The Stars of the Building Our Future Girls & Toys Conference
Last week's Building Our Future Girls & Toys Conference was a great success. We shared a lot, we learned a lot and we had a great time. I will write on the results of the conference in the coming weeks.
I want to thank all of our participants for making the conference the success it was. They were a diverse group of passionate, highly intelligent and articulate people who were truly the stars of the show. On behalf of Richard Gottlieb & Associates and Women In Toys I want to thank each and every one of them. Here they are:
Ann Pleshette-Murphy, Parenting Expert for ABC Television
Madeline Di Nonno, Executive Director Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and its programming arm See Jane Work with entertainment creators and companies, educate the next generation of content-creators, and inform the public about the need to increase the number of girls and women in media aimed at kids and to reduce stereotyping of both males and females.
Samantha Freeman, Founder & Executive Producer OUT OF THE BLUE and co-creator of Blues Clues
Peggy Brown, Peggy Brown, Inc., author, television celebrity, designer and award winning inventor
Lisa Paulson, Vice President Business Development ROIWORLD, the dress up and makeover game website
Kris Soumas, Head of Games, A&E Television Network
Paula Silver, Owner, Beyond the Box Productions, a fully integrated production, marketing and distribution company for independent feature films and documentaries.
Dr. David Elkind, Professor Emeritus, Tufts University, Author: The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon; The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally; Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk
Dr. Kathleen Alfano, PhD, Fisher-Price, Senior Director Child Research
Dr. Renee Weber, PhD, The Marketing Store, Director Youth Strategy and Research
Judy Ellis, Founder and Chairperson Toy Design Department, Fashion Institute of Technology
Chris Bensch, Vice President of Collections, Strong National Museum of Play
Dr. Michael Cohen, President, The Michael Cohen Group and author of A Child's Life: Learning, Literacy and The Media
Nancy Zwiers, Funosophy, President and formerly Senior Vice President for Worldwide Marketing of Barbie
Julia Fitzgerald, Sears Toys and Seasonal, Chief Marketing Officer
Gina Beebe, President, G. Beebe & Associates and formerly VP Development at American Girl
Andrea Barthello, CEO / Founder, Thinkfun
Victoria Cushey, Director of Marketing, DDW/McHale Design, Inc. While at the Walt Disney Company she managed Large Dolls and Disney Princesses
Catherine McMillen, President, Top Trumps
Ruth Synowic, Senior Creative Director, Product Design & Development, The Marketing Store
Patti Becker, Becker Associates LLC, President
Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, President, Dr. Toy
Barbara Isenberg, President, North American Bear
Joan Luks, Partner, The Think Tank Emporium
Nancy Balter, Product Manager, Educational Insights
Stacy Leistner, Vice President Strategic Communications, Toy Industry Association
A conference of this nature would not be possible without our great sponsors. They were:
Strong National Museum of Play
Spielwarenmesse Nuremberg Toy Fair
Thank you, one and all.
