History
GEMS was founded in 2003 by Economist Juan A. Villeta-Trigo, with offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Economist Villeta-Trigo worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.; Deloitte, Haskins & Sells; Price Waterhouse, B.D. Services; Corporate Techniques; Puerto Rico Venture Capital Club, Scientific Community Council, Executive Business Roundtable; Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc./Navieras de Puerto Rico; CGM Interline. Has also taught at different Universities in the fields of Economics, Finance, and Statistics.
Our Founder
Juan A. Villeta Trigo
Juan A. Villeta-Trigo is an economist and a management consultant with more than 30 years of professional experience in Puerto Rico and the continental United States. His consulting experience has centered on studies for the private sector as well as for the local government, making economic and financial evaluations and determining forensic economic impact for both local and federal courts. Mr. Juan A. Villeta-Trigo serves as forensic economist and expert witness in cases involving calculating loss of income; discrimination due to age, race, gender, or pregnancy; estimating damages for loss of earnings capacity, economic valuation of life care plans, Torts and Damages from loss of profits and Law 75 damages (distribution).
Mr. Juan A. Villeta Trigo has developed studies, market profiles, business plans and federal proposals for government entities, such as the Department of Treasury, Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Department of Labor and Human Resources. He has also served as Project Manager for the Department of Labor and Human Resources, New Consumer Price Index Program: Study of Income and Expenditures of the Urban Consumer in Puerto Rico; Design and Field Survey; and New Consumer Price Index Implementation.
Professor Juan A. Villeta-Trigo also has more than 25 years of teaching experience, having taught at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Department of Economics, Río Piedras’ Department of Finance and Graduate School of Public Administration, at the Sacred Heart University in Santurce, and, at the Interamerican University as Professor of Economics and Finance. Previously, he taught Economics and Statistics Courses at various institutions in the United States, among them New York University, Rutgers University, Montclair State University, Fordham University, Manhattan College, Queens College and Baruch College.
- Member, of Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ciencias del Ambiente, AIDIS Puerto Rico, (“Interamerican Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering”), 2016 to present
- Member, American Academy of Economic and Financial Experts, 1998 to present
- Member, American Law and Economics Association, CT, 1996 to present
- Founding Member, International Council of Small Business, Puerto Rico and Caribbean Area Chapter, Puerto Rico, 1996 to present
- Member of Puerto Rico Society of Financial Analysts, Puerto Rico, 1984 to present
- Founding Member, Puerto Rico Economists Association, (AEPR), Puerto Rico, 1983 to present
- Member, American Economic Association, Tennessee, 1981 to present
- Member, NYU Alumni Association, New York, 1980 to present
- Director Advisory Board and Founding Member of Instituto de Agua y Salud, IDAS, UMET, Río Piedras, 2015 to present
- Past President, Puerto Rico Economists Association, 2015-2016
- Vice President, Puerto Rico Economists Association, 2014-2015
- Vice President, Puerto Rico Society of Financial Analysts, 2008-2009;2013-2014
- Editor, Bulletin of the Puerto Rico Economists Association (AEPR), 2009 to 2014
- Vice President and Board Member, International Council of Small Business, Puerto Rico and Caribbean Area Chapter, Puerto Rico, 2002 to 2010
- Member, “Mercadeo, Industria, y Distribución de Alimentos”, (MIDA), Puerto Rico, 1992 to 1996
- Member, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, Puerto Rico, 1992 to 1996
- Member, Puerto Rico Shipping Association, Puerto Rico, 1991 to 1996
- Associate and Past Board Director, Institute of Management Consultants, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean Area Chapter, Puerto Rico, 1984 to 1991
- Executive Director and Secretary of the Board, Puerto Rico Venture Capital Club, Puerto Rico, 1984 to 1989
- Secretary General, Scientific Community Council, Puerto Rico, 1986 to 1988
- Secretary of the Board, Puerto Rico High Technology Council, Puerto Rico, 1984 to 1986
- Member, Western Economic Association, CA, 1979 to 1989
- Member, National Association of Business Economists, New York, 1978 to 1986
- Speaker / “Used water and the potential recycling of wastewater in the agricultural sector in Puerto Rico”, Instituto de Agua y Salud, “IDAS” (Institute of Water and Health) in collaboration with the Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez’ (SUAGM), UMET, and the United States Agriculture Department. Condado Plaza Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico – June 1, 2016
- Speaker / “El Recurso Agua: Realidades y Directrices”, 2do Congreso Internacional de Gestión Económica y Desarrollo, Palacio de Convenciones de la Habana, Habana, Cuba – May 18, 2016
- Speaker / “Puerto Rico’s Cost of Water on a Short Run and Medium Term”, the First Congress on Applied Economy. University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, April 29, 2016
- Speaker / “Economic Aspects of Water Resource and the Cost of Drought; the Situation of Puerto Rico”, Puerto Rico College of Chemists Annual Congress, Ponce Hilton Hotel, Ponce, Puerto Rico – April 8, 2016
- Speaker / “The Employment Incentive Tax Credit, EITC”. Statement as President of Puerto Rico Economists Association before the Puerto Rico Senate, Finance Commission, on Capitol Building Senate, San Juan, Puerto Rico – March 11, 2016
- Speaker / “The Water Resource and the Costs of EPA’s Compliance Orders”, AIDIS Congress, Interamerican University, Metropolitan Campus Theater, San Juan, Puerto Rico – February 19, 2016
- Speaker / “Assessment of Present Economic Crisis ” as President of Puerto Rico Economists Association at the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce’s Forum on Economic Trends, Condado Plaza Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico – February 17, 2016
- Speaker / “The Economic Situation of Puerto Rico, and Costs of Extreme Weather, First Congress on Climate Change and Extreme Weather, The Center for Environmental Assessment, Interamerican University, San Germán Campus, San Germán, Puerto Rico, February 12, 2016
- Speaker / “Economic Impact of the Construction Sector in Puerto Rico”, at the XI Congress of Economists held at Panamá City, Panamá – November 24, 2015
- Speaker / “Solutions to the Economic Crisis”, Department of Economics, Second Week of Economic Sciences, at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Amphitheater, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, October 21-23, 2015
- Speaker / “Puerto Rico’s Economic Panorama; Challenges and Opportunities”, VI Magnus Environmental Conference, Comité Timón de Calidad Ambiental (COTICAM), University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus Amphitheater, Puerto Rico, March 11, 2015
- Speaker / “Business Assessment and Opportunities for the Northwest Corridor”, Northwest Corridor Forum, Consortium of Northwest Puerto Rico, Ramey Base, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico – March 5, 2015
- Speaker / “Added Value Tax (“IVA”), Forum, Collaboration with the Economics Students Association and the Economics Department, First Week of Economic Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Chapel Amphitheater, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, March 3, 2015
- Speaker / Weekly Intervention on “Mi Gente” TV Program, at the “Frente al Reto” segment on T.V. Channel 13; Carolina, Puerto Rico – Years 2013 to 2015
- Speaker / “Impacto Socio-Económico de Aguas Usadas” AIDIS XII Congreso Puertorriqueño de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ciencias del Ambiente, Interamerican University, Metro Campus Theater, San Juan, Puerto Rico – March 6, 2015
- Speaker / “Impacto Económico en Comunidades Sin Alcantarillado” AIDIS Forum on Innovative Initiatives for Used Water Management in Communities; Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez’ (SUAGM), UMET, San Juan, Puerto Rico – February 19, 2015
- Speaker / “Impact of the Current Economic Condition in Puerto Rico”, National Association of Forensic Economics (NAFE) Winter Meeting, Intercontinental San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 30-31, 2015
- Speaker / “Economic Repercussions of the Banking and Construction Sectors in Puerto Rico;” Forum on Construction Law, Interamerican University, Law School, Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 2014
- Speaker / “Economics and Entrepreneurship: Choices”, Career Week, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, San Juan, Puerto Rico 2013 to present
- Invited Speaker / Title “Small Businesses: Risks and Opportunities”, International Council for Small Business Seminar, Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico – January 30, 2009
- Plenary Session Speaker, “Loss of Income: Methods & Practices”, First Symposium on Damages and Torts, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Law School, Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, February 22, 2008.
- Panel Participant, “New Consumer Price Index of Puerto Rico, Results and Implementation”, Annual Meeting, Puerto Rico Economists Association, Verdanza Hotel, Carolina, Puerto Rico, August 24, 2007.
- Opening Remarks, Presentation, Mr. Robert Kurtter Moody’s Investors Services and Mr. Horacio Aldrete, Standard & Poor’s, Puerto Rico and the Bond Market, Puerto Rico Financial Analysts Association, February 21, 2008, Banker’s Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Session Chair Speaker, Entrepreneurship in Emergent Economics: Lessons from the Comparative Study in Latin America and East Asia and Implications for Policy. 47th International Council for Small Business (ICSB), World Conference, at Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 18, 2002.
- Speaker, “Income and Expenditures Survey of Urban Consumer in Puerto Rico for the year 2000: Preliminary Findings of Phase I & Work Plan for Phases II and III”, Puerto Rico Economists Association, Special Panel within Annual Meeting held at Tropimar Beach Club & Convention Center, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, May 19, 2000.
- Guest Speaker, “Just In Time, (J.I.T.), & Marine Transportation”, Annual Conference on Caribbean Basin Initiatives, CBI Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1992
- Guest Speaker, “Risks and Rewards for the Local Entrepreneur: The Puerto Rico Venture Capital Club”; Proceedings of Seminar: Perspectives on the Agroindustrial Development of Puerto Rico for the Next Century, co-sponsored by Puerto Rico Economists Association and Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Mayagüez Campus, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, March 10, 1989.
- Guest Speaker, “Opportunities and Challenges for Local Business: The Puerto Rico Venture Capital Club (PRVCC), “A presentation for Seminar on Venture Capital: A Territorial Perspective, sponsored by Small Business Assistance Network, Government of U.S. Virgin Island Industrial Development Commission, U.S. Virgin Islands, February 23-24, 1989.
- Speaker, “Importance of Business Planning for Small Business”, Proceedings of 4th Symposium on Hispanic Business and Economy, sponsored by the Small Business Development Center, University of Puerto Rico and the Economic Development Administration, (“Fomento”), San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1987.
- Speaker, “Opportunities on Venture Capital for Small and Medium Size Firms”, Seminar about Financial Mechanisms for Small and Medium Sized Firms, sponsored by Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. April 1987.
- Speaker, “Defining your Business Plan”, First Annual Conference in Venture Capital Club and Entrepreneurship, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Venture Capital Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1986.
- Panelist, Economic Development and Supply of Labor Workshop, Western Economic Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, July 2-6, 1981.