(PRESS RELEASE) ROYAL OAK, MI – Roger Dery of Roger Dery Gem Design, with his wife Ginger and daughter Rachel, has launched Gem Legacy, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to education, vocational training, and local economies in East African mining communities.
“Gem Legacy is dedicated to what we’ve been doing in Africa for over 20 years,” said Roger Dery, President of Roger Dery Gem Design and Gem Legacy, Inc. “In our 57 combined trips to Africa, we have met thousands of people in East Africa’s remote villages and bush mines where gems have had a remarkable influence on their lives. Gems bring hope, make a difference, and leave a lasting change… a timeless legacy. It is time to raise up an army to support the husbands, wives, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, granddaughters, and grandsons of gemstones.”
The organization has several initiatives, including Gem Faceting Training, Kitarini Primary School, and Gemological Training. 100% of every donation returns directly to the communities where gems are mined. For more information about Gem Legacy, Inc. or to donate, please email info@gemlegacy.org or visit gemlegacy.org. To learn more, follow Gem Legacy on Instagram @thegemlegacy and on Facebook @thegemlegacy.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
