Hi Robb! We’re excited to officially welcome you as Chair of the TAGIE Awards Committee and to the POP Advisory Board—and thought this was the perfect time for our readers to get to know you a little better. Why don't you start by telling us what do you do in and out of our industry?

I'm the Director of Merchandising, Hardlines at Disney Experiences, overseeing Toys, Plush, Dolls, Collectibles, Ornaments, Fine Art, and Souvenirs. I've been with Disney for 25 years now, with the vast majority of that time spent developing product across a wide range of categories. I'm part of the vertical retail team at Disney that leads the retail strategies for Disney Parks and Disney Stores. On any given day that means everything from shaping multi-year category strategy to sitting in a showroom talking through product reviews with my team. I also chair the TAGIE Awards Committee and sit on the POP Advisory Board, so a good chunk of my world outside of Disney is spent with this industry's community too.

Outside of the toy space, I'm an active volunteer within my hometown of Celebration, FL, a Founding Member of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and I love to travel, garden, fish, ski, and enjoy good food (and wine).

Why and how did you get into the Toy and Game industry?

My path in was anything but conventional. As a young professional and Retail Manager at the Magic Kingdom Park, I always wondered how our products actually came to be. Being on the frontline, it felt mysterious to me, this whole world happening somewhere behind the scenes. During a mentorship session, I was introduced to an executive who led that very team. I was thrilled, but I also knew, on paper, I wasn't qualified for a role like that.

So I asked if I could volunteer, one day a week, in that department, on what would've been my day off from my "real" job. To my surprise, they said yes. For a year and a half, I gave up my day off to show up and learn, and the people on that team invested in me and in my growth within the product space in a way I'm still grateful for. It genuinely changed the trajectory of my career.

After that year and a half, they offered me a role in the department. Years later, I've had the enormous opportunity to grow into an executive, with so many incredible experiences along the way.

What advice do you have for people starting in the industry?

Raise your hand, even when you don't feel qualified yet. I didn't have the resume for this industry when I started, I just had curiosity and a willingness to show up on my day off and learn. Nobody handed me a title first; I had to earn the trust of the people already doing the work.

So my advice is simple: find the people already doing what you want to do, ask genuine questions, and look for ways to add value before you ever ask for anything in return. This industry is small and relationship-driven, the people who invest in you early often become the same people who open doors for you years later. Be patient with the process, but don't be patient about starting it.

What are you working on now?

Here at Disney, we're pretty confidential about our plans, so I can't get into everything just yet. But what I'm genuinely excited about right now is our new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Batuu Adventure Buddies lineup, and honestly, the credit for this one belongs to my Merchandising team, along with our Product Designers and key Sourcing partners, who all brought it to life together. It's been years in the making, and it's easily one of the most connected products this team has ever developed.

These aren't just plush toys, they're companions that come alive the moment you interact with them. A head touch or belly rub brings out real emotion through expressive eyes and motorized facial features, along with their own signature sounds and giggles, all thanks to the technical ingenuity of our merchandising, design, and sourcing teams working hand in hand. Take your Buddy into Galaxy's Edge itself, and beacons throughout Black Spire Outpost trigger location-specific reactions, so the toy is actually responding to where you are in the story. They even notice each other, and Mubo's Droids, striking up their own little conversations when they're near one another.

We're launching with the Ewok, and there are more characters on the way in the near future, so this is really just the beginning of the lineup.

It's the kind of product that reminds me why I love this job, watching a talented team turn something this ambitious into reality. It doesn't just sit on a shelf, it extends the story of the destination itself, long after the guest has left Batuu.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Two things, really. The first is the team and partners I get to work with every day, there's nothing quite like being surrounded by people who bring that much creativity and care to their work. The second is working with a brand that carries so much admiration across the globe, with what feels like endless product opportunities to explore.

But if I'm being honest, it all comes together in one moment: seeing our toys hit shelves, land in the hands of kids and collectors, and watching their reaction. That's when it all becomes worthwhile. In that moment, it stops being an object entirely, it becomes a piece of magic, a small extension of the brand that millions of people carry in their hearts, and a memory a family will hold onto long after their Disney Parks vacation has concluded.

What trends do you see in toys or games that excite or worry you?

What excites me most right now is the kidult and collector space. Seeing adults chase down a limited release with the same excitement a kid has on Christmas morning tells me play never really has an age limit, it just evolves. Trading card games have been a huge part of that too; watching something like Disney Lorcana create genuine cultural moments and turn our stores into a real destination for collectors has been energizing to be part of.

What worries me a little is how quickly some of these same categories can saturate. The blind box and collectible space, in particular, is facing steep price competition as more players pile into what worked for someone else. The trend that wins is never just "more of the same, faster", it's whoever finds a way to bring genuine storytelling and craftsmanship to a category before it becomes a commodity. That's the balance I think about constantly: how do we stay ahead of a trend instead of chasing the tail end of it.

What was your favorite toy growing up?

Truth be told, I wasn't much of a "toy kid." I spent most of my childhood outside, on the farm working or playing with my extended family out in nature. That said, as a young kid, I loved my Glo Worm! (kind of embarrassing!)

Who is the person you most admire?

Personally, my mother. I come from a small town in Western Massachusetts, where my family operates a 200+ acre farm and greenhouse business. She's a true inspiration, not only for being the best mother in the world, but for how she juggled so many priorities at once. She taught me that all you have in life is your name, that integrity is everything, and she brought that same entrepreneurial spirit to everything she did. I also credit her with passing down my love and passion for the Disney brand.  Love ya Mom!