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Bernadette Mack Joins Gem Legacy as Executive Director
She will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.
Bernadette Mack, previously the executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association, is the new executive director of Gem Legacy.
Ferndale, Mich.—Gem Legacy, a nonprofit that supports artisanal gem mining communities in East Africa, has appointed Bernadette Mack as its new executive director.
She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as a deep connection to the jewelry industry, to the position.
In her new role, Mack will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of Gem Legacy’s landmark campus in Tanzania.
Previously, Mack has served as executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association and as managing director at Mercury Free Mining.
She also runs a consultancy dedicated to nonprofit governance and strategy that she founded in 2019, according to her LinkedIn profile.
“Bernadette brings the right balance of heart, strategy, and industry insight to this role,” said Monica Stephenson, Gem Legacy board member and founder of Anza Gems.
“Her leadership will allow Gem Legacy to scale its impact while staying deeply rooted in its mission.”
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She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as a deep connection to the jewelry industry, to the position.
In her new role, Mack will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of Gem Legacy’s landmark campus in Tanzania.
Previously, Mack has served as executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association and as managing director at Mercury Free Mining.
She also runs a consultancy dedicated to nonprofit governance and strategy that she founded in 2019, according to her LinkedIn profile.
“Bernadette brings the right balance of heart, strategy, and industry insight to this role,” said Monica Stephenson, Gem Legacy board member and founder of Anza Gems.
“Her leadership will allow Gem Legacy to scale its impact while staying deeply rooted in its mission.”
Mack will work in close collaboration with Gem Legacy founder Rachel Dery Merisheki and her husband Bjorn Merisheki, who will continue to lead the nonprofit’s initiatives on the ground in Tanzania and Kenya during their annual residency.
These include expanding their local presence through strengthening community relationships, overseeing program implementation, and growing Gem Legacy’s reach in East Africa.
All of Gem Legacy’s core initiatives continue to grow, the organization said.
These include providing daily meals and clean water access at Kitarini Primary School, benefiting over 900 students annually and boosting test pass rates to 94 percent, and ongoing support for the Mwatate Children’s Home in Kenya, covering school fees, clothing, and personal care needs for vulnerable children.
The organization also facilitated the delivery of more than 440 customized miner toolkits, with a growing emphasis on reaching women miners to enhance safety and productivity.
Mack’s appointment ensures that the nonprofit’s infrastructure can grow in lockstep with its programs, including creating capacity for deeper partnerships, sustainable fundraising, and long-term strategy, the organization said.
“Gem Legacy’s future is grounded in the trust we’ve built with local communities,” said Rachel Dery Merisheki.
“This leadership expansion will allow us to deepen that trust and grow our impact where it matters most.”
Gem Legacy is preparing to break ground on its first permanent campus.
The residential and educational facility will house college scholarship recipients and contain its self-operated Gem Faceting School.
Funded by business and individual donors from across the jewelry industry, the Gem Legacy Campus is a step toward creating jobs and educational opportunities in gem mining communities, the organization said.
The facility will allow the nonprofit to increase the number of students it serves from 15 to more than 50 per year.
Select campus sponsorships remain available.
For sponsorship opportunities or to learn more about the campus project, contact Mack at info@gemlegacy.org or visit Gem Legacy’s website.
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