Hill & Co., a business growth consultancy serving the diamond, gemstone and jewelry industries, has announced the retirement of Chief Engagement Officer Pamela Bernstein-Gulla, effective September 30, 2026.
She spent the past decade at the firm during a 40-year industry career and plans to continue mentoring through the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) and MENTORO.
Retail and E-Commerce Career
Bernstein-Gulla managed client relationships at Hill & Co., drawing on experience in retail, e-commerce and operations.
She spent 25 years at Fortunoff, beginning in its housewares department before becoming a silver buyer and later vice president and general manager of its Fifth Avenue flagship store. In that role, she oversaw hiring, training and budgets for 120 employees.
She has credited owner Alan Fortunoff as a mentor who encouraged her involvement in e-commerce software, customer relationship management systems and bridal registries.
Bernstein-Gulla subsequently served as human resource and office director at digital security company Peace of Mind Technologies. As manager, North America for Plukka (USA) Inc., she established the Hong Kong-based fine jewelry e-commerce company’s North American presence and led boutique launches in Hong Kong and New York.
“Pam has spent forty years building the kind of relationships and reputation that can’t be built overnight, and Hill & Co. has been fortunate to have her for nearly a decade of that career,” said Elle Hill, founder and CEO of Hill & Co. “Her retirement is well earned, and we are grateful that her mentorship and her presence in this industry will continue.”
Continued Mentorship
Bernstein-Gulla serves on WJA’s Metro Mentorship Committee and joined MENTORO’s Jewelry and Watches New York mentor roster this year. She plans to continue both commitments, sharing experience in staff development, store management and digital retail.
The cohort, developed with WJA, began in March 2026 as a six-month mentorship program for women in the industry. Its mentors cover disciplines including buying, merchandising, management, e-commerce and finance. www.womensjewelryassociation.com
Bernstein-Gulla describes her approach as: “Experience is meant to be shared, not kept.”
