Rising Leader
Under 500 Employees
Recognizes an early professional from a small-to-mid-sized company who is making bold contributions and showing strong leadership potential.
Anna Lommatzsch
Informa Markets - Global Licensing Group
Sr. Event Manager
Anna Lommatzsch exemplifies leadership, innovation, and sustainability as Senior Event Manager, transforming the licensing, toys, and entertainment industries. Her initiatives have driven impactful change, including recycling 90% of Licensing Expo waste, donating 2,200 pounds to Las Vegas charities, and partnering with Delivering Good to aid disaster-affected communities. Anna champions inclusivity through partnerships with Magic Wheelchair, Women in Toys, and Licensing International’s Diversity Accelerator Program. She fosters mentorship via Networking Hub workshops and student programs, empowering underrepresented groups. Her process-driven approach streamlines operations, while her sustainable efforts ensure events meet top environmental standards, solidifying her legacy of purpose-driven excellence.
Cassie James
CrunchLabs
Operations Manager
Cassie demonstrated rapid leadership growth, taking ownership of fulfillment and customer service operations, evolving from task oversight to driving the execution of solutions. As acting hiring manager ahead of peak season, she recruited and onboarded 11 seasonal hires to ensure service continuity. She led the IDS partnership through a period of major disruption, including its acquisition by DHL, rollout of PANDA automation and a transition to a new WMS and Shopify overhaul. Navigating personnel changes, fulfillment challenges and unexpected demand surges, Cassie ensured operational stability, successfully shipping 99% of holiday orders on time despite sales exceeding projections.
Evy Reinink
Goliath
Global Brand Manager, Clickeez
Evy conceived, developed, and launched Clickeez, a breakout girls collectible built around an innovative keycap customization play pattern. Under her leadership, the line has reached 10M units in the hands of kids and adults, generated 20M+ social views, and driven an 800% resale markup.The brand was named Collectible of the Year in France, earned Goliath recognition as a Toy Inventor of the Year finalist at The Toy Book’s Pulse of Play Awards, and secured placement in the Amazon US 2025 Holiday Toy Book: Toys We Love. She has expanded brand into Hello Kitty and Care Bears licensing this fall.
Jennifer Ford
MAGNA-TILES
Sr. Manager of Product Development
Jenn Ford exemplifies leadership, innovation, and perseverance as PD Manager. She developed and implemented new PD processes that improved efficiency and established a scalable framework. Jenn consistently uses data and consumer insights to guide decisions, ensuring concepts align with customer needs and drive success, as seen in the sales of our #1 item, the MicroMAG Travel set. She leads product costing, collaborating cross-functionally to balance creativity with financial discipline and maximize profitability. Through her strategic mindset and execution, Jenn has made a meaningful impact on team performance and business results, making her a strong candidate for the Rising Leader award.
Jimeka Broussard
Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Sr. Director, Global Licensing & Sales
Jimeka Broussard seamlessly oversees global licensing and sales for Dr. Seuss Enterprises, including leading global licensing strategy to drive product revenue growth and brand relevance across all key markets. She continuously collaborates with international agents to diversify Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ licensing portfolio abroad, strategically penetrating new regions like APAC, and cultivating emerging markets for DSE across LATAM, such as Brazil. The digital segment of Dr. Seuss Enterprises also falls under Broussard’s purview, where she assists the brand in expanding its digital footprint for Seuss fans across the world.
Laura Mangiaracina
The Toy Association
Sr. Director, Sales, Global Experiences
Laura's been a driving force in transforming TA's long-envisioned LA presence into a reality through the new Toy Building, delivering +100,000sqft of vibrant, engaging show space for the global toy industry. Through her leadership and strong industry relationships, this long-awaited LA experience went from concept to open-for-business in less than a year. Laura's impact extends to Toy Fair, where she has elevated brand visibility through innovative sponsorships for more than a decade. Laura consistently demonstrates strategic leadership, mentorship, and a deep commitment to cultivating talent and opportunity for the industry. Her vision and persistence have shaped critical growth for members.
Lauren Bemister
Roo & You
Executive Ops Manager
Lauren joined Roo & You in a support role and has grown into the operational backbone of the company. Over the past year, she has jumped into finance, operations, and team management, proactively expanding her scope to step in wherever needed. She introduced 1:1s, improved accountability across the team, and brought structure to a fast-moving environment. Most notably, she recovered over $250,000 in vendor disputes and duty drawbacks, a result that required persistence, analytical thinking, and strong ownership. Her ability to identify gaps, take initiative, and deliver measurable outcomes demonstrates both leadership and resilience.
Sam Shutman
Entertainment Earth
Director of Client Relations
Sam built a dynamic staffing model based on volume forecasts, enabling accurate staffing to meet CS metrics consistently. She developed Communication Standards that directly improved customer experience, reflected in a 90% CSAT rating. Her customer feedback action plan identified and addressed DTC journey pain points, creating an ongoing improvement loop. She also spearheaded Entertainment Earth's peer-to-peer recognition program, strengthening cross-departmental relationships and reinforcing company values. After earning two promotions in one year—from CS Manager to Director of Client Relations—Sam reduced cost per interaction by over 10% while simultaneously improving both customer satisfaction and employee welfare through targeted training programs.
