Lee Ann Hartley graduated from Northwestern High School in 1973 in Sciota, Illinois and received her Graduate Gemologists Degree in 1994 from the Gemological Institute of America. And received the title of Graduate Gemologist Appraiser by The American Gem Society in 1995. Lee Ann started her business in September 1995 along with her daughter Rachel Hardester. Lee Ann served as President of The Arkansas Jewelers Association in 2000 – 2002. Lee Ann and her husband David have been married since December 1971, raised two children, daughter Rachel and a son, Clinton and are blessed with three beautiful granddaughters. Lee Ann's has received the award of "Best Jewelry Store" in the River Valley since the year 2000. Lee Ann retired from the store in January, 2015 and is enjoying retirement.
Rachel Hardester graduated from Russellville High School in 1990 in Russellville, Arkansas and received her Graduate Gemologists Degree in 2005. Rachel joined her mother, Lee Ann, when the business was first started and now is the owner. She is a lifetime member of the Junior Auxiliary in Russellville and has helped with Career Day at the local Middle School. She married her husband, Rick on July 7th, 2007 and together they have two daughters, Emily age 23 and Taylor age 19. In February 2008, Rachel received her Master Graduate Gemologists Degree.
Harold Windle graduated from Bartlesville College High in 1976 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and attended three years at Oklahoma Christian College with a Commercial Art Degree. Harold has been with Lee Ann’s since 1999 and he is a master jeweler with a specialty in custom wax carving, casting and setting. Harold and his wife Norma have been married since 1991 and together raised five children and now have one wonderful grandson and one beautiful granddaughter. Harold and Norma both attend Medical Missions to Central America with their church to provide medical help to the people and Norma who is from Honduras helps with the language barrier. Harold is an avid Civil War rein actor and enjoys his time out on the field bringing the past back to life. He also shares this love of the history of the Civil War with children in the local schools
Jennifer Rudder was raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Russellville High School in 1998. She attended two years at Arkansas Tech University. She started her career in jewelry before coming to work at Lee Ann’s by taking the GIA classes of Pearl and Bead Stringing and Jewelry Essentials and since joining Lee Ann’s in 2002 she has completed Colored Stone Essentials, Diamond Essentials, Diamond and Diamond Grading, Colored Stones and is currently taking the Gem Identification Course. Jennifer and her husband Adam were married in 2005 and spend much of their free time with their niece and nephew. Jennifer's hobby is baking and her specialty is cake decorating.
Suzanne Allcroft was born in Florida and raised in the south. She graduated from Morton High School in Morton Mississippi and moved to Russellville Arkansas in 1992. Suzanne is the mother of two teenagers and has studied Shotokan Karate seven years and received her 1st Degree Black Belt in October 2007. She worked as a florist for ten years before joining Lee Ann’s in November 2005. She is currently studying for the GIA Diamond Certificate and is our Repair Department Specialist at Lee Ann’s. Suzanne can help you with all your jewelry repair needs. Her hobbies include hiking, spending time with family and friends and she loves her pets.