Nearly a year after taking the reins as interim president, Sue Warfield has been named president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA).
The move comes ahead of ASTRA’s upcoming Marketplace & Academy, the specialty toy community’s much-anticipated return to live events. Warfield stepped into the interim role last September and helped guide ASTRA through the height of the pandemic.
“We are so lucky that Sue was willing to help the association she loves and cares about so much during such an incredibly difficult time,” says ASTRA Board Chair Amy Saldana. “We look forward to the added stability for our association and for her to remove the interim from her title. Her leadership is greatly valued and needed.”
Warfield, a 30-year toy industry vet, served as director of member relations at ASTRA prior to her role as interim president. During her career, she has been a sales representative and a toy store owner. Warfield leads the ASTRA team as it enters the final countdown stage leading up to the association’s first in-person trade show since 2019.
“Sue and our full board of directors are ecstatic to welcome members back to our in-person show, and we know our members are so excited to meet one another again, share ideas in person and buy the toys their customers want,” Saldana says.
ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy takes place Aug. 5-8 in Minneapolis.
