CHITAG Announces Additions to its Elite Advisory Board

Industry Leaders Adi Golad, Rachel Griffin, Robert Fuhrer and John Barbour Join the Exemplary Board to Assist on Achieving Excellence in Play!

CHICAGO, IL (May 8, 2019) - The Chicago Toy and Game Group, organizer of the preeminent toy and game industry events during CHITAG Week, is honored to announce that Adi Golad, Founder, Chairman of Goliath, Rachel Griffin, VP Public Relations of JAKKS Pacific, Robert Fuhrer, President of Nextoy and John Barbour, Managing Partner at Volta Capital have joined its Advisory Board.

“Adi, Rachel, Bob and John bring public relations, marketing, retail and even more visionary expertise to our extraordinary Board,” said Mary Couzin, president of Chicago Toy & Game Group. “We are fortunate to have their talents as we continue to grow our CHITAG Week events, champion innovators and promote community, connection and the power of play!”

Adi Golad founded Goliath in 1980. Goliath is one of the few remaining family-owned and run businesses in toys and games. Headquartered in The Netherlands, Goliath operate offices in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, United States, Canada, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy and Australia from where they export to approximately 70 countries world-wide. Highlights of acquisitions include Pressman Toy, JAX, Crown and Andrews, Tucker Toys and Vivid Imagination.

Rachel Griffin is a corporate communications, brand public relations, digital and social media leader with over 15 years of award-winning excellence in implementing and negotiating strategic marketing promotions. Griffin currently spearheads JAKKS Pacific’s communication and social media strategy efforts working closely with marketing, design, and sales teams to identify PR opportunities.

Robert Fuhrer founded Nextoy in 1981 and has helped bring to market some of the most popular toys and games in the world such as Gator Golf, i-Top, Crocodile Dentist and Gifeez to just name a few. In 2007 he discovered KenKen, a remarkable logic and math puzzle. He now markets the popular KenKen puzzle worldwide through mobile apps, a web platform, books, tournaments and countless publications. Bob has been honored with many Awards in our industry and is active in many charitable causes.

John Barbour started in the toy industry in 1983 and has held senior leadership positions at LeapFrog, Toys”R”Us, Hasbro, OddzOn Products, Matchbox Toys and Palitoy. He has a love for product and has been involved in the launch of many Industry top sellers. At Toys”R”Us he led the turnaround of their US, International and Internet Divisions. John is currently a Managing Partner of Volta Capital.

Other Chicago Toy and Game Group Advisory Board members include:

Karri Bean - Senior Manager, Lego at Disney Consumer Products

Peggy Brown - Inventor, Playwright, Designer, Author, Filmmaker, Funmaker

Mary Couzin - President, Founder, Chicago Toy & Game Group

Ben Dermer - VP, New Ideas and Inventions, Spin Master

Richard Gill - CEO and co-Founder, McGill Associates

Dave Harris - Senior Director, Inventor Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Mattel, Inc.

Alan Hassenfeld - Chairman, Exec. Committee, Hasbro; Chairman, Hassenfeld Family Initiatives

Dave Harris - Director, Inventor Relations and Strategic Partnerships, Mattel

Dan Klitsner - Founder, KID Group

Rich Mazel - Senior Director Global, Product Acquisition, Hasbro

Matt Nuccio – President, Design Edge

Phil Sage - Senior Director - Design & Development, iPlay, Hasbro

Gary Swisher – Toy and Game Innovative Executive, formerly Mattel and Jakks, on sabatical

Tanya Thompson - Director Global Product Acquisition and Inventor Relations for Gaming, Hasbro

Tim Walsh - Co-Founder, Getta1Games; Filmmaker, Author, Designer, Creative Consultant, The Playmakers

David Yakos - Creativity Director, Co-Owner, Salient Technologies

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About the Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.

The Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc. promotes and hosts initiatives designed to encourage and promote the power of play and invention in social, educational, and professional environments. Chicago Toy & Game Group initiatives include the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG), the Toy & Game Innovation Awards (the TAGIEs), Inventor Conferences for New and Professional Inventors and Product Acquisition Executives, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Young TECH Challenge, Play in Education Conference, Discover Games Inventor Co-op, the PlayCHIC Fashion Show, and the Chicago Toy & Game Foundation. For more information, visit www.ChiTAG.com.