Keep up with Amy on LinkedIn! What did you think you were going to be in elementary school or high school? When I took a school-mandated survey on interests, it pointed me to a field in horticulture or botany.   Did you study PR? If so, why? If not, what did you study? ​​I was a communications major in college and took a PR class pass/fail. Ironically, I absolutely hated it, LOL, and barely passed. It was purely textbook study with no real world application.  After college, I tried to get a job in TV but was not successful. I ended up applying to PR and advertising jobs in New York and landed my first PR job. I figured I'd give it a shot and see if it was different from my college class and boy was it! You just never know, do you? :)   How did you make your way to Carve? I made my way to Carve when they acquired Freeman Public Relations, as our CEO Bruce Maguire was ready to retire. The entire team moved over to Carve Communications in November of 2024.   What do you do today at Carve? I'm the EVP at Carve Communications, leading teams in the toy and consumer product space — from exciting media-worthy special events and trade/media shows, to high-level media relations and impactful influencer marketing. No two days are the same, and I love that!   What is the coolest project you've ever worked on - anywhere? It's a tie. The first was the Michael Jordan Space Jam press conference for Warner Bros. Consumer Products where we had an entire ballroom audience filled with media at the Licensing Show. It was a huge 'spectacular' special event that went off without a hitch.  The second was the National Donut Day press conference for Entenmann's donuts with former New York Giants Victor Cruz. It was a sweet moment on the streets of New York for this experiential consumer and media-filled event.   What is the career accomplishment you're most proud of? I'm most proud of the careers that I have helped nurture and grow over my 25+ year career. Seeing the successes of the people that I have trained is truly rewarding and brings me so much joy!   What is your superpower? My superpower is my creativity. In brainstorming sessions, I'm always saying, "I have this crazy idea, I'm not sure if this will work, but wouldn't it be great if we could..."  I like to reach for the stars and start the conversation for thinking and expansion. I also like to show my teams that it's okay if every idea is not a great idea, but contributing and building on ideas is what it's about.   What would you love to learn more about (outside of PR)? I'm very big into gardening and expanding my green thumb brings me great joy — plus loads of home-grown veggies! Win-win!   If you were asked to teach someone how to do something in 5 minutes, what would it be? Baking a loaf of sourdough bread. It seems very complicated to most, but it's really quite easy if you follow the exact measurements and steps... and the reward of taking a fresh loaf out of the oven and enjoying that first warm slice is priceless!

Submit Your Nominations Now through May 31 CHICAGO, IL | April 14, 2026 — Nominations are now open for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honor at the 2026 Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, hosted annually by People of Play™ (POP). Taking place on November 6, this year’s event marks the TAGIEs’ 19th year celebrating the outstanding innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR professionals, and marketers who drive creativity and success across the global toy and game industry.   “The heart of this industry has always been its people — the creators who dare to imagine something new and bring it to life,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “The TAGIE Awards celebrate that spirit of innovation and connection, and the Lifetime Achievement honor recognizes those whose contributions have paved the way for generations of inventors and innovators.”   Anyone in the industry may submit a nomination by May 31, 2026. There is no fee to nominate a candidate for consideration. Criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award includes:   Long experience and record of accomplishment in the play industry. Innovative product or marketing introductions. Charitable efforts benefiting children and/or children’s causes. An unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry.   The TAGIEs ceremony is one of several events that takes place during People of Play’s annual POP Week, taking place November 5 to 8 in Rosemont, IL, including the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair. Click here for more information about the TAGIE Awards and follow along on social media using #tagies, #chitag, #chitag2026, & #peopleofplay. Photos from the 2025 TAGIE Awards are available here.   Past TAGIE Lifetime Achievement honorees include:   2008 - Jeffrey Breslow 2009 - Reuben Klamer 2010 - Eddy Goldfarb 2011 - Burt Meyer 2012 - Theo and Ora Coster 2013 - Howard Morrison 2014 - Michael Kohner and The Kohner Family 2015 - Richard Maddocks 2016 - Reyn Guyer 2017 - Adi Golad 2017 - Judy Blau 2018 - Paul Rago and David Small 2019 - Ivan Moscovich 2020 - Erno Rubik 2021 - Tom Kalinske, Michelle Litzky and the Pressman Family 2022 - Leslie Scott, Kantaro Tomiyama, and Alan Hassenfeld 2023 - Jill Barad and Rouben Terzian 2024 - Mary Danby and Dan Romanelli 2025 - Mike Moody & Phil Orbanes   About the TAGIE Awards chitag.com/2026-tagie-awardsFounded in 2008, the Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world, by honoring masters of innovation. The annual event also pays homage to industry professionals who differentiate themselves with their spirit for fun, philanthropy, inventor advocacy, creativity, and humanitarianism. Inventors, designers, manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, media, public relations and marketing professionals, and the general public come together for this prestigious annual gala event. The TAGIEs are hosted annually in the fall in conjunction with the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, and the Young Inventor Challenge.   About People of Play™ peopleofplay.com People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources, the largest toy and game directory in the industry, and a wide range of events, including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge®, the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, and more.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily AuriemmaPeople of Play PR856-723-3055emilya@carvecomms.com

Celebrate Minnesota Game and Toy Community on Friday, July 10th Kicking off the AGPI 2026 Conference!   The Association for Games and Puzzles International (AGPI), Games by James, and People of Play invite you to attend a social celebration of Minnesota Board Games & Puzzles: Past and Present. People of Play is well know for their pub events around the world and is excited to host their first in the greater Minneapolis area. Everyone in the toy and game industry is welcome to attend! Register HERE!   This event kicks of the 2026 AGPI Annual Convention. A complete schedule can be found at www.gamesandpuzzles.org.   Who is invited? Board Game & Puzzle publishers, designers, industry folk, collectors and  enthusiasts When? Friday, July 10th  5:00 – 6:00 Social Hour  6:00 – 7:00 Buffet Dinner  7:00 – 8:00 Facilitated Discussion  8:00 - ?? Open gaming and puzzling and mingling Where? DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, 2020 American Boulevard East  Bloomington, Minnesota 55425 Cost $75 if attend Fri./Sat. and $100 if just Fri. Register HERE!   Sponsorship Opportunities $250 We are looking for companies to sponsor our event. Sponsorship includes your name/logo on all promotional materials, including website, program and marketing flyers. To become a sponsor, please contact Nadine Sehnert at games@nadinesehnert.com.   The Association for Games & Puzzles International (AGPI) Founded in 1985 by Bruce Whitehill, is the world’s foremost organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of games and puzzles.   As an international association, the AGPI is chartered to conduct research and explore the history of games and puzzles from ancient times to the present, and to disseminate information about games and puzzles to the broadest audience possible, including the general public, the media, libraries, museums, scholars, and others. Games and puzzles offer a remarkable view of our cultural past and future!   Games by James Games by James is a family-owned specialty retailer founded in 1979, offering board games, puzzles, and hobby products. The company operates eight stores across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including three combo locations with its sister brand, Air Traffic Toys. At Mall of America, the company operates Games by James, Air Traffic, and its dedicated jigsaw puzzle store, Puzzles by James. The business traces its roots to Glenn McKee, the brand’s first franchisee, who later consolidated ownership. Today, it is fully owned and operated by his son, Logan McKee, who acquired the business in 2019.   People of Play\CHITAG  People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association, supports the global toy and game industry by fostering innovation, creativity, and connection. Founded by Mary Couzin in 2003 as the Chicago Toy & Game Group and rebranded as POP in 2020, the organization has grown into a leading community and resource hub for industry professionals, inventors, and play enthusiasts of all ages. Through its dynamic platform and events—including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, and POP Pub networking events held worldwide since 2018—POP connects and celebrates the people and ideas shaping the future of play.

What could be more important to a child than imaginative play? Modern toys are feature rich, no doubt – but sometimes bells and whistles can take center stage over fundamental design. Does it need to charge to be played with? Does it really need an app? There will always be a need for companies with big ideas and a grounded philosophy of fostering analog, imaginative play. Jasey’s Toy Chest brings the joy of classic, imaginative play back to households with thoughtfully designed wooden toys that are developmentally rich and joyful, while centering on educational play and fun.