Past Conference Speakers
"ChiTAG is “THE” event for Inventors and Manufacturers within the Toy Industry, it is a who’s who of Toy & Game Inventors and Toy & Game Companies. The Conferences, Gala and Fair are unmatched for Educating, Celebrating and Playing in our industry. I’m very excited for this year’s event - it is timed perfectly for seeing the best of the best toys and games right in the heart of our biggest selling season!" - Gary Swisher, SVP Mattel Inc.
ChiTAG is a high point of the year for me as I am able to meet and speak with new inventors from around the globe in an amazing, innovative and supportive environment. It is the only toy and game fair that offers this combination of new and experienced inventors, learning and networking opportunities, and an event that is literally and figuratively built around an open-to-the-public Toy Fair set on Chicago’s historic Navy Pier. It is a great place for me to experience every part of the toy industry, from the inventors, colleagues, and business partners, to watching the children’s reactions to the toys and games on the show floor to wrap up the week. To experience all of this against the backdrop of the great city of Chicago makes this a much anticipated week on my calendar!” - Rich Mazel – Head of Global Product Acquisitions, Hasbro, Inc.
2017 Keynotes
CONFERENCES
Past Conference Speakers
Gary Swisher
SVP of Inventor Relations and Head of Gaming, Mattel
Richard Barry
EVP, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, ToysRUs
Rich Mazel
Senior Director Global Product Acquisition, Hasbro
CEO of Two Bit Circus
CEO of Two Bit Circus
2016 Keynotes
President, Pterod
RPD Consulting
Owner, Building Blocks Toy Stores
National Accounts Manager, PSI Inc.
Founder, Living in Digital Times
Co-Owner and Creative Director, Design Edge Inc.
Founder & President, WunderReps
Owner, Peggy Brown Creative Consulting
why Attend?
Past Speakers
CEO, SoChic Media
Design Manager, New Business Group, Hasbro
Catherine McMillen-Gill
McGill Associates
Director of Global Games Acquisition, Hasbro
Head of New Business, Asmodee
CEO, Shafir Games
President, Pterod
Brand Spokeswoman, Real Mom Media LLC
Owner, Building Blocks Toy Stores
Owner, ToyQueen.com
Associate Athletic Director and eSports Coordinator at Robert Morris University
President, KidStuff PR
Manager, Social Media and Influencer Relations at Spin Master Ltd
Co-Owner and Creative Director, Design Edge Inc.
National Accounts Manager, PSI Inc.
Strategic Partnership Development, Hasbro
Founder and CMO, Mommy & Gracie Show
Founder and owner of SAHMReviews.com
Professor of Psychology, Tempe University
Owner, Peggy Brown Creative Consulting
Director of Global Toy Acquisition, Hasbro
President, NH Contract Managemen
President, Global Toy Experts and Global Toy News
President, Product Counsel
Founder, Living in Digital Times
RPD Consulting
Ruth Green Concepts, Inc
Vice President, MWW
Fearless Leader of The PlayMakers
Director, Global Product Acquisition Gaming, Hasbro
Author, Gadget Nation
Conference Sponsors 2016
2016 Speakers
President, Pterod
RPD Consulting
Owner, Building Blocks Toy Stores
National Accounts Manager, PSI Inc.
Founder, Living in Digital Times
Co-Owner and Creative Director, Design Edge Inc.
Founder & President, WunderReps
Mindy Bickle
Associate Commissioner for Innovation Development
U.S. Patent Office
Mike Hirtle
Inventor & Agent
Past Attendees Recommend Attending!
"What an excellent introduction to the toy and game profession! I met acquisition execs, license brokers, experienced game designers and newbies like myself. And I learned a lot from each group!" - Luke Fischer, Gamefish LLC
"The CHITAG Innovation Conference was a great opportunity for me. I walked away with a deeper understanding of the industry and met many inspiring people. Their passion was motivating and provided an excellent experience that I will hang onto as I follow my dream." Steve Rolland, Game Creator of Yes, and…you are the Comic!
The Chicago Toy and Game conference was a great opportunity for me. I walked away with a deeper understanding of the industry and met many inspiring people. Their passion was motivating and provided an excellent experience that I will hang onto as I follow my dream. -Steve Rolland, Game Creator of Yes, and…you are the Comic!
Thank you for all you do, one word describes my experience "Phenomenal". -Susan Polodna
"I had been trying over the last 6 months to figure out how and who to license my toy idea to (Evolvems reversible dino plush if you had a chance to see it on the table). I got not only a ton of great info... but I think I made a deal yesterday with a great company, all through the network of folks who were generous enough to share their insight and make connections. know there is some saying about chickens and hatching but regardless I think this is the best money I ever spent." - Avram Kaufman, Evolvems
"T&GCon was amazing and I highly recommend that any and all budding toy and game inventors invest in this opportunity to learn every aspect of the toy and game industry! Not only do you get to network with the top experts in the industry, but you can get a one-on-one meeting to discuss "your" toy or game with them! It's a rare and golden opportunity for toy and game inventors!" - Barbara Jenkins, J Links Enterprise
"Thank you for putting on such a wonderful conference. It definitely exceeded my expectations! As someone who is interested in getting started in the toy and game industry, I found this conference invaluable. The great variety of session topics and quality of presenters helped me gain a better understanding of the industry as a whole. I would recommend it to anyone who thinks toy or game design is something they want to do." - John Berube
“I just licensed BrainSpin to Winning Moves! I learned so much at the Conferences and Fair and could not have gotten this deal without the work you do supporting newbies like me. I came to understand the value of licensing versus self-publishing; learned the important terms, conditions and gray areas of legal deals; met a Hasbro executive and played my game with him (he later connected me with Winning Moves); and a colleague of his, who kindly offered his advice on who to work with and what I could expect in a deal; and I boosted my credibility by selling more than a hundred copies of BrainSpin at the Fair. Thank you so much!” - Frankie Abralind
"You can spend years trying to figure out the ropes of a new industry, or you can spend two days at T&GCon and meet those that know, listen to those that know, and then you can move forward with your idea. We listened. When we left we had orders and we had a vision. We went from being a nobody to a somebody. Thank you so much!" - Bill Witt, Founder, Pajaggle, Inc
"I attended T&GCon and ChiTAG for the first time in 2012 as a newbie inventor looking to gain feedback on our party game, Schmovie. I received invaluable insights from seasoned industry folks and consumers alike, and we ended up making key changes to both our game play and box design as a result. I’m excited to return this year as we celebrate Schmovie’s official launch!" -BryanWilson, Partner/Creative Director, Galactic Sneeze
“T&GCon was first class - ample venue, fine food/beverage, well-credentialed speakers, awards dinner, impressive and well-connected industry execs attending. Your event far exceeded my expectations! A great experience! The face-to-face contact with industry folks is invaluable. I heartily recommend this for anyone hoping to break into the business. Even if a person does not find the news to be good about their proposed toy or game, then they at least know that they gave themselves the very best chance for success. Thanks to T&GCon 2013, my game “Choice Words” was picked up by MindWare.” - Bob Kamp
I attended T&GCon (New Inventor Conferences) and ChiTAG (Week) for the first time in 2012 as a newbie inventor looking to gain feedback on our party game, Schmovie. I received invaluable insights from seasoned industry folks and consumers alike, and we ended up making key changes to both our game play and box design as a result. I’m excited to return this year as we celebrate Schmovie’s official launch! Bryan Wilson, Partner/Creative Director, Galactic Sneeze
“We launched in 2012... We went to a Toy Show, and it happened to be the Chicago Toy Fair, and within the first hour we got offered a license agreement.” — Dustin "Red Dragon" Berk, Ninja Cards on Shark Tank Week 2, 2014
PAST Speakers
CEO, SoChic Media
Design Manager, New Business Group at Hasbro
Founder & President, Best Toys Inc and Best of Best Inc
Catherine McMillen-Gill
Head of Global Product Sourcing & Development at Mastermind Toys
Owner, SurvivingMom
General Manager, Mighty Kingdom
Director of Global Games Acquisition, Hasbro
Creative Director, Identity Games
Head of New Business, Asmodee
CEO at Shafir Games
CTO and Founder, Sphero
President, Pressman Toy
President, Pterod
Brand Spokeswoman, Real Mom Media LLC
Owner, Building Blocks Toy Stores
Owner, ToyQueen.com
Associate Athletic Director and eSports Coordinator at Robert Morris University
President, KidStuff PR
Manager, Social Media and Influencer Relations at Spin Master Ltd
Co-Owner and Creative Director, Design Edge Inc.
National Accounts Manager, PSI Inc.
Strategic Partnership Development, Hasbro
Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Mommy and Gracie Show
Founder and owner of SAHMReviews.com
Professor of Psychology, Tempe University
Owner, Peggy Brown Creative Consulting
Director of Global Toy Acquisition, Hasbro
President, NH Contract Managemen
President, Global Toy Experts and Global Toy News
President, Product Counsel
Founder, Living in Digital Times
RPD Consulting
Ruth Green Concepts, Inc
Vice President, MWW
Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago
Fearless Leader of The PlayMakers
Jury Chairman, Spiel Des Jahres Award
Design Director, Envoi Design
Co-Creator of Exploding Kittens
President, University Games