Millennium Magazine_8th Ed

261 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine RETAIL, WHOLESALE, DISTRIBUTION AND SALES G ary W. Bowersox is an experienced explorer, Afghanistan expert, gemologist, entrepreneur, president of the Gem Hunters Corporation, consultant for USAID, DAI and World Bank, and seller of gemstones. He has over five decades in the international gem andmineral trade with sourcing gemstone rough in countries throughout the world. Supported by a BBA from Western Michigan University (WMU) and MBA courses at WMU and University of Hawaii, Mr. Bowersox joined the U.S. Army in 1964. He served until 1969, advancing to the rank of major and spending two years as chief of operations of the U.S. Army Audit Agency Pacific before his honorable discharge. He is a life member of the VietnamVeterans Association. Following his army service, Mr. Bowersox began what became his life’s work: exploring mineral-rich areas in Afghanistan and Central Asia, where he forged valuable professional relationships with local tribal authorities and specialized in the export, processing and sale of high-quality gemstones. His work has been documented in two books he authored, “Gemstones of Afghanistan” and “The Gem Hunter-True Adventures of an American in Afghanistan.” He was the subject of a documentary titled “The Gem Hunter in Afghanistan,” detailing his work in the gem mines of Afghanistan. Furthermore, Mr. Bowersox has lectured extensively and appeared on more than 1,000 television and radio shows. After establishing and building a chain of jewelry stores in Hawaii in the 1970s, Mr. Bowersox incorporated two import and wholesale companies, GeoVision, Inc., in 1974 and GemHunters Corporation in 2004. He has sourced gemstones from Afghanistan, Brazil and many other mining economies, including Sri Lanka, and imported themto theU.S. for sale, gaining a reputation as one of the world’s foremost experts on the Afghan gemstone trade. Mr. Bowersox’s work has brought him into consultative roles with USAID and the World Bank. In 1995, he joined The Explorer’s Club and is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Hawaii Chapter. In addition to being recognized by Marquis Who’s Who, he was listed in Who’s Who in the Jewelry Business (1980) and Outstanding Young Men of America (1969). GARY W. BOWERSOX PRESIDENT Gem Hunters Corporation Honolulu, HI