Grace Stockley knew she'd found a home with FideliTrade when company president Jonathan Potts assured her that the fledgling precious metals trading company would offer an opportunity to carve out a unique career.

"He told us, "˜If you want to be at a place where you know you make a difference every day, then this is the place for you.' He meant that," said Stockley. "And even though I was younger when I started - just valuing my work and trusting me to do the right things and giving me additional responsibility - he made all the difference."

Next month FideliTrade will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and Stockley, who took Potts at his word, is now a vice president.

Those two decades saw the privately owned company grow from five to 50 employees, open three subsidiaries including Delaware Depository, five locations and create an international presence. Trading metals for individual, as well as commercial and wholesale accounts, last year it opened over 200 new customer accounts, according to Stockley. Not bad for a company that isn't widely known and has relied on word of mouth as its marketing force.

"Our referral rate is out of this world," according to Stockley, who said the company relies on referrals from existing customers, banks and the U.S. Mint. "We did our first customer survey online and the response
was wonderful."

Part of that is due to Stockley, a native of New Jersey, who came to Delaware two decades ago. She grew with the company, moving from the general office to manager of its private investor accounts, and then a more strategic role in marketing. Her role puts Stockley in the public eye, as she regularly attends the Delaware Trust Conference and is a board member of the Precious Metals Association of North America.

"Anything that has to do with precious metals - all roads lead to us," said Stockley, who added that most people are surprised to learn they can buy and sell precious metals as part of their IRA or invest by utilizing a monthly accumulation plan. In fact, there's a lot about the precious metals market that customers simply don't know, and Stockley is thrilled to be in a position to tell them.

"The takeaway is that it all comes from the top - if you have good leadership, it trickles down throughout the entire company."