Hi Donna! 

Great to see you at the ASTRA Show after so many years!

Can you share with our readers your roles and responsibilities in our industry?

I’m the VP of Advertising and Marketing for TTPM  and TTPM Influencer Talent Management – I help clients with suggestive ways to spend their ad dollars whether with TTPM in our b2b, website, or influencer/media events. And with the Influencer division its daily contact with companies negotiating campaigns from shoes to shampoo for our 77 + influencers.

What is your claim to fame in the industry?

Just being me – LOL if you don’t know me you are missing out!

What has been your biggest achievement?

I’d rather not say the name of the company, but it was a company who never worked with TTPM and never wanted to, I just killed them with kindness, ideas, and suggestions and finally, they are one of my biggest clients.

What was your biggest failure?

When I failed to follow up with a client and they called me out on it.

Do you have a mantra that you live by?

Just have fun, when you stop having fun at what you do, it’s time to move on! 

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

When I worked at Hollywood Reporter, we published the Licensing Issue and Dave Malacrida would come in every year with Brats!!  I never thought I would end up in this industry but when I transferred to NYC with THR it was not the same buzz as in LA.  Then aNBMedia found me and the rest is history.

What are you working on now?

Right now, at this moment I’m working on our upcoming B2B issue for Dallas, our Influencer/Media Holiday Toy Show and negotiating a deal with Starbucks for one of my influencers

What has kept you motivated to stay in the toy industry?

Every day is different and its always a giggle from a client.

If you look back at yourself 10 years ago is this where you thought you’d be? 

Where did you think you’d be? What changed? What went right? Hmm, if I was big into titles, I should be EVP, other then that it’s all good.

What was your favorite project to date?

When I use to host my famous “Donna Dinners” best networking dinner.

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

What excites me is the fact the kids are out playing again. Covid may still be with us, but we are learning how to navigate around it and enjoy family fun time again.

What advice can you give to inventors who are presenting new toy or game ideas to you?

Always be open to constructive criticism and there is never just one way to get it done. When in a room, always introduce yourself to everyone, as you never know who that one person could be to help turn your creation to reality.

What advice would you give a young adult graduating from high school or college today?

If you have a dream of what you want to do in life, stay flexible and open minded as you never know what could present itself.   Work in a field that brings you excitement, joy, and fun!  Once it’s a “job” and you stop having fun, it maybe time to rethink what you are doing.

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

Be nice to everyone as you never know who can help you

Do you have a typical workday and how does it play out for you?

I used to have a “9 to 5” but now with our new division and how most clients and agencies are working from home, my day sometimes start at 5am, zooming with companies in China, UK, Australia, and all over the world negotiating deals.

What’s your workspace setup like?

Winter/fall, I’m in my upstairs office, with a view of my backyard.  Spring/Summer, I work downstairs at the dining room table with windows all around me looking downtown into my little village or I will work outside with my beautiful bamboo as my backdrop.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

When a client says, “we only have x amount of dollars” and I push back as I know they have hidden money and BAM!  The deal is closed, and everyone is happy, I would say negotiating!  I love it.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had and what did you learn from it?

My first waitress job in college at Pizza Hut, I lasted one day as I dropped a pitcher of Coke on a little girl’s head.  The owner moved me off waitressing and made me a hostess.  I learned I’m a people person and need to work in environments where its constantly changing with projects and meeting new people.

What’s a problem you’re still trying to solve?

Climate change, I can only do my part but can’t understand how some people don’t see it happening.

What and/or who inspires you?

My husband, he is my biggest cheerleader!  Some days I feel defeated, and he will remind me I work in toys, “don’t let Barbie beat you down” – that along makes me laugh and I realize, how silly I was complaining.

What excites you?

I’m human, MONEY

How do you define creativity?

Finding ways to solve a problem

How do you define innovation?

Staying open to new ideas, open to change

Where do you come up with your best ideas?

4am seems to be the creative time

What blocks your creativity?

Clutter, I can’t function when clutter is around me.

How do you recharge or take a break?

Jump on my Peloton or take a walk.  If it’s summer Fridays you can find me on the deck at my vineyard, Sunset Hill, working or having wine.

What words describe how you think or how your brain works?

Crazy fast moving

What was your favorite toy or game as a child?

Monopoly.

Where were you born?

In the desert – Yuma, AZ

What was your life like growing up?

Spoiled!

Where did you grow up and how did that influence who you are today?

We moved a lot (military) so I’m sure that is why I love meeting people and hearing their story. After college I lived in Australia and Hawaii with ESPN and everyday was always different, all of that has influenced my personality today.

What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

Don’t say you did not eat the blueberries when you have blueberry stains on your dress.

What do you read every day, and why?

NY times – just staying on top of the ever so changing world. And Cynopsis – I worked in the entertainment field for so long, it’s still in my blood and some days I look at the job opening “that job is for me” but reality sets in. I have a vineyard and can’t work weekends in tv production.

Who is the person you most admire?

My grandmother, she is 98 and extremely sharp and keeps me on my toes with questions she will ask about my job, the vineyard and cooking. I want to be like her when I’m 98.

Who might be role models for the work you do?

Jim Silver? The ones I had have disappointed me ☹

What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?

Just the google - lol.

How do you jumpstart your creativity when you find yourself stalled on a project?

Just walk away and work on something else, at 4am I’ll get that Aha moment.

When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?

Today, my friend just called and said a random chicken was in her yard and her humans want to cook it.

What are your favorite childhood memories?

Traveling and going to Dairy Queen and Disneyland.

Are you named after anyone?

Yes, Donna from All My Children.

Do you have a nickname?

Donna…

Do you have any kiddos?

NO.

Do you have any pets?

NO, well we had a vineyard dog, but he lived on the property, passed away last year.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Cheese and wine.

What’s in your fridge?

Cheese, wine, veggies. I go to the farmers market every Sunday for meat for the guy and Ice cream (we have the best Ice Cream Shop in my village).

Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)?

NO.

Who are your favorite musicians, singers, or musical groups?

Prince.

What music are you listening to now?

I love Chill stations those are the songs on my Spotify now.

What’s your favorite cereal?

I’m not a cereal girl.

What’s the first thing you usually notice about people?

Smile/eyes/hands.

What is the last time you did something for the first time?

Last weekend, played pickleball.

What are your favorite books?

Non-fiction.

What are your favorite magazines?

Real Simple.

What are your favorite websites?

Half Baked Harvest.

Do you prefer scary movies or happy endings?

Documentaries.

What’s your favorite TV show?

I love zoning out with reality shows and I look forward to watching CBS Sunday Morning every week.

Who are your favorite actors, performers, or entertainers?

I don’t really have any, since Prince died.

What are your favorite sports and sports teams?

Rams House!!

Who are your favorite athletes?

Not Tom Brady.

What is your favorite night out?

A moving feast, happy hour at one place, dinner at another then dessert someplace else.

Favorite movie of all time?

The Wizard of Oz.

What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home?

Dubai.

Do you have any special talents?

I can make wine, homemade pizza and pasta, I love to cook.

What’s your beverage of choice?

Wine.

Tell us about your hobbies?

I make wine, love to cook and love going to festivals and love traveling, it rejuvenates my soul.

Summer of Winter?

Summer, remember I was born in AZ, I’m a desert rat.

Hugs or Kisses?

Hugs, bring it in.

What is your eye color?

Brown.

Everything would have been different if…

My husband’s dad did not give us 5 acres to start a vineyard.

The toy and game industry clearly has….

Changed as it should yearly.

I’m lucky that….

I have a great job, great hubby and good friends.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Well, I wanted to own a vineyard one day and well, that happened.  Hmm, I guess I’m grown - lol

What’s next?

I’m happy I just woke up today, every day is a “what’s next” 😊

Donna, Thank you for taking time to answer our questions thoughtfully and with a sense of play!