Advisory Board

Harun Asad
Harun Asad is a seasoned business leader with a deep Internet background and a passion for technology and innovation. Mr. Asad has held leadership and management positions at major global brands including Millward Brown, AOL and USA Today. Throughout his career, he has worked with a broad spectrum of Fortune 500 companies including Google, Dell, Computer Associates, Time Warner, HBO, Target, McDonalds, PepsiCo and many others. In addition to his corporate experience, Asad is an Adjunct Professor at NYU-Poly where he teaches graduate courses in innovation in the Executive Management of Technology program. He also serves as the Northeast Regional Director for Computer Associates IT Case Competition and is a faculty advisor for NYU Stern School of Business case competitions. Since 2006, Harun has been an Account Director/Pro Bono Consulting with the Taproot Foundation where he leads marketing and Web development projects for nonprofits.

Marilyn P. Arnone, Ph.D. - President, new product research and development, and co-founder of Creative Media Solutions, as well as director of educational media for Syracuse University's Center for Digital Literacy.
She also serves as co-principal investigator and project director with Dr. Ruth Small, professor at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University. Marilyn has published a variety of works related to curiosity, and is committed to working with children’s media, and with projects that affect children directly or indirectly.

Stephen Brand - Chief Imagination Officer and President of The New Enterprise Factory.
Stephen is an enterprise development consultant and entrepreneurial coach. His client list includes Children's Television Workshop, WNET and WTTW Forbes, Ford, Boston Museum of Science, and Strategic Air Command Museum. Mr. Brand was the inaugural President and Executive Director of Inventure Place, The National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, OH. He has a Master’s degree from Harvard University in Interactive Learning and an Executive Doctorate in management from Case Western Reserve University.

Terry Bromberg - Independent consultant to media companies and former President of Weekly Reader Custom Publishing.
For the past twenty years, Terry Bromberg has launched, led and grown multimedia custom publishing companies, all of which served to marry the public relations and marketing objectives of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and not-for-profits with the needs of K-12 students, teachers and parents nationwide. From 1995-2008, Mr. Bromberg was with Weekly Reader Custom Publishing, serving as President beginning in 1999. Since then, he has been working as an independent consultant to media companies interested in extending their services into the education marketing arena. Over the course of his career, Mr. Bromberg has successfully worked with a wide array of clients including Six Flags, General Motors, the Michael Jordan Foundation, McDonalds, Gillette, Paramount Pictures, Ford, The Walt Disney Company and many others.

Nolan Bushnell - Known as the “Father of the Video Game Industry”.
Mr. Bushnell is best known for bringing “Pong”, Atari Corporation and Chuckie Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre to the public. He holds several patents on the basic technology of many of the early video games developed and is the inventor or co-inventor on numerous worldwide patents in other fields and industries. He frequently lectures at major universities and conferences throughout the United States, inspiring entrepreneurship and innovation.

Scott Case - Co-founder and former CTO of Priceline.com.
Mr. Case was responsible for launching the Priceline.com company. At Walker Digital, Mr. Case also led the launch of Priceline for Gasoline, Webhouse, and New Car divisions. Currently Mr. Case is the founder and president of Direct Help, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. In addition, Mr. Case is the Chairman and co-founder of the Rewards for Justice Fund.

Chris Curran - Managing director (Education) at Berkery Noyes.
Chris Curran is the former Managing Director at Eduventures, Inc., a global leader in education strategic research consultancy. He was also the Vice President of business development at I.COMM, Inc., a software design and network integrator specializing in the education, government and healthcare markets. As part of his work for I.COMM, Curran ran SchoolFirst Foundation, a non-profit arm of the company that combines innovative educational technology applications into model systems that were donated to under-served schools. Curran began his professional career in politics, serving as the Chief of Staff to the minority leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he earlier held the title of Research and Policy Director. Chris Curran is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School, where he earned a JD degree. He holds an MA in Economics from Boston University, and earned a BA at St. Lawrence University.

Judy Ellis - Founder and chairperson of the first baccalaureate program in Toy Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Stephen P. Giannetti - Senior Vice President and Group Publisher of National Geographic Global Media from July 2000 to October 2009.
As the Senior Vice President and Group Publisher, Mr. Giannetti, was responsible for the advertising revenue and profits for the media divisions at National Geographic Society which included the magazine division (National Geographic Magazine, Traveler, Adventure and Kids), NG.COM and Cinema Ventures (Imax Films, PBS Specials). Steve has worked as a consultant for National Geographic developing new areas of growth in the Kids and family business at The Society. Steve is also consulting for The Nature Publishing Group in their Education division, developing and selling sponsorships in the newly launched educational portal, Scitable.

Ken Gilbert - Founder and Chief Energy Officer of RazorFocus, a business that develops focus groups for corporate clients.
Ken has over 25 years experience as a corporate executive. Ken’s love affair with marketing and communications started at U.S. News & World Report where he supervised sales services in support of the magazine’s advertising department. His most significant marketing position was Senior Vice President, CMO at the Snapple Beverage group. In this capacity he led a group of 60 staffers in brand marketing, communications, research and development, packaging, event planning and consumer response. There for five years, Ken was recognized as one of the leaders responsible for restoring Snapple back to its preeminent position as the number one premium beverage brand in the U.S. This effort gained Ken widespread recognition as BrandWeek’s Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age’s Marketing 100 as well as front page coverage in the Wall Street Journal. The comeback of Snapple is also taught as a case study at Harvard Business School. In fact, for three consecutive years Ken has been a guest lecturer to supplement the case study’s exploration.

Joel Handel Esq. - Senior Partner Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
Joel is routinely involved in corporate, finance and securities matters. He has concentrated his law practice on advising consumer products companies, with a special emphasis on the toy industry. Mr. Handel has served on the Boards of Directors of Tyco Toys, Inc. and Toymax International, Inc.

Jill Hamburger - Former Vice President of games, movies and toys for Best Buy Co., Inc.
Jill has more than fifteen years of gaming industry experience. She began her career with Best Buy in 1987 as a senior buyer of several categories, including appliances and impulse products. Jill was named to the Video Business’ 2008 Women Elite Retailers list; one of the year’s leading women in home entertainment by Home Media Magazine (2008); and one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in the Video Gaming Industry by the Wall Street Journal (2006) – the only female leader to be recognized with this distinctive honor. She has also received several awards from Best Buy, including the company’s 2002 World Class Achievement Award, for her contribution to gaming business growth, and the 2007 Legacy Award, for her tenacious commitment to the video game business and long-term success with the company.

Anne Kelly - CEO of the Federal Consulting Group.
Anne directs a team of senior executives who provide management consulting services to senior leaders throughout the federal government servicing over 100 agencies. She is a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner, evaluating the performance excellence of private sector companies. As the Director of the Office of Initial Patent Examinations at the US Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) Mrs. Kelly directed the restructuring of the professional in-house university and the successful delivery of educational and professional development training for 4,000 patent scientists, attorneys, and engineers. She served as the national chairperson for the Bicentennial of the Patent and Copyright System “Women Inventors Program” which resulted in a major national exhibit focusing on the contributions of women inventors.

Donald Grant Kelly - CEO of the intellectual property consultancy firm Intellectual Asset Management Associates, LLC.
Donald was a director and Chief of Staff at the US Patent & Tradmark Office and founder of the Office of Independent Inventor Programs, and principal architect for the outreach effort to kids (Project XL). Mr. Kelly currently serves as the Executive Director of the Rothschild Patent Model Museum and Invention Center.

Warren F. Kornblum - Toys “R” Us’ former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Warren was responsible for overseeing Brand Management for all “R” Us divisions on a global basis. Mr. Kornblum has been a marketing /communications professional for more than 20 years. He was CEO of his own advertising agency, Kornblum International, with offices in Toronto and Los Angeles for several years. Prior to joining Toys “R” Us, Mr. Kornblum was a managing partner at Bozell Worldwide in New York having responsibility for Bell Atlantic Mobile, Levitz Furniture, and The islands of the Bahamas accounts. Warren is the International Past President of the Starlight Children’s Foundation and has served on the Board of the Toys “R” Us Children’s fund. Warren Kornblum has recently formed Shadow Entertainment Group, LLC and serves as it Chairman. Through its subsidiary, Shadow Branding, the company will work with creative content, intellectual property owners and the branded entertainment industry.

Andre Lake Mayer 
With 2 decades of experience, Andre is one of the most dynamic and innovative key executives in the licensing and consumer products arena worldwide, with such affiliations as Lucasfilm Ltd., Paramount Pictures and Turner Classic Movies. She has developed and launched thousands of products into the marketplace in conjunction with the promotion, management and brand development of major entertainment franchises such as Star Trek and Star Wars. Her efforts have generated nearly a billion dollars in retail sales. Andre' is highly respected and has long-standing relationships with top management of major U.S. retailers and hundreds of manufacturers in multiple markets.

Frederick Locker - Principal partner in the law firm of Locker, Greenberg and Brainin, P.C.
Frederick's firm is currently actively engaged in the representation of the Toy Industry Association (TIA), the Juvenille Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Ronnie B. Lowenstein, Ed.D - An education consultant with expertise in strategic planning for science and technology initiatives.
Dr. Lowenstein is a co-founder of the Education Technology Think Tank (ET3). Her thirty-eight year career has spanned the realms of research, policy and practice at local, state and national levels. She has served as the staff advisor in Education & Technology for U.S. Congressman M. Owens, as a curriculum advisor to the National Foundation for the Teaching of Entrepreneurship, and as a policy analyst in Technology and Telecommunications for the U.S. Department of Education. Her work in designing the National “Net Generation of Youth”, a program to promote young cyber journalists, culminates annually in youth participation with educators and policy makers attending the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust Education Think Tank events in Washington, DC.

Douglas Mellinger -Vice-Chairman of Foundation Source, the nation's leading provider of outsourced services for private foundations
Mr. Mellinger is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Clark University and also sits on the Board of Edgar Online (NASDAQ: EDGR), Ascentis/EBS, International Education Corporation. Previously, he was a Partner at Interactive Capital Partners where he founded six companies, including Foundation Source. Before, Interactive Capital Partners, he was Chairman and CEO of Enherent and currently serves on the Board of the company (NASDAQ: ENHT.OB). Mr. Mellinger was named Entrepreneur of the Year for New England and a finalist for the National Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award by Ernst and Young and Inc Magazine in 1993.

Marc H. Morial - President and CEO of the National Urban League.
Prior to serving as the head of the NUL, Mr. Morial served as the Mayor of New Orleans for two 4-year terms from 1994-2002. During that time he also served as the President of the United States Conference of Mayors in 2001 and 2002. As President & CEO of the NUL, Marc has laid out a five-point agenda of issues important to African-Americans including Education & Youth, Economic Empowerment and Health & Quality of Life.

Congressman Major R. Owens - Member of the House-Senate Conference Committee
Congressman Owens was responsible for the completion of the landmark education bill, H.R. 1, “No Child Left Behind”. He is passionately committed to the education of America’s children. An elected representative from the 11th Congressional District – Brooklyn, New York since 1982, he has been dubbed the Education Congressman by citizens in his district because of his strong national stance on education reform. Owens is widely admired for his authorship of the Congressional Black Caucus “Caring Majority” Alternative Budget. He supports positive and innovative education improvement efforts for all children.

Wesley Perusek, Ed. D - Director of an Ohio Space Grant Consortium (NASA) funded statewide initiative to create after- school-hour Invention Innovation Centers in Ohio.
He was also contracted to help design a video series on inventiveness with children, as well as serving for the first three years of existence as national judge representing education in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s annual Project XL Quigg Excellence in Education Award. Perusek is an experienced educator who served on the initial NJ State Implementation Team which led to creation of the Liberty Science Center. Initiator of the pioneering and nationally influential Statewide New Jersey Department of Education's MIIT ( Mini Invention Innovation Team) Program in 1979- A Challenge/Recognition Annual Program as part of the Statewide Technology for Children Program of which Dr. Perusek was Associate State Director.

Joan Robinson-Berry - Deputy Vice President of Technical Relations for the Boeing Company.
Joan is responsible for providing strategic guidance and support for enhancing external technical affiliations with government and industry organization. For her achievements over the years, Ms. Robinson-Berry has been recognized with The President's Quality Award. She serves on several Board of Directors including Girl Scout of Chicago and the National Action Council.

Ruth Small, Ph.D. - Director of the Center for Digital Literacy at Syracuse University.
Ruth is also a professor at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University. She received Syracuse University’s “Teacher of the Year” award in 2004, awarded by the Syracuse University Alumni association, which is just one of her many awards. She has authored several books, as well as articles, and a variety of other publications.

Edwin J.C. Sobey, PhD. - Founder of the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Dr. Sobey has been the director of four children’s museums and one science museum and is a leading consultant to the industry, having direct access to the current museum directors. Dr. Sobey is currently the President of the Northwest Invention Center. He has hosted and appeared on several television and radio programs on the topic of patents and invention and has authored fourteen books to date, related to kids invention.

Dr. Linda A. Tsantis - Coordinator of the Technology for Educators graduate program at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Tsantis received her Ed.D. degree in early childhood/special Education at George Washington Unviersity, where she taught in the graduate program for 14 years. She served on the technology committee of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Dr. Tsantis also served on the White House Task Force on Innovative Teaching. She has won awards from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs for the development of innovative teaching programs.

Lawrence Udell - Executive Director of both the Center For New Venture Alliance and the California Invention Center.
Lawrence served as a Lecturing Professor at U.C. Berkeley, teaching a course on Technology Transfer and Commercialization, and taught at other universities in the U. S. and Canada. He is an active member of the Licensing Executives Society, and is co-founder and Managing Director of the Silicon Valley Chapter of LES. He also serves as Senior Consultant to General Patent Corporation of Suffern, NY. Founder of over 20 corporations, he also provides consulting to both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, plus lectures frequently at inventor, corporate and government functions throughout America and in other countries for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO division of the United Nations).

Baxter Urist - Former Group President of International Television and Global Product Licensing for the Children’s Television Workshop (CTW/ Sesame Street)
While at CTW, under Mr. Urist's leadership, they had the number one selling toy globally for two years in a row, “Tickle Me Elmo” and “Sing-and-Snore Ernie”. He left CTW to become President and CEO of The Smile Train, a charity foundation funded to cure the problem of cleft lip and palate around the world. During his tenure there the number of children helped by the foundation’s efforts globally grew from 2,000 to over 17,000 a year. Baxter began his career in marketing at Richardson Vicks and Emery Worldwide.

Dr. Sophie V. Vandebroek - Chief Technology Officer and President, Xerox Innovation Group for Xerox Corporation.
Vandebroek is responsible for overseeing the worldwide research and technology centers to maximize the company's multi-million dollar investment in research and technology. She served as chief technology officer at Carrier Corp. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and served as an elected member on the IEEE Administrative Committee. She is also a Fulbright Fellow and a Fellow of the Belgian-American Educational Foundation. Vandebroek currently serves as a judge for MIT's Technology Review Young Innovators awards, the Wall Street Journal Innovation awards and the FIRST robotics competition regional awards and she serves on several university and professional advisory boards.

Steve Wozniak - Inventor of the Personal Computer.
Mr. Wozniak is credited with launching the PC industry with his Apple I personal computer in 1976 featuring a central processing unit (CPU), keyboard, and a floppy disk drive. From the garage of partner Steve Jobs, they developed Apple into a $500 million/year company in 6 years. Mr. Wozniak is actively involved in supporting education and encouraging free thinking and creativity in children.

James Yaffe - Managing Partner of Endeavor Marketing Solutions, a division of Endeavor Talent Agency.
Mr. Yaffe joined Endeavor Talent Agency in 2001 to launch the Agency's corporate consulting division. He has built the division by delivering integrated marketing solutions to enable corporate clients (that include American Express, Mills Corporation, Entertainment Weekly and Mattel) to build their business and create stronger relationships with their customers. Mr. Yaffe has also created a brand lab within Endeavor to create and develop new businesses. Prior to joining Endeavor, he was investing and guiding several businesses in the media/technology space. He is currently on the board of the Yaffe Center for Persuasive Communications at The University of Michigan.