News

October 29, 2021
People of Play releases Virtual POP week schedule

People of Play (POP) announced its official schedule for the Virtual POP Week, running from Nov. 15-20, 2021. The week includes The Toy & Game International Innovation Summit, POP Duo Keynotes Legends & Leaders, Networking in the POP Pub Rooms, Entertainment on the Fair Stages, TAGIE Awards, and Young Inventors Challenge.

“Our 2021 program is turning out to be one of the most innovative we’ve ever had,” said Mary Couzin, CEO and founder of the Chicago Toy & Game Week (CHITAG). “We’re bringing our industry and other entertainment industries together in new and exciting ways to share ideas and cross pollinate. We’re creating network opportunities, bringing in the highest caliber of diverse speakers we’ve ever had and awarding deserving companies and kids with both the TAGIE awards and Young Inventor’s Challenge as well as stages of entertainment at the Fair. There’s something for everyone.”

Events

Virtual POP Week runs from Nov. 15-20.

Monday, Nov. 15 | Sponsored by Mattel

Keynotes:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Richard Dickson, president and COO, Mattel, and Robbie Brenner, Academy nominated producer, executive vice president executive producer, Mattel Films.
  • 9:30 a.m. – David Fuhrer, managing director, BlueSquare Innovations with more than 300 licensed products generating retail sales over $1 billion, and Shawn Green, former Major League Baseball right-fielder for the Dodgers and Mets. First round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star; holds or is tied for many major league records.

Meetings:

  • 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. – Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appointment).
  • 4:00 p.m. – Tips for Your POP Profile with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room

POP Pub: Networking, Questions and Fun

  • 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. – POP Pub UNO Room Hosts Tanya Thompson, senior director design innovation and inventor relations, Hasbro and Dougal Grimes, vice president of innovation and inventor relations at Spin Master ~ Games, Gund, Outdoor and Activities.

Tuesday, Nov. 16 |Sponsored by Exploding Kittens

Keynotes:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Elan Lee, co-founder, Exploding Kittens, and Jeff Probst, Emmy winning host, executive producer of Survivor and more!

Meetings:

  • 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. – Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appointment).
  • 4:00 p.m. – Unleash the Power of POP with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room.

POP Pub: Networking, Questions and Fun

  • 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. – POP Pub hosted by Dave Harris, senior director, inventor relations and strategic partnerships at Mattel, and Brendan Boyle, partner at IDEO.

Wednesday, Nov. 17 | Sponsored by:The Michael Kohner Corporation, Goliath, Litzky PR and Longshore Ltd.

Keynotes:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Jim Pressman, past president, Pressman Toy Company, Michele Litzky, founder, Litzky PR, Tom Kalinske, executive chairman at Mixed Dimensions, prior CEO of Sega America, Leapfrog and Mattel – all are TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Honorees for 2021! Moderated by Chris Byrne the Toy Guy.
  • 4:00 p.m. – Maximizing the Search Capabilities of POP with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room

Meetings:

  • 10:00 a.m until 5:00 p.m. – Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appointment).

POP Pub: Networking, Questions and Fun

  • 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. – POP Pub hosted by TBA

Thursday, Nov. 18 | Sponsored by Andrews McMeel Universal and Nextoy

Keynotes:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Will Shortz, crossword editor, The NY Times, puzzle master, NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and Garry Trudeau, a Pulitzer Prize winning American cartoonist best known for creating the Doonesbury comic strip. Trudeau is also the creator and executive producer of the Amazon Studios political comedy series Alpha House.

Meetings:

  • 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. – Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appointment).
  • 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. – New Inventor and Student Zoom Pitches

Networking, Questions and Fun:

  • 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. – POP Pub hosted by David Norman, global president and CMO of Gaming at Goliath and Jim McCafferty, president and CEO of JMP Creative.

Friday, November 19 | Sponsored by MEGO Corporation

Keynotes:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Marty Abrams, father of Action Figures and president of Mego with Brian Volk Weiss, founder and CEO, The Nacelle Company, Creator of the Toys that Made Us.

Meetings:

  • 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. – Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appointment).

Watch Parties:

  • 4:00 p.m. – POP watch parties include: UNO Room and TBA. Let us know your watch party and we will list you here!

TAGIE Awards

  • 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. -Toy & Game International Excellence Awards – The TAGIEs, will be held. This event celebrates fellow toy industry colleagues and can be experienced from the comfort of home. This event is hosted by Karri Bean, senior licensing manager for LEGO at Disney Parks Experiences & Products.

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21| Chicago Toy & Game Fair and The Young Inventor Challenge!

  • There is something for everyone at the virtual Fair! In addition to seeing cool inventions from the under 18 crowd at the Young Inventor Challenge, Stages of Entertainment and Shopping Experiences await from favorite toy and game companies.

For more information or to register for the Virtual POP Week, visit www.chitag.com.




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