John went to the University of Tennessee and graduated with a PhD in Resource Economics. He taught economics at WVU for 15 years but also had a goal of opening his own business. He took the courses to become a Gemologist from the Gemological institute of America (GIA) and opened in an office in Downtown Morgantown in 1976. He expanded that into several retail jewelry stores over the years while always providing custom designs as well as the designs of major fine jewelry industry artists.