GradingJun 23, 2025
GIA Names New President and CEO SourcingJul 02, 2025
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.”
Related stories will be right here …
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.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
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.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
