Hi Cassidy! Great to catch up and love to share your latest news with our readers! How long were you at Hape Toys, and what is your favorite memory from your time there?

This year would have marked 22 years at Hape! It's hard to choose just one favorite memory. Building the brand with Maggie in the early days is something I’ll always treasure.

Spending time with Peter was also incredibly impactful—his passion is truly inspiring, and I’ve learned so much from him. I also deeply value the relationships I’ve built with our customers and sales reps. The journey we shared has led to many lifelong friendships.

This is an incredible industry, and I feel grateful to be in it!

Why the change with such a great career at Hape?

I was ready for a new challenge. I believe that when things become too comfortable, there’s a risk of becoming stagnant. I’m a creative person at heart and thrive on developing new ideas.

I'm incredibly proud of what I built with the team at Hape, and now I’m excited to bring that same energy and passion to Speedy Monkey!

What is your role and responsibilities at Speedy Monkey?

Director of Sales and Marketing – North America

What is your claim to fame in the toy industry?

Besides knowing Brian Turtle? Not much—haha!

I suppose one would be creating the Lip Sync Battle as a way for everyone to laugh, have fun, and come together. It eventually turned into a full-blown event! This is the toy industry, after all—aren’t we supposed to have fun?

I also came up with the concept for Toy Boat, which the amazing team at ASTRA brought to life. I love the idea of a show where we can spend real, quality time with our customers, build stronger relationships, and grow personally and professionally. Think of it as a corporate retreat with educational sessions for the entire toy industry—with a fun twist.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

That’s a tough one—there are so many rewarding aspects. But if I had to choose, I’d say it’s the relationships I’ve built with customers and being there to support them. Every customer has unique needs, and I truly enjoy the challenge of figuring out what works best for each one.

I also love creating fun programs, developing products, and marketing them through the right channels.

For me, being creative is all about connecting the dots—and when those dots come together, it usually leads to something truly special.

How did you get into the Toy Industry?

I was fortunate to work for an incredible woman, Kathy Klaus, the CEO of Educo. She was the first to introduce bead-and-wire mazes to North America! The inventor of the concept was an Australian school principal named George Valentine, who originally designed it to support children with special needs.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that I once sold only bead-and-wire mazes, especially now that I offer such a wide range of toys. I still remember when Hape acquired Educo—they purchased the wire-bending machines… and got me too. It was a package deal. 😉

That first year was a true transition period. We only had one maze style to sell, the “Purple Parade.” Customers would often call asking for the Supermaze, and I’d reply, “You don’t want that one—we’ve got a great deal on the Purple Parade!” It turned into a forced long-running promotion, and I suppose that’s where I got my sales chops!

What was your favorite toy as a child?

I played a lot out side and building Forts, swimming in creeks and getting dirty. But if I had to pick one Toy I loved it was Lite Brite!

Getting to make little works of Art and you get to see it glow after!

Are you named after Anyone?

My dad was a big fan of Westerns! Hopalong Cassidy and also liked Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. So that’s where he got Cassidy.  I picked my Instagram Handle as a nod to my Dad @hop_along_cassidy “Toy Cowboy” – Can Lasso fun from almost anywhere! Follow me but not too close I have spurs on my dress shoes 😉

What are you most looking forward to in your new role ahead?

Connecting the dots! I’m eager to learn everything I can—listening to customers, working closely with reps, and finding ways to help them succeed. It’s such a beautiful product line, and my goal is to promote it and get it into the hands of customers so they can experience it for themselves.

Most of all, I’m excited about the opportunity to build a brand again. And yes—I’m even looking forward to saying I’m a monkey! 🐒