Toy Association Virtual Town Hall Meeting Sparks Discussion about Critical Issues Impacting Members

April 30, 2020 | Toy Association executive staff spoke with a small group of Toy Association member companies during its first-ever virtual town hall meeting on April 29, sparking conversations about potential ways the Association can further help members of all sizes and types as they navigate the current pandemic and beyond.

"Our first virtual town hall enabled Toy Association staff to share the work we are doing on behalf of members across a range of critical areas, and allowed us to get crucial feedback from members about initiatives we can take on to better serve their immediate needs," said Ken Ebeling, executive vice president of strategic development and member services. "The meeting was kept to a small number of members to make it easier for us all to have a productive, intimate conversation."

The Toy Association’s Ed Desmond, executive vice president of federal government affairs, discussed current advocacy initiatives and outlined the COVID-19-related business tools available to members, while Marian Bossard, executive vice president of global market events, discussed the future of Toy Fair Dallas and Toy Fair New York and provided details about the new Toy Fair Everywhere virtual market weeks.

"The virtual town hall was a great experience that covered very relevant issues – ranging from trade shows to political advocacy," said town hall participant Brian Rovner, vice president of marketing at Smart Toys and Games. "It’s reassuring to know how active The Toy Association is in working for our industry during these challenging times."

As the Association continues to seek input from members and exchange ideas on how to broaden its services, additional virtual town hall meetings will take place in the coming weeks. The meetings will be kept small to enable each participant to have their voice heard, with the goal of making essential headway on the topics covered. Members who are interested in participating are encouraged to reach out to Bernadette Boyle for more information.