools, and Renée now is a Travel Agent at Merced Travel.

Mike is a graduate of Stanford University with a BS in Math, and a Secondary Teaching Credential from University of California, Berkeley. Renée is a graduate of Pomona College with an AB in English. We met while we were in college and were married immediately upon graduation.

Mike served four years in the Air Force as a Weapons Controller, being discharged with the rank of Captain. During those four years we travelled all over the country, which is why our daughter Andréa was born in Florida instead of being a native Californian.