Toy Fair New York is set to return this February, and Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is plotting a grand return for its gala event to go along with it.
WiT revealed finalists for its 30th Anniversary Wonder Women Awards, set to take place at Pier Sixty in New York City on Feb. 20, 2022. The event will honor and recognize women who have made outstanding contributions to the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries over the past two years.
“Our slate of finalists includes incredible women who continued to innovate and make their mark on our industry during the past two years of COVID-19 and massive disruption in our industry,” say WiT Wonder Women Co-Chairs Genna Rosenberg and Jennifer Caveza. “We look forward to the industry learning more about their extraordinary contributions as they vote for 2022 Wonder Women Winners in advance of the upcoming Awards dinner.”
And the finalists are:
DESIGNER/INVENTOR
- Carla Schneider – WubbaNub
- Carolina Arce – Jazwares
- Jackeline Gonzalez – Universal Brand Development
- Kenna O’Brien – Mattel
- Launi King – Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products
- Mel Hershey – Hasbro
- Tahlia Gee – Moose Toys
- Vina Arriaga – Fuse
LICENSOR/ENTERTAINMENT
- Alpana VIrani – Universal Brand Development
- Jennifer Kobashi – Mattel
- Jes Wolfe – Rebel Girls
- Jordyn Curtis – LEGO Systems Inc.
- Karri Bean – Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products
- Kerri Estreich – Sesame Workshop
- Kerry Tucker – pocket.watch
- Susan Brandt – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
- Tara Craze – Hasbro
- Yvette Sittrop – Moose Toys
LICENSEE/MANUFACTURER
- Allyson Sullivan – LEGO Systems Inc.
- Amanda Bright – Spin Master
- Aneisha Vieira – ZURU Toys
- Carly McGinnis – Exploding Kittens
- Julie Gwaltney – TOMY
- Karen Branson – IMC Toys
- Melissa Kustell – Hasbro
- Riza Javellana – Mattel
- Tiffany Good – TOMY
COVID HERO
- Anna Mowbray – ZURU Toys
- Holly Peacock – Spin Master
- Karen Balduf – Mattel
- Mary Mason – Little Medical School
- The LEGO Group
- Monica Monteiro – Hasbro
- Stacy Lellos – Workman Publishing
- Susie Jaramillo – Encantos
- ViacomCBS
SOCIAL GOOD
- Alicha Treerotchananon – Magic Dolls Thailand
- Amanda Gummer – Good Play Guide
- Cynthia Nishimoto – Bandai America
- Jennifer DuBuisson – The LEGO Group
- Kate O’Loughlin – SuperAwesome
- Mary Couzin – Chicago Toy & Game Group
- Pamela Gill-Alabaster – Mattel
- Sarah Jordan – Mastermind Toys
- Sarah Knott – Hasbro
- Sharon Keilthy – Jiminy Eco Toys
- Tammy Smitham – Spin Master
- Terri-Nichelle Bradley – Brown Toy Box
- Yla Eason – Olmec Toys
MARKETING / PUBLIC RELATIONS
- Arlene Biran – Spin Master
- Beatrice Chow – Sesame Workshop
- Dana Moncrief – Moose Toys
- Devin Tucker – Mattel
- Erika Sava – ZURU Toys
- Lisa Orman – KidStuff Public Relations
- Mary Pietrucha – VTech
- Renee Guida – The LEGO Group
- Shannon Spisak – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
- Shannon Vacca – Universal Brand Development
- Susan Anderson – Mastermind Toys
- Teresa Pearson – Hasbro
DEAL MAKER
- Chelsea Wood – IMC Toys
- Claudette Munoz Molina – The LEGO Group
- Elizabeth Moody – Seven Towns
- Jessica Vivolo – Jazwares
- Karen Margolis – Bandai America
- Paula Kupfer – Hasbro
- Sara Taylor – Spin Master
- Sherrie Conn – ZURU Toys
- Siobhan Elvin – ViacomCBS
- Tatania Minguet – Mattel
- Trina McFarland – TinkerTini
RISING STAR / DESIGNER/INVENTOR
- Joanna Paul – Whatsitsface
- Lorena Montalvo – TOMY
- Vanessa Fung – Universal Brand Development
- Hilary Richards – Boo Boo Ball
STORYTELLER
- Azhelle Wade – The Toy Coach
- Christina Royston – TOMY
- Jenni Townsend – Moose Toys
- Liz Lamb-Ferro – Hasbro
- Liz Maglione – Mattel
- Nana Bouwens – Memory Print Nederland b.v.
- Niki Lopez – ViacomCBS
- Raquel Roca – IMC Toys
- Stacey Kovalsky – USPA Global Licensing
- Stephanie Guo – Spin Master
UNSUNG HERO
- Alison Whitaker – Moose Toys
- Amy Yoslov-Llaneta – TOMY
- Beth Colosi – VTech
- Catherine Souza – The LEGO Group
- Coco Chan – ZURU Toys
- Debbie Hancock – Hasbro
- Erica Lenard – Joyful Consulting
- Hannah Palfrey – Fuse
- Jennifer Petsche – PlayMonster
- Joyce Mesch – Otis College of Art and Design
- Maggie Snow – Mattel
- Michele Martell – Martel Media House
- Mimi Stella – What Do You Meme LLC
- Nissa Benjamin – Jazwares
- Sara Gibber – Make It Real
- Sara Newbold – ViacomCBS
- Toni Stevens – Spin Master
WONDER GIRL
- Nicole Laeno – Influencer, The LEGO Group
- Cassie & Sabrina Glow, Glow Girls Kid Voiceover
- Anastasia Radzinskaya – Like Nastya
- Alaya High – That Girl Lay Lay, ViacomCBS
- Love, Diana, pocket.watch
RISING STAR / DEAL MAKER
- Brittany Oliver – ZURU Toys
- Molly Robbins – USPA Global Licensing Inc
RISING STAR / LICENSOR/ENTERTAINMENT
- Alex Yee – Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products
- Claire O’Sullivan – Hasbro/eOne
- Haley Yates – ViacomCBS
- Tiffany Suzuki – Crunchyroll
RISING STAR / LICENSEE/MANUFACTURER
- Jamie Emmick – Beverly Hill Teddy Bear
- Dr. Lisa Williams – The Fresh Dolls (World of EPI)
RISING STAR / SOCIAL GOOD
- Louisa Parast, Hasbro
- Maria Altamirano – LEGO Systems Inc.
- Louisa Parast – Hasbro
RISING STAR / STORYTELLER
- Danielle Battaglia – TOMY
- Rupa Parekh – Umani Studio
RISING STAR / MARKETING/ PUBLIC RELATIONS
- Chedney Rogers, Hasbro
- Jenna Kay – Moose Toys
- Jenna Marson – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
- Jordan Swenson – TOMY
- Molly Martin – The LEGO Group
- Rachael Reid – Spin Master
- Sakita Withers – PlayMonster
- Sabrina Taraborelli – Mattel
RISING STAR / UNSUNG HERO
- Amanda Marschall – The LEGO Group
- Jessica Anderson – TOMY
- Keilany Whyte – Jazwares
Voting for the Wonder Women Awards is open to all WiT members beginning today through Friday, Jan. 14, 2022.
Tickets to the Wonder Women Awards are available for purchase here.
