Your Rich VR Heritage Brief #12: VR Valentines Edition - VR's Spark leads to a Sparkling Enterprise Thriving Today

Happy Friday Team VR!     

Valentine’s day often summons thoughts of love, (com)passion, chocolates-- and jewelry.  Today’s special edition has most of those elements as presented through the story of two of NC DVR’s past success stories that are inter-related.  If you wish to round this out and enhance your reading pleasure, consider partaking in the pleasure of savoring some chocolate.  One  rehabilitant’s success created a platform to allow re-investing in the success of another.    This individual was also honored by the Governor of North Carolina at some point in this progression.  Another important point is the lasting power that the investment that NC DVRS made in a young gentleman, Lloyd Collier Sr., who at least sent him to Spencer School of Watchmaking in Spencer, NC.  According to the linked article, this school was heavily utilized by NC DVRS at some point in its past.  

Lloyd Collier Sr., whose story is featured below, used the Spark provided by VR to ignite his sparkling legacy in jewelry that continues today as a successful  jewelry store  in Whiteville, NC with $1.8 Million in annual revenue (14 employees). One of those career employees for 56 years was his son,  Lloyd Collier Jr., who recently passed away March 16, 2016. 

We wish to point out that according to the article below,  Lloyd Collier Sr. was a youth who successfully transitioned into employment through effective introduction to VR services—not a new concept at all but something we continually strive to improve! 
Lloyd Collier Sr.’s  story is followed by another great presentation about another individual named Cedric who became employed by Mr. Collier, who had compassion on his fellow rehabilitant and loaned him $500 at some point to become self-sufficient through the establishment of another jewelry operation in Elizabethtown, NC.  I could not determine that this jewelry store remains in business.  Probably transferred ownership years ago. 

Lloyd Collier’s Success Story from REACH July-August 1954 edition: 

Lloyd Collier’s Recognition by Governor Hodges featured in Nov-Dec 1955 REACH Issue: 

The following success story from the March-April 1956 REACH issue is of a gentleman Cedric, who also became self-sufficient as a  benefactor of VR services, then Lloyd’s success and friendship:  VR’s “spark” lights a spreading fire of success. 

This concludes this special Valentine’s edition.  Don’t forget to remember your loved ones, and perhaps renew your love of this profession.  We hope this has provoked some introspection and an important reminder that you/your team and its (com)passion are the true basis of the “VR Spark” that can ignite a legacy of success!