Responsible for leading and managing creative content development for the first firm-wide intellectual property initiative. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining compelling, coherent and protect-able intellectual property that can be exploited across all of the LeapFrog lines of business including toys, multi-media learning, and reading. Other responsibilities include:• Leading development of a series of child-directed fictional characters and narrative contexts for use in new products across the LeapFrog product range• Ensuring LeapFrog product characters meet long-term strategic, marketing, educational and branding goals• Developing characters and content that ensures the LeapFrog character platform grows with curriculum and learning objectives needs• Developing intellectual property that is durable and expandable across all lines of business and in all international and domestic markets• Developing and maintaining the style guide that clarifies and enforces LeapFrog content IP and reviews all subject products ensure coherence and compliance

Responsible for designing and developing content for toys from initial concept through release to production. Leads content design for electronic education toys targeted to infant, toddler and preschool-aged children including defining the physical features, modes of play, age-appropriate and marketable curriculum, and user interfaces. Toy content includes games, songs, dialogue, animations, and integrated narratives. Other responsibilities include:• Leading product development from initial concept through final development of software and hardware including usability and market testing (kid testing), implementation (writing, talent casting, recording, software development) and tracking project details (including budgets and schedules)• Coordinating Marketing, Industrial Design, Audio, Production, Learning and Hardware/Software engineering teams to develop and execute new toy concepts• Creating engaging, fun and educational product content and on-shelf retail ‘try-me’ experience • Marketing toy content concepts to all levels of the organization• Managing international product localization

Responsible for managing the product development process with licensees for hard and soft goods in multiple product categories.• Managed licensees as primary point of contact through the product development process of goods in Infant and Toddler Feeding, Bath and Care for multiple franchises including Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Cars, Handy Manny, Disney Princess, Disney Fairies and Baby Einstein• Coordinated with creative and packaging teams, character artists and category managers to manage product submissions and approvals via the Disney Consumer Products OPA system to provide detailed and strategic direction to licensees while ensuring Disney brand and character franchise integrity and quality• Provided support services to licensees including managing and fulfilling creative requests, art distribution and asset management; collaborating on inputting of financial forecasting data; and sample management• Managed product packaging development and approval process for all Infant Hardgoods categories for the US and Canada to ensure a cohesive merchandising presence at retail• Coordinated creating product samples and/or presentation materials with licensees or creative team for retail sales pitch meetings, road shows, trade shows, etc.

Responsible for product development including process and material selection; manufacturing scheduling, planning, estimating, and buying; traffic management of print materials; and QA and product safety testing for assigned game products.• Selected to drive design, product development and production of the two highest profile products (of 30) for Fall domestic line up, achieving time and exceeding cost of goods targets by 2%• Managed the product development, manufacturing, and final shipment of 13 SKUs (board, card, plastic and electronic games and toys) including localizing international products which contributed to the overall growth of the company by 25% • Owned the agenda and working relationship with sourcing agent, China factories, and overseas partners including vendor evaluation and qualification in compliance with ICTI / ISO 9001 standards

Responsible for creating and maintaining the design development packages for all categories of Men’s Sportswear and Junior’s Jeans divisions.• Produced the design specifications for 120 SKUs per season in design computer• Consulted on all design aspects of garment development; collaborated with technical design on fitting • Partnered with merchandisers to develop color palettes and accessories; select silhouettes and fabric stories; and approve fabrics, graphics, and accessories for layout, color, and quality

Responsible for assembling presentations for quarterly seasonal line selection; assisting designers with developing color palettes, accessories, and approvals.• Managed information systems to streamline the development process, providing flexibility to accommodate ongoing revisions and updates

Responsible for managing the development of toy products from initial concept to final shipment; coordinated between US customers and China factories; and represented the company at international toy fairs and conferences.• Developed products (40 SKUs per year) including two major toy lines, increased client's production by over 50%, and cut overall material/development costs• Managed existing and potential accounts including major US toy manufacturing clients for brands including Breyer Horses, Bosun Boats, and Microstars Collectibles