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.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Ashley Mady
President
Head of Brand Development
Basic Fun!
Ashley Mady
Ashley Mady has been a resolute champion and member of WIT since 2010. Prior to becoming president in 2014, she served the organization in numerous roles — as board member, Wonder Women Gala Co-Chair, Social Media Chair, various Event Chair positions, and Florida Chapter Chair. Under her senior leadership, WIT has more than quadrupled its membership through community involvement and immersive programming.
Throughout her career, Ashley has been recognized as a creative hybrid who blends innovation with business. In her current position as Head of Brand Development at Basic Fun!, she leads the conceptualization of the company’s new sustainable brands portfolio, oversees the company’s digital and social media initiatives, and works collaboratively with internal teams on growth plans that drive innovation for new and existing brands.
Prior to joining Basic Fun!, Ashley founded and helmed the brand licensing and creative agency, Brandberry. There she spent close to a decade launching new IP from the ground up, and reinvigorated established brands. Ashley began her career at one of the world’s largest toy companies, starting in creative services and then moving into a marketing role. Ashley uses her diverse experience to relate to and craft programming for the many different types of WIT members.
Ashley also serves on the Chairman’s Advisory Committee of The Toy Association.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Janice Ross
Vice President
Managing Partner
Brand Fresh Management
Alita Friedman
Secretary / Treasurer
CEO
Alita’s Brand Bar
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary Kay Russell
Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bernadette Boyle
The Toy Association Liaison
Senior Membership Manager
The Toy Association
Bisma Ansari
Corporate Development Committee
SVP & Global Brand GM
MEGA Brands – Mattel
Cynthia Nishimoto
Legal Committee Chair
General Counsel
SVP, Business & Legal Affairs
Bandai America Incorporated
Deb deSherbinin
Empowerment Co-Chair & Communications Co-Chair
Founder & CEO
KidSmart
Gena Lavallee
Corporate Development Committee
Vice President Marketing/Licensing
Cra-Z-Art
Genna Rosenberg
Wonder Women Awards Co-Chair
& Sponsorship Chair
CEO
GennComm, LLC
Jadyn Rosario
Regional Chapter Chair
Category Manager - Strategic Initiatives
Nintendo
Jennifer Caveza
Wonder Women Awards Co-Chair
SVP Toys
ViacomCBS
Jennifer Quattrock
Design Co-Chair
Creative Director
JenQTRock Design
Jessica Gavin
Scholarship Chair
Partner
Gavin Hoss Group
Julie Powell Christopher
Marketing Committee Chair
SVP, Marketing, North America
Entertainment One
Karen Kilpatrick
Nominations Chair
Author & Entrepreneur
Laurie DeLuca
Design Co-Chair
Founder
Innovation Grove
Laurie Schacht
Communications Chair
CEO/Toy Insider
Adventure Publishing
Lourdes Arocho
Corporate Development Committee
VP Global Consumer Products
Paramount Pictures
Mellany Masterson
Scholarship Co-Chair
VP, Sales Consumer Products and International
Corus Entertainment / Nelvana Enterprises
Michele Martell
Programming Chair
President
Martell Media House
Nancy Zwiers
Empowerment Co-Chair
Mentor and Coach
Retired Industry Veteran
Stefanie Barone
Promotions Committee Chair
VP of Design
Wicked Cool Toys
Advisory Board Members
Andrew Kerr
Sutikki
Ann Kearns
AMK Licensing
Anne Pitrone
Pitrone & Associates
Anne Marie Kehoe
Walmart
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
LIMA
Michael Rinzler
Wicked Cool Toys
Stephen Stanley
Rubie’s Costume Co.
Patti Becker
Becker Associates LLC
Neil Friedman
Alex Brands
Pam Kaufman
Nickelodeon
Steve Totzke
Mattel
OUR STAFF
Mary Kay Russell
Executive Director
Peg Brom
Community Manager
Sandra Lepianka
Operations Manager
Elizabeth Ross
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.