To celebrate the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association's 30th anniversary this year, LIMA will take a trip back to 1985 tonight at the annual International Licensing Awards.

Open to all Licensing Expo attendees, this year the awards will be hosted by British comedian/actor Jim Tavare. The even kicks off with a reception at 5:45 p.m. tonight in the Islander Ballroom at Mandalay Bay, and the show will begin at 6:15 p.m. The Harlem Globetrotters will kick off the event with a special performance.

The Licensing Awards will honor the best of licensing across 11 categories including Overall Best Licensed Program. 

This year’s nominees for Overall Best Licensed Program are:

The newest inductee into the Licensing Hall of Fame, Cheryl Stoebenau, president, CAS Marketing, will also be honored at the show. Stoebenau began her licensing career in 1972 with Hallmark, then moved to Calico as executive director of licensing, working on Cabbage Patch Kids before forming her own agency in 1986. 

As one of the industry’s top agents, Stoebenau has helped to unite some of the industry’s largest manufacturers–including Berkshire, Jay Franco and Fast Forward–with leading content providers and licensors to help build the profile of soft lines licensing.

She has continually demonstrated her commitment and dedication to the industry as a trusted, valuable licensing resource and industry mentor. As a member of the licensing community, she served on the LIMA board of directors for two terms and her work for LIMA’s charity committee has helped the group to raise $5 million for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.