Women In Toys Announce Wonder Women Awards Finalists

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT)

 has announced the slate of nominee finalists for its 30th Anniversary

, which is set to return to New York City on Feb. 20 at Pier Sixty coinciding with Toy Fair New York. The annual event, hosted by WiT, a nonprofit organization and global community whose mission is to advocate for the advancement of women and a more inclusive and equitable workforce, will recognize outstanding industry leaders in toys, licensing and entertainment for their impactful contributions over the past two years.

The finalists are:

DESIGNER/INVENTOR

Carla Schneider – WubbaNub
Carolina Arce – Jazwares
Jackeline Gonzalez – Universal Brand Development
Kenna O'Brien – Mattel
Launi King – DPEP (Disney)
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 – DPEP (Disney)
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 Inc.
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 – DPEP (Disney)
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
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

“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 and massive disruption in our industry,” Genna Rosenberg and Jennifer Caveza, co-chairs, WIT Wonder Women said in a joint statement. “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.” 

Voting for the Wonder Women Awards is open to all WiT members, through Friday, Jan. 14, and the winners will be announced at the event on Feb. 20. 

Tickets to the Wonder Women Awards are available for purchase

here