Our Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.
Pam Mortensen Re-Elected Chair of JFC Board
The J.C. Penney executive was among current officers re-elected and the 10 new directors added at the charity’s semi-annual meeting.

New York—The Jewelers for Children board elected 10 new directors at its semi-annual meeting in Las Vegas in June.
Current officers also were re-elected to a second one-year term at the meeting.
All terms begin Oct. 1.
Pam Mortensen, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for fine and fashion jewelry and watches at J.C. Penney, was re-elected chairwoman of the board.
Other officers re-elected were as follows: Debra Puzio, Starluxe LLC, vice president for fundraising and chair-elect; John White, Fossil Group, vice president for special programs; Jeffrey Cohen, Citizen Watch America, vice president for charity programs; Howard Hauben, H2 Events/Centurion Jewelry Show, vice president for marketing and public relations; Alan Zimmer, Reeds Jewelers, treasurer; and Sebastian Hobbs, Signet Jewelers Ltd., secretary.
Ten new directors were elected to three-year terms: Alexis Padis, Padis Jewelers; Joel Schechter, Richline Group/Honora; Sheri Ihde, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.; Craig Rottenberg, Long’s Jewelers; Kilian Muller, TAG Heuer; Beth Gerstein, Brilliant Earth; Stephen Moore, Macy’s; Alex Grinberg, Movado Group; and Sarin Bachman, JCK Events.
Six directors also were re-elected to second terms of three years: Michael Benavente, Bulova; Gannon Brousseau, Emerald Expositions; Karen Goracke, Borsheims; Abhay Javeri, SDC Designs; Jenny Luker, Platinum Guild International; and Sam Sandberg, A. Jaffe.
Nine directors concluded their terms on the board. They were: Alan Chinich, Movado Group; David Cochran, MJSA; Jeff Corey, Day’s Jewelers; Vicki Cunningham, Cunningham Fine Jewelers; Jerry Ehrenwald, International Gemological Institute; Scott McQuaid, In House Jewelers; and Eddie Le Vian, LeVian.
Since its inception in 1999, Jewelers for Children has donated more than $55 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect.
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