2024 HONOREES & NOMINEES | WiT Connects (original) (raw)
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.
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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
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
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