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From Home Furnishing Business
Empire & Co. Welcomes Hayley Pernsteiner as Director of Hospitality
March 3,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
Empire & Co. welcomes Hayley Pernsteiner as Director of Hospitality to spearhead the brand’s newly established hospitality-focused division. With over 10 years of experience spanning interior design and the furniture dealer industry, Pernsteiner is primed to scale the company’s portfolio across hotels, multifamily amenity spaces, restaurants, and mixed-use environments.
“Hayley has been a long-time leader within the hospitality industry on both the design and client side,” says Jocelyn Corrigan, COO of Empire & Co. “An exceptional addition to our team, she brings a deep understanding of the hospitality market and its needs to her role, as well as a solutions-oriented mindset that aligns seamlessly with our commitment to intentional development. As we expand into this new vertical, her leadership will be invaluable in bringing our clients’ visions to life.”
On the heels of Empire & Co.’s formal expansion into hospitality, Pernsteiner’s leadership strengthens the team’s ability to leverage their national presence, translating the company’s 80 years of workplace experience into new project typologies as the boundaries between the commercial, hospitality, and residential markets become increasingly fluid.
Prior to joining Empire & Co., Pernsteiner served as an Interior Designer at Hirsch Bedner Associates and later Cortland Partners, gaining experience across the luxury hospitality and multifamily industries. She later joined the furniture dealer and procurement world, leveraging her design background to connect hospitality-focused brands and vendors while providing elevated design services to clients. This experience played a key role in Pernsteiner’s decision to co-found Collective by DRG, a boutique furniture dealer and procurement studio.
“Empire & Co.’s entry and exploration into new avenues presents an exciting opportunity for me to help realize that growth and evolution,” says Pernsteiner. “Throughout my career, I’ve leaned into complex, design-forward projects that demand precision and collaboration. That shared appetite for meaningful progress and innovation makes Empire a natural fit for the next chapter of my career.”
As the company further solidifies its hospitality footprint, Pernsteiner’s hire positions the company to be a long-term strategic partner equipped to navigate increasing project complexity and ensure design intent is carried seamlessly from concept through completion. Her guidance will further strengthen Empire & Co.’s ability to deliver highly customized, design-driven environments at scale, with several prestigious hospitality projects already underway and new growth opportunities in the pipeline.