Valugems was created by Valerie Huddleston in 2012. She is a native of the World-Famous Outer Banks of North Carolina. Home of the Lost Colony and Wright Brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Her family has resided on the coastal water ways since 1910. 7 years before the most famous and most feared pirate in American History Edward Teach AKA Black Beard arrived. After doing research on her family history, she realized she was in fact related to the one and only Black Beard. Some would say that's where she gets her fearlessness from. Others would say she got it from having the one and only Andy Griffith, the late Paul Shaver (founder of Barrier Island resorts, J Flemming Mondays and Black Pelican, along with the infamous Dennis Anderson (owner creator of Grave Digger) as mentors. Years of Inspiring pep talks from Andy, Paul and Dennis, as a young girl gave her the undeniable courage, she needed to travel the globe, and do great things. Paul AKA Paully once told her "The world is at your feet, you just have to take it" Years later, he laughed and said "Wow, you really took that advice seriously" and congratulated her for her fearless attitude and zest for life.

In 1992 she was hired by Accents in Sterling, working the road show circuit, at Sam's Club. Her talent for selling landed her at the World-Renowned Tucson Gem and Mineral show in 1993., at the young age of 20. This launched a lifelong career that she had never in a million years would have expected from selling jewelry in Sam's Clubs on the weekends. But she didn't let that distract from her original goal of college. She kept saving her money and along with academic grants she received from Manteo High School she was able to attend the South Eastern Academy in Kissimmee Florida and later transferred to Boulder Colorado, graduating with a degree in Travel and Tourism in 1995. All the while keeping up with her newly found passion as an international dealer of Gems and Minerals.

Since leaving the quaint Island life Valerie has traveled to many countries. She has even been personally invited by Senators and other members of Parliament to visit their countries. Anyone who has ever Met Valerie will tell you, meeting her changed their life! She offers kind but stern advice, as her mentors did for her. She never backs down from a challenge and most would even dare to say, she has a heart of gold, but don't ever cross her, she has Black Beards blood running through her veins.

If you are ever fortunate enough to spend time with Valerie, use it wisely. She may very well be the most well-versed young lady you'll ever meet. Strong and fearless are her most credible attributes, for those of us looking in from the outside, but if you ask her what her greatest accomplishments of all were, she will smile sweetly and say being a foster mom. She proudly admits she never had to take money from the state to care for these young adults. She credits the Rock and Mineral Industry that she most passionately has stuck with, through every economic crisis America has experienced, for giving her an income that would allow her to house and feed anyone in need.

If you are supporting her, you will most definitely be supporting others. I have learned from knowing her for decades that she doesn't like to take credit for her kind ways. She would rather sit in the back and let someone else shine. But no matter how far back she stands, her glow can be seen by everyone! Her smile can brighten the darkest of days and leave you feeling warm and cared for, even if it's a brief encounter.

I am proud to present to all of you the wonderful life of Valerie Huddleston. Founder and operator of Valugems.

Sincerely,
Her biggest Fans