2024 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs®
A Global Celebration of Innovation Excellence!
Move over Oscars, Emmys, CMA, the 17th Annual TAGIE® Awards are taking center stage!
Friday, November 8th
6:00-7:00pm Cocktails and Hors d' oeuvres (open bar)
7:00pm-8pm Seated Dinner
8:00pm-9:30pm Awards
Black tie optional, Cocktail Attire
Joe's LIVE Concert Venue!
5441 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018
Enjoy photos from last year HERE.
Here is What Happened at the...
2024 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs®
~ 2024 Lifetime Achievement Honorees ~
Dan Romanelli
Dan is a visionary leader and founder of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where he played a pivotal role in transforming the studio's licensing and merchandising division. Under his leadership, Romanelli spearheaded the global success of iconic franchises like Batman, Harry Potter, and Looney Tunes, turning them into cultural phenomena through innovative marketing and product licensing strategies. His work not only expanded the reach of Warner Bros. properties but also set new standards in the entertainment industry for brand management and consumer engagement. Romanelli's legacy continues to influence the world of entertainment and licensing today.
Mary Danby
Mary is a renowned British toy inventor and game designer known for her innovative contributions to the toy industry. With a career spanning several decades, Danby has created popular board games, puzzles, and toys that have captivated the imaginations of children and adults alike. She’s particularly recognized for her “Mysteries of Old Peking” games, most recently developed as “Junior Detective”. Her creativity and ability to blend fun with a touch of mystery have made her a beloved figure in the world of toys and games.
~ Game Changer - Innovation~
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Alan Dorfman
Alan is the co-founder/president of Super Impulse USA. Super Impulse is known for World’s Smallest, a toy line that miniaturizes fully functional, playable classic and contemporary toys, lifestyle, and entertainment brands to fit in the palm of your hand! Prior to Super Impulse, Alan was the founder and president of Basic Fun from 1991 to 2011, the company known for miniaturing popular brands onto keychains, starting the trend of displaying keychains on backpacks. A career of creating unique categories featuring nostalgia, play value, and fresh concepts has solidified his position as a dynamic and influential figure in the toy and licensing worlds.
~ Our Evening Host ~
Karri Bean
Senior Licensing Manager, Disney Parks Experiences & Products
Introducing our esteemed host for the Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards, Karri Bean! With 17 years of dedicated experience in the toy industry, Karri began her journey at Hasbro, where she excelled in global marketing and licensed games. She then spent four transformative years at Spin Master Games, contributing to the growth of their global games group. Currently, Karri serves as a Senior Manager at Disney Consumer Products, where she oversees the very successful global LEGO business.
In addition to her corporate achievements, Karri is the chair of the People of Play advisory board and an active member of the executive committee, showcasing her commitment to fostering innovation in the industry. For the past seven years, she has also been the captivating host of the Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards, celebrating creativity and excellence in the world of toys and games.
~ Our Presenters ~
Ray Adler
Ray is the Vice President, Global Head of Games at Mattel—the world’s largest toy company, and home to the iconic brands as UNO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, and dozens more.
Ray has been with Mattel for over 20 years and began his career with the company while still in college. Prior to his current role, he held leadership positions on both the Mattel Games and the Hot Wheels brands, where he helped triple the growth of UNO, propelling it to its current rank as the #1 game in the world, while also launching several successful card extensions, including DOS and UNO Flip.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ray received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California”
Christopher Byrne
The Toy Guy
Chris is a 35-year-plus veteran of the toy industry. He has held major marketing and creative positions for toy companies. Since 1988, he has run Byrne Communications, Inc., a consultancy for product development, strategic planning, licensing, and marketing. He has written seven books on the industry and speaks extensively on the role of child development in play and toy design and consults to the investment community in the U.S. and internationally about the business of toys. He appears regularly on Live with Kelly and Ryan and is the creator and co-host of The Playground Podcast, now in its fifth season.
Rachel Griffin
Co-Founder at PlayWise Partners, QVC Host
An Advisory Board member for POP, two-time Women In Toys: Wonder Woman of the Year Finalist, and PRSA member, Rachel is a dynamic and best practice driven public relations leader with over 19 years of award-winning excellence. She has successfully launched numerous toy brands and franchises for top ten toy companies, including multiple Toy of the Year nominees and winners. She excels at implementing and negotiating strategic marketing & promotions, while deepening brand awareness year over year through comprehensive media coverage, events, digital and social media. And, she's a good poker player if you are looking for a game!
Donna Moore
Vice President At TTPM.com And TTPM Influencer Talent Management
Donna Moore is the Senior Vice President at aNb Media/ TTPM.com and VP for FamFluence Talent Management. In these positions she handles accounts for clients across the company’s multiple divisions: toys, baby, pets, and influencers! Working closely with almost every toy company in the industry, as they rely on Donna to offer smart marketing solutions to help meet their business goals.
When she is not traveling, you can find her producing wine at her vineyard in Connecticut.
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Robert Fuhrer
Owner of Nextoy LLC
Robert Fuhrer is the Founder and Owner of Nextoy LLC. His company connects great, original ideas with toy/game companies, such as Hasbro, Mattel, Spin Master, Goliath, The New York Times, PlayMonster, AndrewsMcMeel, Gakken, Kawada and many others, that turn the idea into product. Classic Nextoy products include Crocodile Dentist, Gator Golf, KenKen, Spirograph Animator, Will Shortz Games and iTop. On a business trip to Japan to 2007, Robert became fascinated with an unknown math-and-logic puzzle. So he set up KenKen Puzzles LLC and markets the popular KenKen puzzle worldwide with a popular website, mobile apps, books, and syndicated publications. AWARDS - Recipient of the I.D.I.O.T. (International Designer & Inventor of Toys) award. - TIME Magazine’s “Most Amazing Inventions” selection. - TOTY (Toy of the Year) 3x nominee for Most Innovative Toy of the Year. - Toy Industry of America, Caring For Children Award - Mojo Nation “Top 100 most Influential Figures Working In Toy and Game Design” BOARD MEMBER: - Chitag -Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley -Evan's Team -Ping Pong Parkinson
David Fuhrer
President of the Laugh Factory
In addition to being President of the Laugh Factory, David has licensed more than 300 toys, games, and household products, generating retail sales over $1 billion. These include iconic products such as Nerf Vortex Football, Aqua Doodle, Twisty Petz, Guitar Hero Air Guitar, Bounce Around Tigger, Hershey’s S’mores Maker, and more. Fuhrer holds the Guinness book record for Fastest Backwards Talker and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Angus Walker
Head of Inventor Relations & External Innovation at Hasbro
Accomplished business and creative leader with uniquely diverse background in both strategy and design. Extensive experience in branding, portfolio management, strategic marketing, and product development. Proven manager and team leader, particularly adept in gaining consensus and delivering meaningful results. Able to fuse corporate acumen with entrepreneurial spirit.
Naomi Brugnatelli
Inventor Relations Manager at Hasbro
I have the privilege of being the Inventor Relations Manager at Hasbro. I’m constantly on the hunt for new innovative game ideas. I like to think that first and foremost, I am an inventor advocate.
President of The Michael Kohner Corporation
Michael, formerly of Kohner Bros., which was started by his father Paul and Paul's brother, Frank, is a prominent Licensing Agent in the game industry. The entire Kohner Family were recipients of the 2014 Lifetime Achievement at the TAGIES. Kohner Bros were industry pioneers famous for such classics as POP-O-MATIC TROUBLE and The BUSY BOX crib toy. Michael Kohner formed The Michael Kohner Corporation in 1975 working closely together with many inventors to bring their products to marketplaces worldwide. Some of the many games Michael has helped bring to the market are LOOPIN' LOUIE, MR. BUCKET, GIGGLE WIGGLE and DON'T PANIC.
Eleanor is the VP of Business Development at Seven Towns Ltd., bringing over 20 years of
expertise in the toy industry. In her role, she bridges the gap between the creative and
commercial teams, ensuring innovative ideas are successfully brought to market. With a
background in art, media, film and photography, Eleanor combines creative insight with
strategic business acumen.
Elizabeth is the Chief Operating Officer at Seven Towns Ltd, with over a decade of experience working within the toy industry. Elizabeth leads a talented team who bring innovative toys and games to life, such as Dr. Squish - Squishy Maker, Pop the Pig, and Hydro Pods. With a background in business and child development, Elizabeth is passionate about the joy and experiences toys offer children. She loves blending the commercial and creative sides of the business, guiding her team to develop new products that spark fun and imagination.
James Zahn
AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report.
As a toy industry and pop culture expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC), Wizard World Chicago, and ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for outlets such as Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, History Channel, and more.
Grant Lyon
Grant Lyon is a comedian from things like Comedy Central, SyFy, Comics Unleashed, Just For Laughs, and more. During the pandemic, he started making videos about the board games he loves, and now he has over 300,000 followers across his Grant’s Game Recs platforms. He also has an hour stand up comedy show all about board games that he takes to conventions across the world. In addition, Grant writes funny content for a lot of games sitting on the shelves of stores like Target and Walmart. His debut game Curmudgeon was published by 25th Century Games.
Amy Friedland
Executive Vice President at Carve Communications Public Relations
All things toys and consumer products. Love it when a plan comes together!
Mike Bisogno
Senior Director, Design And Inventor Relations, Spin Master, Inc.
Mike Bisogno graduated with honors from the FIT Toy Design Program in 2008. One month prior to graduation he was hired by Cardinal Industries as their first full-time game designer. During his time with Cardinal, Mike created games and puzzles for the largest global licenses; Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, WB, Sony and more. Cardinal was acquired by Spin Master in 2015 at which time Bisogno was promoted to Design Director. Since joining Spin Master, he has worked in different roles across Design, Licensing and Inventor Relations. Mike has had the opportunity to lead design for every games category during his career at Spin Master. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Design and Inventor Relations for the Games team. He leads Design for the Rubik's, Family Games and Party Games categories, and leads Inventor Relations for all of Spin Master Games. Mike lives in New York with his amazing wife and kids, his favorite people to play games with. Full POP Profile HERE
Randy Kimpert
Vice President Design Games, Puzzles, Plush & Outdoor, Spin Master, Inc.
Randy is a game designer who started his design career working with Marvin Glass in the early 1980s. He later worked for game designer Eddy Goldfarb in California from 1984 until 1989 before returning to Chicago to help start up the then newly formed Meyer/Glass Design.
Randy was at Hasbro for over a decade working on product design for Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, among others.
In 2022, Randy joined Spin Master Games as Vice President of Game Design
Shannon Swindle
Inventor Relations Manager, Games At Moose Toys
Award-winning board game designer. Former teacher. Adventurer with an international background. I have a passion for building meaningful relationships, bringing products to market, and helping companies grow. I’m inspired by kindness, new experiences, and play-based learning. I love working with creative people and bringing ideas to life.
Full POP Profile HERE www.peopleofplay.com/people/shannon-swindle
Peggy Brown
Peggy Brown has invented and developed hundreds of products that have been mass-produced and marketed all over the world. Her company works with the world’s biggest and best toy, game, and kids' entertainment companies in a number of capacities: as inventors, designers, writers, creative directors, consultants, and everything in between. The industry has grown to depend on Peggy and her team to offer innovative new products to add to their lines, time and time again. Brown has a Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design and is the only woman in the US to start, own and run a pro toy invention company with a dedicated studio and fulltime staff. She started her first invention company, Alley Oop, in 1991, was Vice President of Product Development at PlayMonster for seven years, and now owns and runs Peggy Brown Creative.
AWARDS: 2009 TAGIE Winner for Game Innovator of the Year; 2012 Winner International Home & Housewares Show Inventor of Most Innovative Product; 2019 TAGIE Nominee for Toy Innovator of the Year; 2020 TAGIE Winner for Game Innovator of the Year, 2022 TAGIE Nominee for Art & Design Visuals
Full POP Profile HERE www.peopleofplay.com/people/peggy-brown
Tim Walsh
Co-Founder, Roo Games; Filmmaker, Author, Designer, Creative Consultant, The Playmakers
Fearless Leader at The Playmakers and co-founder of Roo Games, a company specializing in games for the entire family. Tim designed or co-designed TriBond, Blurt, Mad Gab, You’ve Been Framed, Bull’s Eye, Cheese Stack, N'Sync Backstage Pass, TMNT Foot Clan Street Fight, and many others. These games have collectively sold over 7 million copies.
He was Creative Consultant and co-editor on Toyland, a documentary on toy and game inventors from director, Ken Sons. The film won Best Documentary awards at three US film festivals. In 2016, Tim co-produced and co-directed OPERATION: Operation The Power of Play with Peggy Brown. The film won the top prize for Best Film at the 2017 Naperville Independent Film Festival as well as Best Documentary.
As a speaker and lecturer, Tim aims to prove that PLAY is a means through which we can super-charge creativity and connect with others. He has spoken on this topic and others to teams as diverse as the USC’s Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, the State Bar of Arizona, Otis College of Art & Design and other creative organizations. Full POP Profile HERE
Tony Serebriany
Vice President, Inventor Relations
In his current role, Tony's primary area of focus for The Op is Inventor Relations (Toy & Game Scout)!
As the head of Inventor Relations, he meets with Game Designers and Inventors from around the world on the quest for the next great games and products for The Op. Though he prefers in-person meetings to really get a good feeling for a game, 2020 proved that connecting with this International community of Inventors can still take place, online in a digital space.
Tony actively participates as a panelist and/or moderator for a number of Pop-Culture and Toy & Game Industry related events, including the People of Play, Mojo Nation's Play Creators Festival, Wonder Con and San Diego Comic-Con International. He is a consummate networker, an advocate of connection through play and a true brand ambassador for playing games and all things The Op.. Full POP Profile HERE www.peopleofplay.com/people/tony-serebriany
~ Evening Entertainment ~
Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment is the official scriptwriter and stunt provider of the 2023 TAGIEs. To know them is to love them...
Bary: "I’ve made hundreds of short films, created advertising campaigns for Hot Wheels, and played a boy who got his tongue stuck to the freezer on William Shatner’s Rescue 911. It didn’t happen to me, I was just the actor. And they happened to have another 11-year-old boy on Standby if I didn’t do a good enough job. That young Standby was Zachary Quinto."
Jason: "I started Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment because I liked the name and Barry was available. Only a few years in and this is, by far, the best job I’ve ever had—yes, even better than waiting tables and doing Customer Service for AT&T! In five years I see myself on a catamaran with Kenny Loggins."
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Barry & Jason Games & Entertainment is a game invention studio run by Barry McLaughlin, Jason Lautenschleger, and VP Cassie Slane Guglielmo. They recently licensed Game Night in a Can to Goliath, and are currently working with PlayMonster and Big Potato.
Music provided by Skip Towne and the Greyhounds, Chicago's #1 Blues Band and our band at the TAGIEs for over 10 years!
Chicago’s Skip Towne and the Greyhounds personify hard-driving, heartfelt, classic blues, jazz, swing, ballads, and downright good time Rockin’ Blues that you can’t refuse! The band has been regularly performing in various configurations acoustically as a 3 PIECE up to an electric 10 PIECE BAND all around the Midwest and frequently in Chicago area clubs such as The House of Blues, The Hard Rock, The Park West, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Famous Dave’s, Beale Street Blues Cafe, Frankie’s Blue Room, Penny Road Pub, The Brat Stop, Cubby Bear North, Port of Blarney, Blarney’s Island, Pete Miller’s, Las Palmas and The Firkin.
The nationally syndicated TV show Toys of our Lives will be filming at and featuring The TAGIEs in an upcoming episode!
Thank You to Our Esteemed 2024 Sponsors!
Be a Sponsor and Join Companies Celebrating Innovation in 2025!
Thank You to our TAGIE® Awards Event Committee
(not the same as the Nomination Committee)
Chair: Karri Bean - Senior Manager, Licensing at Disney Consumer Products, Experiences and Consumer Products
Barry & Jason Entertainment - Jason Lautenschleger and Barry McLaughlin
Peggy Brown - Inventor, Playwright, Designer, Author, Filmmaker, Funmaker
Danielle Reinhardt - Senior Brand Manager, Ultra PRO International
Robert Fuhrer - Owner at Nextoy LLC and KenKen Puzzle
Brent Rolland - Event Producer/DJ at Fig Media, Musician, Host/Producer: FANPOWER Game Shows
Kaye White - President of Visual Playthings
Sari Wiaz - President of Baby Paper
Mary Couzin - SVP, Toy Association, Founder and Lead of People of Play