Chairman: Patrick S. Feely

Pat Feely was Chairman of the Toy Industry Foundation at its founding in 2002 until 2004 and became chairman again in 2010. He has been on the board each year since the start of the Foundation. He also has been active with the Toy Industry Association for many years having served as its Chairman from 2000 to 2002 after two terms as a Director and as an Advisor from 2002 to 2008.

Since his retirement from Radica Games, Ltd. in 2006, Mr. Feely has been advising toy and other children’s businesses and is currently a director of Playrific. He is also a member of the Pasadena Angels (investors in early stage companies).

A 35-year veteran of the toy and game industry, Mr. Feely was President and CEO of Radica Games, Ltd. from 1999 until 2006 when Mattel, Inc. acquired Radica. During his career he was CEO of Spectrum HoloByte, President of Bandai America and President of the Tonka Toys Division of Tonka, Inc. He began his career in the toy industry in marketing at Mattel Toys in 1977 having previously work at RCA Corporation in new business development. He has a BA in Psychology from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Ellen "Ellie" Block

Ellen "Ellie" Block is President of Nonsense, Inc., a gift, accessories and art consultant business.

Ellie is a Tufts University graduate and registered occupational therapist who worked professionally at the Illinois State Psychiatric Institute and the Chicago Institute of Rehabilitation. While her philanthropic interests range from art to urban issues to community development, her abiding passion is for children.

She joined the Toy Industry Foundation Board in 2005 and chairs it's Grant Committee. She has offered her leadership to a variety of organizations , with posts past and present including: Chairman of the Hasbro Children's Foundation, which focused on improving the quality of life for children, vice president of the Board of the National Lekotek Association, a group dedicated to using play to improve the lives of disabled children and help integrate them into mainstream life; Serving on diverse boards  Taylor Institute  Think Tank on Urban Issues, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee where she has chaired the International Development Program Committee  for Disaster Relief was a Vice Chair of Meyers Brookdale Institute and Chaired the Children's Initiative Committee. She is Chair of Board of Overseers Tufts University- Friedman School of Nutrition. She also serves as an Overseer at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Ellen is a Trustee of the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the September 11 Children's Foundation.

In 2000, Ms. Block was named on of " 100 Women Making a Difference" by Today's Chicago Woman magazine. She was awarded the Charles Loring Brace Award from Children's Aid Society and the National Hannah Solomon Award for work in literacy.

Ms. Block holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Audrey Cohen College for Social Research.

Neil Friedman

An icon of the toy industry who helped first popularize the pairing of technology and toys, Neil Friedman was president of the Mattel Brands division at Mattel, Inc.  Friedman – a Toy Industry Hall of Famer and International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association’s (LIMA) Hall of Famer – oversees all of Mattel, Fisher-Price and Radica:® brands such as Barbie®, Hot Wheels® and Mattel Games, as well as toys licensed by the industry’s leading entertainment properties, such as Disney/Pixar’s CARS, Dora the Explorer™ and Sesame Workshop®.

As president of Fisher-Price Brands from 1999-2005, he oversaw the introduction of electronic learning toys that significantly grew the core Fisher-Price business.  Today, Mr. Friedman continues to ensure that every Mattel toy is “magical” and delivers a “wow” to kids of all ages.  Mr. Friedman joined Mattel in March 1997, following the merger between Tyco Toys, Inc. and Mattel.  Prior to joining Tyco Preschool in 1995, he served as president of MCA/Universal Merchandising; senior vice president, marketing and operations, Just Toys; general manager, baby care division, Gerber Products; president, Aviva/Hasbro, Hasbro’s import division; and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lionel Leisure/Kiddie City.

Mr. Friedman currently serves on the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) Board of Trustees, the charitable arm of the TIA, where he also serves as an advisory member to the organization’s board of directors.

Mr. Friedman attended Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., where he majored in finance.  He serves on the boards of several charitable organizations, including Save the Children and its Survive to Five Council, the executive advisory board of Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF), and the Northside Center for Child Development (New York, NY).

Stephen Gass, President, Every Baby Company

From about the second grade on, Stephen Gass wanted to be a doctor.  Somewhere during college, his interest turned to becoming an elementary school teacher. After a few years in the classroom, the doctor calling returned. But, with just a dissertation to go to complete a PhD in child development, his inner-Geppeto was released by a job at Sesame Street.  Stephen’s spent the last 30 years creating and marketing a wide range of children’s products including toys, books, games and TV for kids between the ages of 6 months to 12 years.  From launching an educational toy group at Coleco, to leading the creative efforts at Scholastic’s and Nickelodeon’s first software divisions, to serving as President of Sesame Workshop, Online, Gass has been an innovator throughout his career. He is a member of the Education Committee of the board of trustees at PBS-affiliate, WNET/ Thirteen.  Currently he serves as the president of the Every Baby Company, an organization he co-founded to create products and programs designed to help parents and their babies transform every day play, the first of which is the multi-award winning series, eebee’s adventures.

John Gessert, President/Chief Executive Officer, American Plastic Toys, Inc.

Mr. John Gessert currently serves as president and chief executive officer of American Plastics Toys, Inc.   He joined the organization in 1984 in sales and operations and, after holding regional sales manager positions, became national sales manager in 1991.  He served as executive vice president from 1998 to 2003 when he was named as president and CEO. 

Gessert is a member of the Toy Industry Association (TIA)’s Board of Directors where he serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board and as a member of the Executive Committee.
Gessert and his wife, Susan, reside in Michigan, with their four children, Ellen, Jack, Emma and Julia.  Mr. Gessert earned his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his MBA from Wayne State University.

Daniel Grossman, Co-Founder, Wild Planet Toys

Mr. Grossman is the Co-Founder of Wild Planet Toys. He started Wild Planet in 1993. Prior to founding Wild Planet, Daniel was the Director of International Sales for Aviva Sports from 1991 – 1993, during which Aviva was acquired by Mattel Toys. In 1992, he joined the senior management team of Mattel International. Prior to joining Aviva Sports, Daniel earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University. He joined the program after serving seven years in the U.S. Foreign Service, as a diplomat both overseas and at the Department of State. He received his B.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University in 1980.

Daniel currently serves on the following Boards: Toy Industry Foundation, Toy Industry Association, the Rosenberg Foundation, the Business Alliance for the San Francisco Unified School District and the Jewish Community Federation. He formerly served on the Boards of: Friends for Youth; The Social Venture Network; Students for Responsible Business; Jewish Community Relations Council; Private Industry Council of San Francisco, the Stanford Center on Ethics, Stand for Youth, the Joshua Venture; and Children's Television and Resource Education Center.

Søren Torp Laursen, President, LEGO Systems, Inc.

Søren Torp Laursen is president of LEGO Systems, Inc. (overseeing operations in North America, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Ireland) all of which are divisions of the family-owned and privately-held LEGO Group, one of the world’s largest toy companies, based in Billund, Denmark.

Bringing 25 years experience with the LEGO Group, primarily in global sales, marketing and leadership, Laursen, who is situated at LEGO Systems Inc., the North American headquarters in Enfield, Connecticut, is responsible for all LEGO sales, marketing and operations for the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Ireland.

Laursen joined LEGO Group in 1986 as international marketing trainee. He became export manager, LEGO Overseas A/S, supporting LEGO sales and marketing through distributors in Africa and Asia. In 1991, he became area manager, LEGO Overseas A/S, responsible for all sales and marketing operations in Asia Pacific. He moved to Auckland in 1996 to begin LEGO New Zealand Ltd., where, as general manager, Laursen took over sales, distribution and marketing from distributors to fuel strong growth for the LEGO brand in the market. He returned to Denmark in 1999 as senior vice president, special markets, responsible for LEGO Europe East, LEGO Educational Division and special sales (global co-promotions and travel retail). In 2000, he moved to London to head the company’s Europe North and Europe East divisions.

Laursen currently is Chairman of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) where he serves on their Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He serves on the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) Board of Directors, as well as a member of the CCMC’s Strategy Task Force Committee. Laursen is also on the Board of Directors of the LEGO Children’s Fund.

Laursen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from The Aarhus School of Business in Aarhus, Denmark and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from The Business School South in Kolding, Denmark.

A native Dane, Laursen and his wife, Annette, reside in Connecticut, with their two children, Camille and Christian.

Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Group Counsel Program Business Affairs for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Ms. Pemberton-Heard is responsible for negotiating content acquisition deals for the national PBS broadcast schedule and PBS.org. Prior to joining PBS, Pemberton-Heard held in-house legal positions with Time Inc. and Discovery Communications, Inc. parent of Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. Pemberton-Heard began her Legal career in private practice as an associate at Connecticut’s Wiggin and Dana and later moved on to the New York firm of Cowan Liebowitz and Latman where she worked on commercial litigation and trademark matters and contributed with D. Goldberg, et al., to “Recent Developments in Copyright” Selected and Annotated Cases, Journal of the Copyright Society (1992); and A. Greenbaum and J. Ginsberg, “1991 Letter Update”  Trademark and Unfair Competition Law, Cases and Materials, The Michie Company (1990).

Ms. Pemberton-Heard holds a B.A. from Tufts University, a Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and is an alumna of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Pemberton-Heard has served as a Co-Chair of Walker Memorial Dinner Gala in Washington DC benefiting Africare, on the Programming Committee of the Washington Episcopal School and is currently mentoring at risk students through the I Have a Dream Foundation as one of the founding members of Level 8.

Genna Rosenberg, Principal, GennComm

Genna Rosenberg joined the Toy Industry Foundation Board of Trustees in February 2010. She is the Principal at GennComm, a full service Communications and Strategy group deeply rooted in the toy industry. Prior to launching GennComm, Rosenberg was Executive Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Communications & Business Development for Imperial Toy LLC, and she also served as Senior Vice President of Communications, Investor Relations and Philanthropy for toymaker JAKKS Pacific for 11 years. She was a key member of the executive management teams for both companies. Rosenberg has vast experience in marketing, communications, licensing and business development, and has worked over the years as a strategic and public ambassador for many of today’s most beloved and classic kids’ brands with industry giants including Disney, Nickelodeon, Marvel, Sanrio, HIT Entertainment, Warner Bros, Sony, Mattel, Hasbro and many more. She is a spokesperson to worldwide media on toy industry issues, and is also deeply passionate about children's philanthropy. She is a Board Member for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times in addition to Toy Industry Foundation. Rosenberg also formalized JAKKS Cares™, under which she directed donations which have totaled over $50 million and positioned the Company as a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility.

Rosenberg has been active on several Toy Industry Association Committees for many years, is a Board Member and featured speaker for Women in Toys, and a member of the Los Angeles Community Leaders group. She was also a PR News 2003 PR Professional of the Year Finalist; LA Business Journal 2009 Women Making a Difference Award for Executive of the Year Finalist and The Women in Toys 2010 Wonder Woman in Toys ‘Woman to Watch’ Winner.

Arnie Rubin, Chairman & CEO, Funrise, Inc.

Arnie Rubin who recently became a full time Park City, Utah resident has been in the toy industry for over forty-five years, starting as a bubble mixer at Chemical Sundries in 1965. In 1969, he co-founded Imperial Toy Company and in 1987 he formed Funrise Toy Corporation. Funrise is best known for its Tonka "light and sound" emergency vehicles with working sirens and lights, which it has manufactured under license from Hasbro since 1999. Funrise produces the popular Gazillion® Bubbles line, which has grown to become the #1 Bubble Brand in the Nation (NPD Group) and has many popular licenses.

Rubin is the past Chairman of the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and Toy Industry Association (TIA). In 2009, he was named to the Toy Safety Certification Program’s Oversight Council and elected as president of the International Council of Toy Industries and is a member if the ICTI Care Board of Governance.

In addition to his support of the Toy Industry Foundation, Rubin has served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Braille Institute, and was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Institute for Families of Blind Children. He organized the Toy Run for Kids benefiting Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, which has brought donations of more than $100,000 annually.

Rubin was recognized for his outstanding contributions and service to the toy industry during the T.O.T.Y. (Toy Of The Year) Awards ceremony held on February 11, 2012, in New York City. Rubin joined former inductees including Alan Hassenfeld and Al Verrecchia, Hasbro, Inc., John Lasseter, Walt Disney Company/Pixar Animation Studios, Sam Walton, Walmart, Neil Friedman and Charles Lazarus, Toys ‘R’ Us to name a few.

Caren Shalek, Principle, CAS Consulting

Caren Shalek joined the Toy Industry Foundation Board of Trustees in February of 2013. She brings a diverse background in consumer products licensing and business development, having over 25 years experience directing all facets of iconic preschool and entertainment brands. 

For the past 6 years Caren has piloted a wide variety of successful projects, including technology and social-media driven IP development, through her CAS Consulting company. Prior to consulting, Caren was Senior Vice President, Consumer Products at PorchLight Entertainment, a children’s and family entertainment company where she served on the Board of Directors. While at PorchLight, Caren was instrumental in the company becoming a leading manager of ancillary rights for children and family brands. 

Caren spent years 5 years with Mattel/Fisher-Price as Vice President Consumer Products, managing over 10,000 products and 100 licensees worldwide. She also served as Vice President of Licensing and Consumer Products and Product Development Worldwide for Sesame Workshop.  It was Caren's team who first brought Tickle Me Elmo to market. She also created and launched programs with retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, FAO and Toys R’ Us. 

Caren holds a degree from Simmons College. She also completed the Thunderbird Global Leadership Program and the Senior Executive Mattel Global Leadership Curriculum.

Al Verrecchia, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hasbro, Inc.

Al Verrecchia, Hasbro’s President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2003 through May 2008 and currently serving as Chairman of the Board, has held several senior executive positions over the years at Hasbro, Inc. including President and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer; President, Hasbro Manufacturing Services; and Executive Vice President, Global Operations, among other key roles. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Verrecchia joined Hasbro in 1965 as a junior accountant.

A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Mr. Verrecchia, now a resident of Narragansett, Rhode Island, is married to his wife Gerrie, and has four children, Michael, Michele, Melisa and Lisa, as well as four grandchildren. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from URI. Mr. Verrecchia also received an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University in 1991 and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Rhode Island in 2004.

In addition to serving on Hasbro’s Board of Directors, Mr. Verrecchia also serves on the board of FM Global, the world’s largest commercial and industrial property insurance company focusing on risk management and specializing in engineering-driven property. Mr. Verrecchia also serves as Chairman of the Board of Iron Mountain, Inc.

Bob Wann, Chief Executive Officer, Patch Products

Bob Wann is the CEO of Patch Products Inc., makers of Patch, Lauri and Smethport Branded toys, games and educational products. Bob proudly serves on the Executive Committee of Toy Industry Association's Board of Directors and holds the Chair position for both the PlayCon Conference Committee and the Toy Industry Foundation's Fundraising Committee.

Wann has over 30 years experience at both Fortune 500 and Entrepreneurial/Start-up companies in U.S and International markets. Through strategic brand and product development combined with creative marketing, he has overseen the development and growth of some of the most recognized brands in Toys and Consumer Packaged Goods, including M&M's, Johnson & Johnson, Fisher Price and Hasbro. Wann developed his brand building and marketing skills at M & M Mars, Johnson & Johnson and American Greetings and later applied these skills as VP of Marketing at Fisher Price, Executive Vice President of Playskool and President/Worldwide General Manager of Milton Bradley/Parker Bros at Hasbro, overseeing the successful introduction or growth of industry recognized brands such as Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Mr. Potato Head, Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, Fisher Price, Playskool, and Nerf.

Wann is widely recognized as a creative thinker and marketer, developing award-winning programs such as "Family Game Night” and “Get Together Games.”

He has been married to his wife Amy for 19 years, and resides in Lake Geneva, WI with their 16-year-old daughter Melanie.