TIA Committees

TIA Regular members are invited to help set the strategic direction of the Association – all while maximizing their membership investment and building their network of contacts – by submitting nominations for qualified candidates to serve on the TIA Policy committees shown below.

• To inquire about a specific committee’s current and upcoming activities, please contact the staff liaison(s) listed.  
• To express interest in joining a committee, please choose one of the following three options:
  • Complete the online version of the Committee Volunteer Interest Form
  • Download a .doc version of the form, complete it electronically and return via e-mail to committees@toyassociation.org 
  • Print a .doc version of the form and return via hard-copy mail to Toy Industry Association, ATTN: Committees, 1115 Broadway – Suite 400, New York, NY  10010 

Requests for corresponding membership will be processed on a rolling basis.  Should a committee be fully staffed, requests for full voting status will be considered annually; individuals who are awaiting full voting participation may be temporarily assigned as a corresponding member of the committee.

TIA Committees, mission statements, and designated staff contact(s)

• Audit Committee (Board-level committee; restricted membership) 
• Credit Committee
• Environmental Sustainability Committee (charter pending confirmation) 
• Federal Government Affairs Committee
• Investment Committee
• Membership Committee
• PlayCon Committee
• Responsible Marketing to Children Committee
• Safety Standards and Technical Committee
• State Government Affairs Committee
• Strategic Marketing and Communications Committee
  • Publicity and Promotion Subcommittee
• Toy Industry Hall of Fame Committee
• Toy of the Year (TOTY) Committee
• Trade Events Committee
• Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) Committees

Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) Committees

• Development and Fundraising Committee
• Toy Bank Committee

Audit Committee

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Association’s financial statements, (ii) the Association’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (iv) the cooperation of the Association’s management in conducting the annual audit.

NOTE:  This is a Board-level committee with restricted membership.

Chairperson: Joel Berger, President, Cardinal Industries, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaison:  Paul Vitale, VP, Finance & Administration
[View Full Charter]

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Credit Committee

The primary purpose of the Credit Committee is to promote participation by eligible members of the Association in the TIA Credit Interchange Program, a comprehensive resource that includes an online data collection system that supports the credit-related decisions member toy companies make regarding their customers, and to assist the Board of Directors by reviewing and recommending policies and procedures, services and products to meet the needs of the membership in this area.

NOTE:  Only regular members of TIA who are manufacturers and importers would be eligible to participate in the Credit Committee pursuant to the Credit Interchange Program Guidelines. 

Chairperson: Kimberly Calvanese, LEGO Systems
TIA Staff Liaisons:  Dina Gittings, Manager, Credit Interchange Program;  Paul Vitale, VP, Finance and Administration
[View Full Charter]

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Environmental Sustainability Committee

Mission Statement / Committee Charter pending approval

Chairperson:  Danny Grossman
TIA Staff Liaison:  Al Kaufman, Senior Vice President, Technical Affairs

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Federal Government Affairs Committee

The primary purpose of the Federal Government Affairs Committee is to monitor federal regulatory and legislative issues – both domestically and internationally, as applicable – that affect the toy industry in North America and to assist the Board of Directors by formulating and advocating the policies and positions of the Association relating to such matters in support of the interests of all segments of the industry.

Board Liaison: John Gessert, President/CEO, American Plastic Toys, Inc.
Staff Liaisons: Rebecca Mond, Director, Federal Government Affairs; Peter Sandel, Director, Government Affairs
[View Full Charter]

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Investment Committee

The primary purpose of the Investment Committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Association in its oversight in the prudent investment of the Association’s accumulated income.

Chairperson: David Hargreaves, Chief Operating Officer,Hasbro
TIA Staff Liaison:  Paul Vitale, VP, Finance & Administration
[View Full Charter]

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Membership Committee

The primary purpose of the Membership Committee is to acquire new members within the toy and youth entertainment industries, to identify new potential members and to assist the Board of Directors by reviewing and recommending policies and procedures, services and products to meet the needs of the membership.

Chairperson: Peter Henseler, President, Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaison: Jean Butler, VP, Membership
[View Full Charter]

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PlayCon Committee

The primary purpose of the PlayCon Committee is to assist the Board of Directors by fostering the development of an annual industry event that recognizes and celebrates the toy and youth product industry, providing educational and motivational program content geared toward personal and professional growth for industry representatives from large and small companies, and supporting networking and social activities that provide opportunities to develop strong and lasting relationships in the industry. 

Chairperson: Robert Wann, CEO, Patch Products, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaison: Marian Bossard, VP,  Meetings & Events
[View Full Charter]

Responsible Marketing to Children Committee

The primary purpose of the Responsible Marketing to Children Committee is to assist the Board of Directors by reviewing and recommending strategies, policies and procedures that will protect children while also preserving the toy industry’s right to communicate to children and acknowledging and promoting corporate social responsibility in such outreach.

Chairperson: George Irwin, Chairman and CEO, Itoys USA Ltd.
TIA Staff Liaison: Stacy Leistner, VP, Strategic Communications
[View Full Charter]

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Safety Standards and Technical Committee

The primary purpose of the Safety Standards and Technical Committee is to monitor activity on issues related to product safety, standards, testing, and quality assurance issues that affect the toy industry in North America and to assist the Board of Directors by formulating and advocating the policies and positions of the Association relating to such matters in support of the interests of all segments of the industry.

Chairperson: Nancy MacPherson, Director, Government Affairs, LEGO Systems, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaison: Joan Lawrence, VP, Standards and Government Affairs
[View Full Charter]

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State Government Affairs Committee

The primary purpose of the State Government Affairs Committee is to monitor in all 50 states the regulatory and legislative issues that affect the toy industry in North America and to assist the Board of Directors by formulating and advocating the policies and positions of the Association relating to such matters in support of the interests of all segments of the industry.

Chairperson: Nancy MacPherson, Director, Government Affairs, LEGO Systems, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaisons: Joe Gregorich, Director, State Government Affairs; Andy Hackman, Senior Director, State Government Affairs
[View Full Charter]

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Strategic Marketing and Communications Committee

The primary purpose of the Strategic Marketing and Communications Committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Association by monitoring and analyzing issues in the toy industry and by providing direction and oversight for the development and implementation of appropriate Association messages, strategies and projects to address defined needs.

NOTE:  This is a Board-level committee with restricted membership.

Chairperson: Jay Foreman, President and CEO, The Bridge Direct/Acorn Management
TIA Staff Liaison: Stacy Leistner, VP, Strategic Communications
[View Full Charter]

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Publicity and Promotion Subcommittee

This Committee shall monitor current issues, and help to predict future issues, that could affect the toy industry from a communications perspective, and assist in the development and implementation of PR strategies and tactics that will positively influence the perception of these issues by the industry’s various audiences. 

Chairperson: Eric Levin, Division President, TechnoSource
TIA Staff Liaison: Stacy Leistner, VP, Strategic Communications; Adrienne Appell, Sr. Manager, Public Relations

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Toy Industry Hall of Fame Committee

The mission of the Hall of Fame Committee is to assist the Board of Directors by overseeing the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, including the nomination of candidates and administration of the voting process, and to foster the visibility, integrity, reputation and stature of the program and its related induction ceremony.

Chairperson: Alan Hassenfeld, Retired Chairman of Hasbro, Inc.
TIA Staff Liaisons: Stacy Leistner, VP Strategic Communications
[View Full Charter]  

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Toy of the Year (TOTY) Committee

The mission of the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards Committee is to assist the Board of Directors by overseeing the TOTY Awards program and continually developing the participation, visibility, integrity, reputation and stature of the program and its related presentation ceremony.

Chairperson: Jamie Gallagher, CEO, Faber-Castell USA/Creativity for Kids
TIA Staff Liaisons: Stacy Leistner, VP Strategic Communications; Adrienne Appell, Sr. Manager, Public Relations
[View Full Charter]

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Trade Events Committee

The Association’s trade events enable member companies to bring product to market in an effective and efficient manner maximizing opportunities to establish profitable relationships with retailers and other toy and youth product industry professionals.  The primary purpose of the Trade Events Committee is to review and recommend policies and procedures that will assist the Board of Directors in its oversight and successful delivery of these events. 

Chairperson: William Beebe, President/CEO, Hoogaloo Toys
TIA Staff Liaison: Marian Bossard, VP, Meetings and Events
[View Full Charter]

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Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) Committees

Abstracts of two TIF committees and the designated staff contact(s) are also included below. To inquire about current and upcoming activities of these committees, please contact the staff liaison(s).

Development and Fundraising Committee

It shall be the duty of this committee to oversee, implement and evaluate TIF’s development initiatives and provide guidance and input regarding industry outreach. Members’ efforts through the TOTY Tribute Book and Leaders Circle campaigns, as well as the establishment of new giving opportunities, generate funding to address the obstacles that stand in the way of children’s access to play.

Co-Chairmen: Robert Wann, Patch Products, Inc; Jerry Cleary, In-Sync Consulting, LLC
Staff Liaisons: Jean Butler, Executive Director, TIF;  Marisa Medina, Foundation Manager

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Toy Bank Committee

This committee shall promote awareness of The Toy Bank, the Toy Industry Foundation’s signature program, and conduct successful drives throughout the year, resulting in an increased number of donors and number of toys donated to benefit children in need.

 Co-Chairmen: Tom Neville, The Canadian Group; Richard Neitz, Rick Neitz & Associates, LLC
Staff Liaison:  Melissa Kipp, Toy Industry Foundation Coordinator

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