Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT)
The WIT Foundation
WIT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the leading global networking community for professional women working in the toy, licensing and entertainment industries.
Our Mission
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) is a collaborative community that champions the advancement of women through leadership, networking and educational opportunities.
WIT EXECUTIVE BOARD
Janice Ross
WIT President
Managing Partner
Brand Fresh Management
Janice Ross
WIT President
Managing Partner, Brand Fresh Management
Janice Ross is the founder and Managing Partner of Brand Fresh Management and serves as president of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT). Named Game Changer in 2017 by License Global Magazine, she is a multi-disciplined licensing and branding executive. With over 25 years of global experience in the consumer products and entertainment industries, she develops and executes innovative licensing initiatives, high-impact consumer product strategies, and retail programs for diverse brands.
Prior to founding Brand Fresh Management, Janice held top-level roles leading teams at powerhouse companies including American Greetings as Vice President of Global Licensing and Business Development, and LEGO/Create TV as Head of the Americas, where she co-produced successful direct-to-videos for the BIONICLE franchise.
Janice is a passionate and purposeful advocate for the advancement of women. Under her transformational and servant leadership at WIT, the mission-driven organization has grown exponentially both in programming and member engagement. Serving a community of over 3,000 people, WIT is committed to unlocking the full potential of women to drive innovation, creativity, exceptional teamwork, and a sense of purpose.
Janice received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. She is a mom to boy/girl Gen Z twins and resides in Los Angeles with her husband.
Alita Friedman
WIT Treasurer / Secretary
CEO. Alita’s Brand Bar
Mary Kay Russell
WIT Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bernadette Boyle
The Toy Association Liaison
Senior Membership Manager
The Toy Association
Cynthia Nishimoto
Legal Committee Chair
General Counsel
SVP, Business & Legal Affairs
Bandai America Incorporated
Gena Lavallee
Nominations Chair
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Make It Real
Jennifer Caveza
Wonder Women Awards Co-Chair
Industry Executive
Jennifer Quattrock
Design Co-Chair
Creative Director
JenQTRock Design
Karen Kilpatrick
Wonder Women Awards Committee
Author & Entrepreneur
Lourdes Arocho
Corporate Development Committee
VP Global Consumer Products
Paramount Pictures
Scholarship Co-Chair
Head of Nelvana Enterprises,
a division of Corus Entertainment
Michele Martell
Programming Chair
President
Martell Media House
Advisory Board Members
Andrew Kerr
Sutikki
Ann Kearns
AMK Licensing
Anne Marie Kehoe
Walmart (formerly)
Anne Pitrone
Pitrone & Associates
Ashley Mady
Basic Fun!
Barbara Isenberg
North American Bear Co.
Bob Wann
PlayMonster
Brian Goldner
Hasbro, Inc.
Debra Joester
Joester Loria Group LLC
Jay Foreman
Basic Fun!
Joan Packard Luks
The Serenata Group
JoAnn McLaughlin
Marvel Entertainment
Marian Bossard
The Toy Association
Maura Regan
Licensing International
Michael Rinzler
Jazwares / Wicked Cool Toys
Stephen Stanley
Rubie’s Costume Co.
Patti Becker
Becker Associates LLC
Nancy Zwiers
Funosophy, Inc.
Pam Kaufman
ViacomCBS
Steve Totzke
Mattel
OUR STAFF
Mary Kay Russell
Executive Director
Peg Brom
Community Manager
Sandra Lepianka
Operations Manager
Allie Benham
Marketing Manager
Shannon Varcoe
Program Manager
OUR FOUNDERS
Anne Pitrone
With over 20 years’ experience in the design and development of licensed products, Anne Pitrone is an expert at translating some of the most beloved characters into commercially successful ventures, from Cabbage Patch to Spiderman. With an inherent ability to understand parents and kids, Anne interprets their needs and desires into viable products that can be engineered, tooled and manufactured for children around the world. Today, Anne works as a product development consultant to various toy companies. At the center of Anne’s life is expression . . . whether it’s toys . . . art . . . or friendships. She demonstrates that life is an adventure worth exploring, building and sharing with the world!
Susan Matsumoto
Susan Matsumoto began her toy industry career out of college as a doll designer for Mattel. She then moved on to work for several other firms before starting her own packaging design firm, working with both large and small companies. Together with a partner, she founded her own toy company called Fun First, which helped her understand the toy industry from inception and design, to sourcing and manufacturing, through to sales and shipping. Currently, Matsumoto is inventing and designing in partnership with her husband Mel Kennedy in their company Kennedy-Matsumoto Design. In addition to toy concepts, their projects include hair appliances and accessories, household appliances, and pet products
COMMITTEES
Get involved with WIT by joining a committee today!
Email info@womenintoys.com for more information.