<p>I&#39;ve been fortunate enough to work in the specialty toy industry since 1997 and even more fortunate to serve in the position of Director of Product Development at Fat Brain Toy Co. since 2009. During my tenure with Fat Brain Toy Co., I&#39;ve helped bring more than one hundred items to the specialty toy market, including such hits as SpinAgain, Tobbles Neo, Squigz, Teeter Popper, Jixelz, Dimpl, and so many more!&nbsp;I am so fortunate to be surrounded by a group of incredibly talented and driven individuals who truly makecoming to work each day an great adventure. In our environment everyone plays a meaningful role in contributing to the success of the company and we all take pride in the work we do. With an extensive background in mail order catalog, merchandising, brand management and product development, I feel I bring many unique perspectives to ASTRA&#39;s Board of Directors and I hope these experiences will contribute greatly to my work with ASTRA. I look forward to growing professionally through this experience. People ask me how I got into the toy industry. My answer? &quot;I was an out of work actor who was lucky enough to find a temp job that became a passion.&quot; I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in both Theatre Arts and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting/Musical Theatre from Minnesota State University in Mankato. I&#39;m even lucky enough to get up on stage once in awhile! I&#39;ve most recently appeared in The Boys Next Door and Chicago and The Wizard of Oz here in Omaha. A native Wisconsinite (Door County), my wife Sara and I lived in the Twin Cities for several years before relocating to Omaha in 2010. We are the proud parents of five daughters, Eva, Beatrice, Matilda, Olive and Willa, who serve as a constant reminder of the importance of creating purposeful toys which provide a foundation for lifelong discovery and curiosity.</p>