Sales and Marketing professional at Royce Global, Jill Gottlieb has spent the past two years building her career in the plastics industry. In her role, Jill works directly with customers on technical applications and material needs, develops new business, manages sales reporting and forecasting, and leads marketing initiatives across the company’s divisions.
Royce Global is a 4th generation, family-owned chemical manufacturer and direct supplier that has been serving customers since 1929. The company specializes in custom color matching for solid masterbatch applications and functional additive solutions for all plastic processors. Royce manufactures many materials while also working with production partners around the world to serve customers across a wide range of industries.
Jill earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and Environmental Science from SUNY Cortland and is an EPA Certified Lead Inspector. Her environmental background led her to plastics, where she saw an opportunity to contribute to recycling, sustainability, and the circulation of plastic materials. Her previous experience in kids’ fashion in New York City also helped develop her keen eye for color, which has become valuable in her current role.
Jill describes her position as wearing “many hats” in a fun, family-owned company. Her days can include cold calling potential customers, holding technical meetings, planning marketing events, managing sales reports, and preparing for Royce’s upcoming NPE 2027 exhibit. She enjoys the variety of her role and the opportunity to work closely with customers while helping shape the company’s sales and marketing efforts.
Jill credits several mentors with helping her grow professionally. At Royce, Wylie Royce and Sean Wilson have provided valuable expertise in color and additives. She also has a strong relationship with Jeannine DuChateau of PLASTICS, who has helped guide her as a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Through FLiP, Jill has also connected with Melissa Vettleson and John Erkhart, who have helped her strengthen her sales skills from engineering and financial perspectives.
What Jill enjoys most about the plastics industry is the opportunity to make an impact on society while helping move sustainability efforts forward. Her career has changed the way she views plastics, particularly single-use plastics and the role regulations play in recycling. She values the opportunity to work with regulatory offices and have a voice in conversations that can influence decision-makers.
Jill sees regulatory challenges and the need for greater global coordination as major issues facing the industry. She believes a more unified approach will be important to reducing plastics’ environmental impact while developing practical solutions. She also encourages her generation to consider careers in plastics because the material is not going away and young professionals have an important role in shaping its future.
Jill has been involved with Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) for less than a year and has already attended numerous FLiP meetups at trade shows and conferences. She also serves as the FLiP Ambassador for the Processors Council. She says FLiP has helped her expand her knowledge, learn from different perspectives, and build meaningful connections with professionals across generations.
Outside of work, Jill enjoys spending time outdoors. Growing up on the Hudson River in New York, she developed a love for swimming, boating, skiing, and hiking. She is also a self-described movie nerd and is always looking for recommendations. When asked about one plastic product she couldn’t live without, Jill points to her phone case, joking, “I drop this thing all the time.”
