2024 NOMINEES

2024 HONOREE & FEATURED PRESENTER

TRAILBLAZER AWARD HONOREE

KITTY BLACK PERKINS

Former Chief Barbie Designer, Mattel

As a creative force at Mattel for over 28 years, Kitty Black Perkins led the design of hundreds of dolls that contributed to the Barbie brand’s global success. Her inspirational leadership played a pivotal role in shaping the iconic brand including the introduction of the first Black Barbie, the African American collection, Shani & Friends and led collaborations with Brandy and Diana Ross. She was recently spotlighted in the 2023 Netflix film, Black Barbie: A Documentary executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. True to the definition of a trailblazer, Kitty Black Perkins not only shaped the way we see toys, but empowered generations to come to dream bigger.

FEATURED PRESENTER

KATHI VIDAL

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

The evening will also include a special presentation from Kathi Vidal who will award the WiT Foundation's 2024 Scholarship Recipients. As a leading voice in innovation and a passion for female mentorship, Ms. Vidal's work at the helm of the USPTO is shaping the future of entrepreneurship and creativity and helping American workers and businesses compete.

NOMINEES

Advocate for Change

ALENA NIU

Director, Product Design: Dolls
Mattel

LISSA ALBERTO-CALMA

Talent Acquisition Manager

The LEGO Group

GENNA ROSENBERG

Changemaker CEO
GennComm, GoodWorksXGennComm & GennComm ImaGENNation

KENDRA VAUGHAN

DEI & Engagement Manager

Exploding Kittens

Brand Excellence

ALICIA CRESPIN

Director Omnichannel Retail Marketing, Walmart

Mattel

LOGAN STONE

VP Marketing & Brand Strategy (UK & EU)

Moose Toys

SARAH MELNICK

US Brand Manager, Innovation & Incubation

The LEGO Group

CHELSEA STEVENS

Commercial Lead

ZURU

MELISSA MARTYN

Designer Manager, Toys

Universal Products & Experiences

USE THIS! Furby Team_Brand Excellence.png

THE FURBY DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Hasbro, Inc.

SARA DEWITT

Senior Vice President & General Manager

PBS Kids

Brand Franchise

AIMEE LONDON

VP Global Brand Franchise

Mattel

ANNIE CHEN

Senior Director, Specialty Retail and Superfan

Paramount

DIVYA DALAL

VP Global Brand Commercialization HL

Disney Consumer Products

MICHELLE FODE

Director, North America Hardlines

Disney Consumer Products

ALYSE D'ANTUONO

Vice President, Global Franchise Strategy & Management

Hasbro, Inc.

BIRGITTE BÜLOW

CEO

Bezzerwizzer Studio (Asmodee)

KAREN EGGLESTON

VP, Outbound Licensing

Jazwares

TRISH GARRETT

Brand Director, Anime Toys

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.

ANNA SONGCO ADAMIAN

Vice President of Global Consumer Products

Crunchyroll

CHRISTINE TRAN

Head of Studio Management

Amazon

KATIE PULLEN

Director, Category Management, CP, Global Hardlines

Universal Products & Experiences

Commercial Sales

AMAZON HASBRO COMMERCIAL SALES TEAM

Hasbro, Inc.

KAREN NEYEN

Senior Director, Sales - Farm Retail & OEM

TOMY International

MICHELLE HOFFMAN

Vice President of Sales - Walmart

Moose Toys

ELIZABETH KONG & KELLY BLOOM

Sr. National Account Managers

Jazwares

KELLY HARRISON

Merchandising Manager, Partnerships US Merchandising

The LEGO Group

PAMELA VELARDE

VP Omnichannel & Retail Marketing

Mattel

FIONA HARDIE

Buying Leader

Amazon

KYLIE WHITEHEAD

National Key Accounts Manager

Toysmith

SINDY GOUILLOUD ARRAIS

Country Manager

ZURU France

Designer/Inventor Corporate

ANTHEA RODGERS

VP Design

Jazwares

CLAUDIA D. SANDOVAL

VP Product Development

Melissa & Doug

JULIE BORCHERT

Senior Merchandise Product Developer

Universal Products & Experiences

SHAUN SHISHIDO

Product Design Manager

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

CAROL MERTZ

Senior Game Designer

Exploding Kittens

DANWEI LANDO

Associate Director, Design, Toys & Games

Paramount

MELISSA JONES

Associate Principal Product Designer

Hasbro, Inc.

TORI SALVAGGIO

Technical Product Designer

Moose Toys

CHANDRA HICKS

Director Product Design: Action Figures

Mattel

JESSICA LIVINGSTON

Design Director, Interactive Toys

Spin Master

PAT CHIANG

Director of Product Design

Just Play

WENDY HUANG

Senior Product Designer

ZURU

Designer/Inventor - Small Business/Entrepreneur

ANQUISHA CRUTCHER

Owner & Founder

To Grandma's House I Go, LLC

NATALIE DELANEY-JOHN

Managing Director & Creator

That Sound Game

WENDY BRYAN LAZAR

Designer & Inventor

I Heart Guts Original Plush Organs

DONNA FASANO

Owner & Artgineer

The Owl and The Hourglass Word Game Puzzles

NATALIE SABRI

Founder & CEO

Dough Parlour

GAYLE KELLER

Founder & CEO

Theodora S.T.E.A.M. Girls, LLC

SALLY CONNOLLY

Founder

Napa Valley Toys USA LLC

Digital Innovator

AIMEE GARBETT

Sr. Ecommerce Trading Manager

The LEGO Group

LILLY BRIGER

Director Creator Marketing

Mattel

SARAH BRAUN

Senior Vendor Manager - Toys & Entertainment

Amazon

LAUREN BATH

Marketing Director

EXG Pro

MONIKA SHARMA

VP, North America Retail Marketing & Canada Retail Development
Paramount Global

LINDA E. HANSEL

Enterprise Systems Specialist

TOMY International

OLESIA AULOVA

Digital Marketing Manager

ZURU

Digital Storyteller

ALANA BLUMENSTEIN

Co-Founder & Executive Editor

KidsRead2Kids

JULIANA SCAFF FONTANELLA

SEO, Americas Senior Manager

The LEGO Group

AMANDA CIOLETTI

Vice President, Content & Strategy, Global Licensing Group

Informa Markets

LIZ MAGLIONE

VP, Integrated Marketing Communications

Mattel

CUSHLA HENRY

Senior Global Content Manager

ZURU

MIA KHOURY

Senior Production Manager, Digital Content

Hasbro, Inc.

Inbound Licensing

ALISON CARROLL

Director, Global Licensing & Entertainment Partnerships

Mattel

KYLE HARRISON

In-House Counsel

ZURU

DANA KOC

Vice President, Product Development

Just Play

LAURA HENDERSON

EVP, Global Head of Early Learning

Spin Master

JESSICA VIVOLO

Senior Director, Licensing

Jazwares

REBECCA AGHAKHAN SHEPARD

VP, Franchise Magic: The Gathering

Wizards of the Coast / Hasbro, Inc.

Licensing Agent/Agency

ANDI SCHER

Managing Director

Mix Licensing Group

MOLLY ROBBINS

SVP, Global Licensing

& Business Development

USPA Global / U.S. Polo Assn.

JENNIFER CASE

Founder

Flynn Collective

MICHELLE MCLAUGHLIN

CEO

Brand Activation Consulting

Marketing

DANNI LOE

Senior Marketing Manager

Flat River Group

JEN WULFEKUHLE

Director - Farm Toys

TOMY International

LUCY BULLOCK

Global Senior Brand Manager

Moose Toys

SARAH MILIK DANNENBAUM

VP, Marketing & Growth, Games & Emerging Media

Paramount

FRANCESCA SONAND

Senior Marketing Manager

ZURU

JULIA MAHER

Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing

Mattel

MATHILDE LEBORGNE

Marketing Director, Global Licensing Group

Informa Markets

YING TARANTINO

Trade Marketing Director

The LEGO Group

HOLLY DABIEW MYHRE

Senior Director, Pipeline Innovation & Business Design

Hasbro, Inc.

KRISTINA KRONBERG

Sr. Marketing Manager

Jazwares

MEGHAN GAMBOA

Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder

Ageless Innovation

Mentor of the Year

BELINDA GRUEBNER

CMO Moose Toys & GM Moose Happy Kids Foundation

Moose Toys

COCO CHAN

New Product Development Director

ZURU

TIFFANI MAGRI

Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel – Law Department

Mattel

BRI LOVETT

Vice President, Product Management

Wizards of the Coast / Hasbro, Inc.

DAWN TILL

Senior Directory, Sales

Toysmith

CAROL BLUMENSTEIN

Executive Director

KidsRead2Kids

JULIE GWALTNEY

Vice President

TOMY International

PR Excellence

CRYSTAL FLYNN

Senior Vice President, Brand Publicity

Hasbro, Inc.

NIKI KAZAKOS

Senior Director, Global Corporate Communications

Mattel

ZEBRA PARTNERS

PR Agency for Ravensburger's Disney Lorcana TCG

Zebra Partners

TIFFANY KAYAR

Director of Public Relations

Informa Markets North America

MOLLY QUIRING

Senior Director, Global Communications

Universal Products & Experiences

Rising Leader < 500 Employees

HELENA PERHEENTUPA

CEO

StrateDoo

KELLEE VOPELAK

Senior Director of Creative Operations

Exploding Kittens

JENNIFER SCHUBERT

Chief Merchandising Officer

Go! Retail Group

MICHELLE WEBER

Executive Vice

President

Toy'n Around

JENNY LORTON

Senior Director, Business Operations

Toysmith

Rising Leader > 500 Employees

BECCA GRIFFIN

Vice President Sales & Marketing eCommerce & Amazon

Hasbro, Inc.

NASTYA XU

New Product Development Project Manager

ZURU

TEREZA KOUDELKOVA

Director, US Commercial Excellence

The LEGO Group

MEGAN STARTZ

Senior Director, Multi-Category & Publishing

Universal Products & Experiences

SASHA BASH

Vendor Manager

Amazon

MINA AZIZI

Senior Manager Talent Development

Mattel

SONIA SINGH

Director, M&A Supply Chain & Operations

Spin Master

Small Business Owner of the Year

ALONDRA CARBAJAL

Founder / CEO

Blank Tag Co. Stickers

CAMILLE JASSON

Director & Owner

That Sound Game

TAYLOR HERNDON

Owner

Board to Beers

ANITA GRANT

Author & Founder

Hello Hair

CARLA SCHNEIDER

Founder & CEO

WubbaNub

BREA BRAND

CEO, Co-Founder & Creative Director

CONNETIX

HELEN SMITH

CEO, Founder

Roo & You

Sustainability Excellence

SOFIA DUMERY

Senior Vice President, Design

Melissa & Doug / Spin Master

EMILIE STINSON NOSOVIC

Senior Manager LEGO® Replay North America

The LEGO Group

Unsung Hero > 500 Employees

ALICE HINES

Chief, Experiential Marketing & Events

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America, Inc.

CAITLIN RILEY

VP Universal Products & Experiences, Consumer Insights

NBCUniversal

FRANCESCA NOH

VP, Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

Jazwares

JOSEPHINE ROTOLO

Vice President, Consumer Products Project Management, Design, Toys, and Games

Paramount Global

SUSAN ABRAHAM

Global Trade Show & Events Senior Manager

Spin Master

BRITTNEY BUTLER

People Partner and Director, Workplace Transition

The LEGO Group

DANA ROTZ

Principal Econometrician

Wizards of the Coast / Hasbro, Inc.

JILL IANNELLA

VP of Demand and Supply Planning

Melissa & Doug

KRISTINE HILLIARD

Senior Product Manager

Amazon

VEDIKA AGRAWAL

Senior Business Operations Analyst

ZURU

ANNA DOOLEY

Project Manager, Digital Commerce

TOMY International

DARIA LICAUSI

Director & Senior Counsel

Mattel

JO MAJOR

Operations Director, UK & Europe

Moose Toys

MARJOLEIN LUBBERMAN

SVP Route To Market

Asmodee

Unsung Hero < 500 Employees

ALLIE WACHTER

Vice President of Sales Systems and Supply Chain

Just Play

KIANA SHELDON

Lead Graphic Designer

Roo & You

CARRIE DASH

Accounts Receivable Manager

Toysmith

KIMBERLY CARCONE

Executive Vice President, Global Market Events

The Toy Association

JULIE FENWICK

Chief Operating Officer

EXG Pro

MORGAN RENKEN

Chief of Staff & Vice President of Operations

Entertainment Earth