Toy & Game International Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs

Gene has over 40 years of marketing, sales, new product development and international business in the toy, games and gift industries. Working in various capacities, he has launched more than 7,000 new product concepts including mega-hits such as Star Wars, Cabbage Patch Kids, Trivial Pursuit and Tickle Me Elmo.

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Gene’s career includes 16 years at Mattel in executive roles, both in the US and abroad, where he focused on new business development, profit improvement, marketing and sales effectiveness.  Throughout his career he has served in brand marketing roles, R&D management and in sales leadership as General Manager of Mattel’s business team for Toys R Us.  He has worked overseas as General Manager for Mattel in Europe, led international marketing in emerging markets including Eastern Europe, Japan, India and China.  He retired from full time work in 2011 after serving as President of GUND where he led a turn-around in the product range, business operations and a return to profitability.

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In addition to his corporate work, Gene also started and ran his own toy company in the 1990’s with many successful products including Slap Wraps, one of the hottest fads of the ‘90’s  

He holds various patents, is fluent in Spanish and resides with his wife in  Easton, PA, 60 miles outside of New York City.   He joined  SCORE in 2011 as a volunteer, serving as a mentor for small business operators and start-ups, has ben appointed as  Chapter Chair (Bucks County, PA), District Director and Regional VP for SCORE.