Problem using EMDK for Android getting ClassNotFoundException

I'm using the latest release of the Android EMDK with Android Studio version 2.3. 

I've imported the com.symbol.emdk.jar file and added it as a dependency to my project.

I've added <uses-permission android:name="com.symbol.emdk.permission.EMDK"/> to my manifest.

Then when I implement the EMDKListener on my main activity as follows:

public class GLinkInstallActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements EMDKListener

and then add the implemented methods, I get the ClassNotFoundException when I try to execute the application.  Removing the "implements EMDKListener" will fix the problem, but that defeats the purpose.

My build.gradle file is as follows:

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'

android {

  compileSdkVersion 25
   buildToolsVersion "26.0.2"
   defaultConfig {

  applicationId "com.zebra.glinkinstall"
   minSdkVersion 19
   targetSdkVersion 23
   versionCode 1
   versionName "1.0"
   testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
   }

  buildTypes {

  release {

  minifyEnabled false
   proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
   }

  }

  productFlavors {

  }

}

dependencies {

  compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')

  androidTestCompile('com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:2.2.2', {

  exclude group: 'com.android.support', module: 'support-annotations'
   })

  compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.3.1'
   compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:25.3.1'
   testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
   provided project(':com.symbol.emdk')

}

Any ideas as to what I'm missing?