Entertainment XTracks Sets Stage for Licensing Summit at LA Fall Previews

The future of toy licensing will take center stage this fall as Entertainment XTracks brings its executive summit to The Toy Association’s new Toy Building in El Segundo, California, on Sept. 10.

Billed as The Future of Toy Licensing, the half-day program is stacking the deck with a powerhouse lineup: Hasbro President Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment Tim Kilpin, Tetris CEO Maya Rogers, Toy Association President & CEO Greg Ahearn, and Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn will headline an afternoon packed with strategy and insight.

Panels and sessions will explore everything from Gen Z buying habits and new tech to the challenges of expanding toy IP into entertainment, lifestyle, and retail. With retailers, trend experts, and licensing leaders in the mix, the program is being positioned as a masterclass for anyone charting the next wave of growth. The event will conclude with cocktails and networking, and perhaps some onsite deal-making.

How Hasbro turns iconic IP — from Monopoly to Dungeons & Dragons — into global entertainment and licensing success stories.

Speakers: Tim Kilpin, President, Hasbro; Sid Kaufman, CEO, Kaufman Licensing 

Exploring how licensing bridges both nostalgic classics and emerging IP to build enduring consumer engagement with adult toy collectors.

Moderator: James Zahn, Editor-in-Chief, The Toy Book

Speakers: Jonathan Cathey, CEO & Founder, The Loyal Subjects; Bart Silberman, Founder, Golden Sombrero Licensing

Understanding the challenges and opportunities of IP ownership in an AI-driven world, and how licensing adapts.

Speakers: David Schnider, Partner, Nolan Heimann; Steven Ekstract, Creator, XTracks Licensing Summits 

From the moment guests step through the doors, the magic begins. Experiential retailing, theatrical productions, and Instagrammable moments are the DNA of brick and mortar retailers winning with licensed merch.

Moderator: Andre’ Lake Mayer

Speakers: Sean Gorman, President of CloudCo Entertainment, Stacy Moscatelli, CEO, Original X Productions, Other Top Retail Brand TBA 

Strategic licensing, retail partnerships, and trend-driven play patterns fuel long-term brand equity for Tetris and other key brands from Spin Master.

Speakers: A Conversation with WiT Wonder Women, Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris and WiT Vanguard Award Honoree; Laura Henderson, EVP, Toy Brands & Marketing Creative, Spin Master and Wonder Women Awards Finalist for Brand Franchise Leadership, and Genna Rosenberg, CEO, GennComm and WiT Wonder Women Awards Catalyst for Change Finalist. 

Fresh Data and insights, optimizing media buys on YouTube, the power of collaborations, the world’s largest social network for kids, and how the hottest licensed brands from K-Pop Demon Hunters, Bluey, LEGO, and the NBA are winning the attention of the most connected generation yet.

Moderator: Rachel Griffin — Co-Founder, Playwise Partners

Speakers: Ashley Mady, President of Zigazoo, Holly Gibb, SVP at PreciseTV, Suzy Lee Raia, SVP, Global Consumer Products at BBC Studios. 

CEO Matt Cohen will present how licensed brands can help revolutionize healthcare for kids and families. 

Understanding tariff impacts on the licensing business and how to navigate global trade changes to protect profits and supply chains.

Moderator: Ted Larkins, Octane 5

Speakers: Greg Ahearn, President & CEO, Toy Association; Kathrin Belliveau, Chief Policy Officer; Daniel DeLapa, CEO, Born to Play. 

Cocktails & Connections: At 5 p.m., the conversation continues as attendees and panelists gather to forge new partnerships over drinks. 

The Future of Licensing is brought to you through the generous sponsorship of The Toy Association, GennComm, Kaufman Licensing Agency, Nolan Heimann, Octane 5, PlaySpace, and Precise TV. 

Founded by Licensing Hall of Fame honoree Steven Ekstract and curated with Sid Kaufman and Genna Rosenberg, The Future of Toy Licensing runs Sept. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at LA Fall Previews. Space is limited, and tickets include access to the cocktail party and networking. More info: entertainmentxtracks.com.

While you’re in Los Angeles, pick up a copy of The Toy Book‘s 2025 LA Fall Toy Preview Issue at the following locations: