Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) pulled back the curtain on the finalists for the 16th Annual Wonder Women Awards.
The awards, which honor top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and other changemakers for their extraordinary accomplishments and impact within the toy, licensing, and the entertainment industries, will be presented at a special celebration on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City, coinciding with Toy Fair.
“We had the most submissions to date, and our slate of 2020 Wonder Women Finalists reflects the brain trust of brilliant women making an impact on our industry,” says Karen Kilpatrick, WIT nominations committee chair. “We are excited to celebrate this year’s outstanding finalists, the incredible winners, and our esteemed honorees at the upcoming Wonder Women Awards.”
The Toy Book‘s Managing Editor Maddie Michalik is a finalist in the Rising Star Corporate category.
The 2020 Wonder Women Award Finalists are:
CREATOR / DESIGNER / INVENTOR
- Angie Cella – GemC2, Creator of Blinger
- Carla Schneider – WubbaNub
- Catalina Escobar – Basic Fun!
- Deirdre Cross – Funko Games
- Kana Claussen – Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
- Kathryn Hosford – ViacomCBS
- Kim Culmone – Mattel
- Roxana Powell – Disney Consumer Products
- Teri Weiss – DreamWorks Animation
- Vickie Stratford – Hasbro
LICENSOR / ENTERTAINMENT
- Bek Fairweather – Moose Toys
- Carla Silva – King Features, a division of Hearst
- Glenda Beltran – ViacomCBS
- Julie Thompson – LEGO Systems, Inc.
- Laura Clunie – Spin Master
- Linda Morgenstern – Beanstalk
- Mellany Masterson – Nelvana Enterprises, a division of Corus Entertainment
- Michelle Fode – The Walt Disney Company
- Susan Brandt – Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
LICENSEE / MANUFACTURER
- Anna Mowbray – ZURU, Inc.
- Bridget Russo – Just Play, LLC
- Haley Maiden – Moose Toys
- Heidi Schwartz – Universal Branding & Media
- Ivonne Olivares – The LEGO Group
- Joyce Reid – Little Kids Inc.
- Kate Keller – Spin Master
- Kate Sheets – Playtime Engineering
- Katia May – Bandai America
- Sasha Davenport – Hasbro
MARKETING / PR
- Amy Wann – PlayMonster
- Cristy Collins – Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
- Danielle Norwood – VTech Electronics North America
- Jen Boswinkel – Hasbro
- Jessica Aceti – Funko Games
- Jessica Murphy – ViacomCBS
- Jodi McDonald – Spin Master
- Karen Branson – IMC Toys US
- Krista Berger – Mattel
- Sunny Lauridsen – Just Play, LLC
RISING STAR CORPORATE
- Azhelle Wade – Creative Kids
- Chelsea Morrissey – Hasbro
- Elaine Chang – The Walt Disney Company/Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
- Elizabeth Scarwid – IMG
- Jacqueline Daniels – VTech Electronics North America
- Maddie Michalik – The Toy Book
- Marissa Beck – Mattel
- Mika Nakano – NBCUniversal
- Natalie Wight – WowWee
- Rebecca Mond – The Toy Association
- Tanja Gaspardo – Spin Master
RISING STAR INDEPENDENT
- Beth Fynbo – Busy Baby LLC
- Callie Christensen & Kelly Oriard – Slumberkins
- Jessie Silbert – Celestial Buddies, LLC
- Jillian Lakritz – Yoee Baby
- Jill Walters – Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld
- Joanna Paul – Whatsitsface, LLC
- Madeleine Hunter – Hunter Products
- Madison Robinson – FishFlops
- Marcia Haut – SmartNoggin Toys
- Robin Sydney – Zorbitz, Inc.
- Sara Farber – Galactic Sneeze
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Allison Kohll – Hasbro
- Anna Mowbray – ZURU, Inc.
- Belinda Gruebner –- Moose Toys
- Claire Ellis – Entertainment One
- Elizabeth Max – The Toy Foundation
- Jennifer DuBuisson – The LEGO Group
- Jennifer Pace Robinson – The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Nancy Molenda – Mattel
- Rachel Griffin – JAKKS Pacific
- Rebecca Mond – The Toy Association
Voting for the Wonder Women Awards will be open to all WIT members from Wednesday, Jan. 15-Monday, Jan. 27.
To purchase tickets/tables, or to sponsor the WIT Wonder Woman Awards or purchase a Digital Tribute Book ad, visit www.womenintoys.com.
The Toy Book is a supporting sponsor of Women in Toys.
