WJA Announces 2015 Hall of Fame Honorees
January 08, 15
(IDEX Online News) – The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) has named its 2015 Hall of Fame honorees for the association's annual Awards for Excellence gala. Pam Mortensen, senior vice president and general merchandise manager, jewelry, watches and fashion accessories for JCPenney will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; C. Clayton Bromberg, president of Underwood Jewelers, will receive the Ben Kaiser Lifetime Achievement Award and Gumuchian will receive the Corporate Award.
Pam Mortensen
Mortensen joined JCPenney in 2009 as senior vice president and general merchandise manager of fine jewelry, watches and fashion accessories. She started her jewelry career at Zale Corporation and her retail career at Federated Department Stores. Mortensen serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and Jewelers for Children.
C. Clayton Bromberg has been president of Underwood Jewelers since 1988, and began his career at Bromberg & Company in Alabama, where he represents the sixth generation of family in this jewelry business. Bromberg has served on the boards of Jewelers of America, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the Jewelry Information Center and as president of the Florida Jewelers Association.
Gumuchian was founded by Anita Gumuchian. Her daughters Myriam and Patricia carry on a family legacy in the jewelry industry that dates back over 100 years. The brand’s promise is "Designed by Women for Women" and combines traditional European craftsmanship with fashion-forward designs.
"WJA congratulates these three deserving recipients," says Andrea Hansen, president of the WJA. "We celebrate their careers of achievement, and the ways in which they are advancing women's careers in the jewelry industry."
The gala, which will be held on July 27 at Pier 60 on the Chelsea Piers in New York City, will raise money for scholarships and grants. WJA also will present Awards for Excellence in retail, design, manufacturing/ supplier, sales, marketing and communications, editorial/reporting/publishing and special services.