Meet the Senior Team
Carter Keithley, President
Marian
Bossard, Vice President, Meetings & Events
Jean Butler, Vice President, Membership / Executive
Director, Toy Industry Foundation
Kimberly
Carcone, Senior Director of Trade Show & Event Marketing
Ed Desmond, Executive Vice President, External
Affairs
Andy Hackman, Vice President, Government
Affairs
Alan P. Kaufman, Senior Vice
President, Technical Affairs
Joan Lawrence, Vice
President, Standards and Government Affairs
Stacy
Leistner, Vice President, Strategic Communications
Rebecca Mond, Director, Federal Governement Affairs
Peter Sandel, Director, Government Affairs
Paul Vitale, Vice President, Finance &
Administration
Jackson Wong, Director, Exhibit
Accounts and Show Services
Joan Wyche, Director,
Buyer Relations
 Meet Carter Keithley
President
ckeithley@toyassociation.org
646-520-4841
Carter Keithley became President of the Toy Industry Association in
2006. In this position, he is responsible for overseeing the
activities of the $18M+ not-for-profit trade association for the
producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in
North America.
During his tenure, TIA has increased its membership to more than 550
companies responsible for approximately 85% of domestic U.S. toy sales,
the Association’s scope has been expanded to include all companies
in the North American toy industry, and its external affairs initiatives
enhanced to address a broader range of industry-related issues on the
state, federal, regional and global levels.
In 2010, Mr. Keithley received the Chairman’s Award from the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for his leadership with the
Toy Safety Initiative of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC).
Mr. Keithley also serves as Vice Chairman of the NY Society of
Association Executives (NYSAE), a member of the Board of the Small
Business Legislative Council (SBLC) and a member of the Consumer Goods
International Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC-4) of the U.S. Department
of Commerce, International Trade Administration. He has been a
volunteer director and chair of several industry organizations,
including the Associations Council of the National Association of
Manufacturers and the National Council of the Housing Industry.
Additionally, he was an appointee to the Environmental Protection
Agency’s Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC).
A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Keithley
practiced law for several years before joining the association
management firm of Smith, Bucklin. His 35+ year career as chief
executive of more than a dozen industry associations and professional
societies has focused on advocacy and public affairs in areas such as
safety, environmentalism and small business issues.
Download Bio
 Meet Marian Bossard
Vice President, Meetings & Events
mbossard@toyassociation.org
646-520-4853
Marian Bossard joined the Toy Industry Association in August 1999 as
Toy Fair Operations Manager and was appointed Vice President, Meetings
& Events in July 2006.
Ms. Bossard is a 1977 graduate of Rutgers University. She joined
Delta Air Lines in 1978 and remained there 16 years in Sales and
Customer Service. After leaving Delta in 1994, she joined an
exhibit design firm and then Miller Freeman/United Media as Trade Show
Operations Manager in their General Merchandise division.
Ms. Bossard also serves on the volunteer advisory board for the 2011
World Police and Fire Games to be held in NYC, an Olympic style event
with 15-20,000 firefighters and law enforcement personnel from 70
different countries competing in 65 sporting events.
Meet Jean
Butler
Vice President, Membership
Executive Director, Toy Industry Foundation
jbutler@toyassociation.org
646-520-4865
Jean Butler joined the Toy Industry Association in 2003. She
currently holds dual executive positions as Vice President, Membership
for the Toy Industry Association and Executive Director of the Toy
Industry Foundation.
Under her leadership, TIA membership has increased by more than 55%
and all TIA members have committed to ICTI CARE, the toy
industry’s ethical manufacturing program. Ms. Butler is
responsible for membership acquisition, retention, marketing and product
development.
As Executive Director of the Toy Industry Foundation, Ms. Butler has
launched several national programs including Play Helps, to aid the
children of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Play
Heals, a national partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities; a
national partnership with My Stuff Bags Foundation to benefit abused and
abandoned children and Play Comforts, the first-ever national toy
distribution program to serve every branch of the U.S. military through
an exclusive partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Additionally, she oversees all aspects of the Toy Industry Foundation
including program management, grant making, fundraising, budgeting and
communications.
Prior to joining the Toy Industry Association, Ms. Butler held
several management positions within Time Warner Inc., including Director
of Sales and Business Development for Time Life Inc. and Director of
Partnership Marketing for Time Inc. Consumer Marketing. She
initiated Time Life Inc.’s first direct-to-consumer business unit
which included video, music and children’s products. She was
presented with the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Financial
Contribution by Time Warner’s Executive Management. She
holds a BA in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA in
Marketing from the Fordham University Graduate School of Business.
She is currently an adjunct instructor at the Fordham University
Graduate School of Business where she teaches an MBA course entitled
“Marketing to Young Consumers.”
 Meet Kimberly Carcone
Senior Director of Trade Show
and Event Marketing
kcarcone@toyassociation.org
646-520-4869
Kimberly Carcone joined the Toy Industry Association in September
2007 as Director of Trade Show and Event Marketing.
With over twenty years of experience in non-profit and corporate
event management, marketing and publishing, in both New York City and
Washington, DC, Ms. Carcone has had a varied and successful career in
numerous industries such as performing arts and cultural affairs,
interior design and architecture, hospitality, travel,
pharmaceuticals, and most recently the legal arena. Prior to coming to
TIA, Ms. Carcone served in various leadership positions at ALM Events (a
division of American Lawyer Media), E.W. Williams Publications, Miller
Freeman, Inc., VNU Business Media, The American Society of Interior
Designers and the Council on the Arts for the City of Long Beach.
Ms. Carcone studied Association Management at the George Washington
University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the
State University of New York College at Buffalo.
 Meet Ed
Desmond
Executive Vice President, External Affairs
edesmond@toyassociation.org
202-857-9608
Ed Desmond joined the Toy Industry Association in October 2008
from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), where he was Senior
Vice President, Government Affairs.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, Mr. Desmond's primary
responsibility is to be the consistent voice and representative of the
toy industry in the legislative and regulatory arenas. He organizes
and oversees the TIA’s ongoing efforts to address legislative
challenges at the state level, utilizing the resources of TIA’s
seasoned Government Affairs staff as well as outside counsel.
A graduate of California Western School of Law in San Diego, Desmond
began his career as legislative counsel for Rep. Henry Hyde, the former
Republican Congressman representing the northern suburbs of
Chicago. He subsequently served as Director, Government Affairs for
several large corporations, including Ciba-Geigy and Hoffman-La Roche,
before assuming his position at ESA in 2000.
 Meet
Andy Hackman
Vice President, Government Affairs
ahackman@toyassociation.org
202-344-4070
Andrew R. (Andy) Hackman currently serves as the Vice President of
Government Affairs. In this role, he will oversee TIA’s advocacy
programs at both the state and federal levels as well as activities of
the toy industry’s Political Action Committee (TOYPAC).
From 2009-2012, Hackman served as TIA senior director of state
government affairs where he was responsible for managing TIA’s
legislative and regulatory outreach in states across the country and
assisted in coordinating grassroots and coalition activities at the
state level. During this time no negative legislation has passed that
directly targets toys or children’s products.
From 2002 until 2009, Mr. Hackman served as Manager of State Affairs
Programs and Director of State Affairs for the Consumer Specialty
Products Association (CSPA) where he lobbied and provided testimony in
over 25-state capitols on issues such as consumer protection,
environmentally preferable procurement, ingredient safety,
children’s health, and more. Before joining CPSA, Mr. Hackman
worked in congressional and provincial relations for the Canadian
Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hackman received a Bachelors of Science in Public Affairs from
Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs in
Bloomington, Indiana and a Masters of Business Administration from
George Washington University, in Washington D.C.
 Meet
Alan P. Kaufman
Senior Vice President, Technical
Affairs
akaufman@toyassociation.org
646-520-4868
Alan P. Kaufman is a toy industry veteran with more than 35 years of
experience addressing product safety, quality assurance, regulatory
compliance and product testing issues for toy companies and
retailers
Prior to joining TIA in May 2011, Mr. Kaufman was vice president for
global product safety and regulatory affairs at Toys“R”Us,
Inc. Previously, he spent more than a decade directing
production, sourcing and technical services within The Walt Disney
Company and its affiliated companies. Earlier in his career, he
held technical and production positions at a number of toy
manufacturers, including Mattel, Knickerbocker and Coleco.
As part of the External Affairs team, Kaufman leads the continuing
development and implementation of technical policies and strategies
relating to toy safety, the environment, supply chain issues, factory
processes and other related matters.
A graduate of UCLA with a degree in biology and organic chemistry,
Kaufman is a member of the Board of Directors of the International
Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO). He is
also a member of the executive board of ASTM International Committee for
Consumer Products F15, and is very active on a number of its
subcommittees responsible for toy and juvenile product safety
standards.
Based in the Association’s New York City office, Kaufman works
closely with TIA President Carter Keithley, Ed Desmond, executive vice
president of external affairs, and Joan Lawrence, vice president of
standards and government affairs.
 Meet Joan Lawrence
Vice President, Standards and Government Affairs
jlawrence@toyassociation.org
646-520-4844
Joan Lawrence currently serves as TIA’s Vice President of
Standards and Government Affairs. Since joining the Association in
1992, she has managed product safety programs encompassing the
development of safety standards as well as industry and consumer safety
education. Her experience and leadership within the industry spans
a broad range of issues – from product safety and quality to
environmental and other corporate social responsibility initiatives. As
TIA’s primary toy safety spokesperson, her advice on toy safety
and standards appear regularly on websites and in articles and broadcast
segments around the globe and her toy safety shopping tips and
“how to” videos are featured elements of the ToyInfo.org
website.
Ms. Lawrence chairs the ASTM subcommittee on Toy Safety, which is
responsible for the continuing development of toy safety standard ASTM
F963. She is a board member and former president of the International
Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO), a
public-private forum for the advancement of consumer product
safety. She also serves as executive administrator of the
International Council of Toy Industries, Inc. (ICTI), a group of 21 toy
associations from around the world.
 Meet Stacy Leistner
Vice President, Strategic Communications
sleistner@toyassociation.org
646-520-4858
Stacy Leistner joined the Toy Industry Association in January
2009 as Vice President, Strategic Communications.
A 19-year veteran of the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), Mr. Leistner has an extensive background in strategic and crisis
communications, media relations and association management. During his
tenure at ANSI, Mr. Leistner addressed a broad range of national and
global priorities, including homeland security, nanotechnology,
healthcare information technology, identity theft protection and
identity management, alternative energies, and food safety. He also
helped to build an awareness of standards, certification and
accreditation by consumers, and leaders of industry and government.
Mr. Leistner became involved in the work of the toy industry during
the summer of 2008 when TIA engaged ANSI to assist in the development of
the Toy Safety Certification ProgramSM.
Mr. Leistner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration from the University of Evansville in Indiana.
 Meet Rebecca Mond
Director, Federal Government Affairs
rmond@toyassociation.org
202-344-4554
Rebecca Mond joined TIA in April 2011. As Director of Federal
Government Affairs, she works with legislators and regulators to
advocate on behalf of the toy industry’s interests.
Prior to joining TIA, Ms. Mond worked at the American Apparel &
Footwear Association (AAFA) as a Government Relations Manager.
There, she created and served as staff liaison for the AAFA’s
Product Safety Council. While at AAFA, Ms. Mond developed strong
relationships with predominant stakeholders within the product safety
community and helped AAFA members understand and comply with product
safety regulations. In this role, she has developed an expertise
in product safety regulations, creating informational tools for members
and organizing product safety events and seminars, both in the U.S. and
internationally.
Previous to AAFA, Ms. Mond worked at Williams Mullen Strategies,
covering homeland security technology and US-China relations. She
graduated from Georgetown University majoring in government with a focus
on U.S.-China politics and has studied and traveled extensively in
China.
 Meet Peter
Sandel
Director, Government Affairs
psandel@toyassociation.org
646-454-5580
Peter B. Sandel joined TIA in August 2007. As Director of
Government Affairs he assists in managing TIA’s legislative and
advocacy efforts with the Administration, U.S. Congress and federal
agencies. He also manages TIA’s grassroots and coalition
efforts around the country.
With nearly 10 years of political experience, Sandel joined TIA from
The Financial Services Roundtable, a Washington based trade association
representing 100 of the largest integrated financial services companies
at the CEO level, where he lobbied on health care issues and worked on
political and external government affairs for the association.
Prior to joining the Roundtable, Sandel worked in the corporate affairs
department at US Airways focusing on government relations, consumer
issues and strategic communication.
Previous to his private sector work, Sandel worked on Capitol Hill
for Representative Henry Bonilla (TX-23) where he served as a
Legislative Aide and Deputy Press Secretary. Sandel has worked on
a number of political campaigns at the city, state and federal levels,
volunteered with the Texas State Society and held a position on the
annual Taste of the South charitable committee for six years in
Washington D.C. He currently volunteers his time with
Gilda’s Club New York City, providing support for those living
with cancer.
Sandel received a dual Bachelors of Arts degree in American Studies
and Public Relations from Baylor University.
 Meet Paul Vitale
Vice President, Finance & Administration
pvitale@toyassociation.org
646-520-4847
Paul Vitale joined the Toy Industry Association as Vice President,
Finance & Administration effective November 5, 2007.
Mr. Vitale is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years
experience. He has held senior financial positions in both for profit
and not-for-profit organizations and spent over 10 years in public
accounting with Arthur Andersen. Prior to joining the Toy Industry
Association, Mr. Vitale was Senior Director of Finance for the Greater
New York Chapter of the American Red Cross for almost six
years.
Mr. Vitale graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s
degree in accounting from St. John's University in New York. He is a member of the New York State Society of Certified
Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and Financial Executive International.
Mr. Vitale has been a volunteer director since 1995 and treasurer of
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Association, a not-for-profit
provider of mental health services to children and their families based
on Long Island, NY.
 Meet Jackson Wong
Director, Exhibit Accounts and Show Services
jwong@toyassociation.org
646-520-4850
Jackson Wong joined the Toy Industry Association in July 1998 as
Exhibitor Service Manager and was appointed Director, Exhibitor Accounts
& Show Services in July 2006.
Mr. Wong attended the State University of New York at Stony
Brook and earned a degree in Business Administration. Upon graduating,
he joined Resolute Reinsurance Company and remained there for 11
years. When the business was sold, he became a PC consultant
and worked as temporary staff for Toy Fair 1998 in the Event
Operations area. He's been at TIA ever since.
Mr. Wong will be on volunteer staff for the 2011 World Police and
Fire Games to be held in NYC, an Olympic style event with 15-20,000
firefighters and law enforcement personnel from 70 different countries
competing in 65 sporting events.
 Meet Joan Wyche
Director, Buyer Relations
jwyche@toyassociation.org
646-520-4855
Joan Wyche joined the Toy Industry
Association in March 2002 as Registration and Accounts
Manager and was appointed Director, Buyer Relations in January
2010.
Ms. Wyche is an events management
professional with more than 25 years experience in trade shows and
seminars. She started her journey as a trade show
specialist at Starwood Hotels. Later, she moved on to Miller Freeman,
where she was named director of conferences and events. In 1995 she
launched her own event management firm, Meetings by JW, with TIA as one
of her contract accounts.
Ms. Wyche holds a B.A. in Communications from Hunter College and a
Certificate in Direct Marketing from New York University.
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