People of Play have detailed the schedule for POP Week, which this year runs online from November 15th-20th.
People of Play (POP) has announced its official schedule for the Virtual POP Week, running from November 15th – 20th. The week includes The Toy & Game International Innovation Summit, POP Duo Keynotes Legends & Leaders, Networking in the POP Pub Rooms, Entertainment on the Fair Stages, the TAGIE Awards and the Young Inventors Challenge.
“Our 2021 programme is turning out to be one of the most innovative we’ve ever had,” said Mary Couzin, CEO and founder of the Chicago Toy & Game Week (CHITAG). “We’re bringing our industry and other entertainment industries together in new and exciting ways to share ideas and cross-pollinate. We’re creating network opportunities, bringing in the highest caliber of diverse speakers we’ve ever had and awarding deserving companies and kids with both the TAGIE awards and Young Inventor’s Challenge as well as stages of entertainment at the Fair. There’s something for everyone.”
Key events will include:
Monday, November 15th (sponsored by Mattel)
Keynotes:
9:00am Richard Dickson, president and COO, Mattel, and Robbie Brenner, EVP executive producer, Mattel Films
9:30 am David Fuhrer, MD, BlueSquare Innovations and Shawn Green, former Major League Baseball right-fielder for the Dodgers and Mets.
Meetings:
10:00am – 5:00pm Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appt.)
4:00pm Tips for Your POP Profile with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room
POP Pub:
5:00 – 7:00pm POP Pu bUNO Room hosts Tanya Thompson, senior director Design Innovation and Inventor Relations, Hasbro and Dougal Grimes vice president of Innovation and Inventor Relations at Spin Master.
Tuesday, November 16th (Sponsored by Exploding Kittens)
Keynotes:
9:00am Elan Lee, co-founder, Exploding Kittens and Jeff Probst, Emmy winning host, executive producer of Survivor and more.
Meetings:
10:00am – 5:00pm Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appt.)
4:00pm Unleash the Power of POP with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room
POP Pub:
5:00 – 7:00pm Dave Harris, senior director, Inventor Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Mattel, and Brendan Boyle, partner at IDEO.
Wednesday, November 17th (Sponsored by The Michael Kohner Corporation, Goliath, Litzky PR and Longshore Ltd.)
Keynotes:
9:00am Jim Pressman, past president, Pressman Toy Company, Michele Litzky, founder, Litzky PR, Tom Kalinske, executive chairman at Mixed Dimensions, prior CEO of Sega America, Leapfrog and Mattel (all are TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Honorees for 2021) Moderated by Chris Byrne, the Toy Guy.
4:00pm Maximizing the Search Capabilities of POP with Mary Couzin in the POP Pub UNO Room
Meetings:
10:00am – 5:00pm Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appt.)
POP Pub:
5:00 – 7:00pm (host TBA)
Thursday, November 18th (Sponsored by Andrews McMeel Universal and Nextoy)
Keynotes:
9:00am Will Shortz, Crossword editor, The NY Times, Puzzle Master, NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and Garry Trudeau, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, best known for creating Doonesbury, plus Amazon Studios’ Alpha House.
Meetings:
10:00am – 5:00pm Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appt.)
3:00 – 5:00pm New Inventor and Student Zoom Pitches
POP Pub:
5:00 – 7:00pm POP Pub hosted by David Norman, global president and CMO of Gaming at Goliath and Jim McCafferty, president and CEO of JMP Creative.
Friday, November 19th (Sponsored by MEGO Corporation)
Keynotes:
9:00 Marty Abrams, father of Action Figures and president of Mego with Brian Volk Weiss, founder & CEO, The Nacelle Company, creator of the Toys that Made Us.
Meetings:
10:00am – 5:00pm Pitches (for attendees registered for pitch track) and Office Hours (free consults by appt.)
Watch Parties:
4:00pm – POP watch parties include: UNO Room and TBA.
Awards and Entertainment:
5:00 – 7:00pm Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs).
Saturday – Sunday November 20th-21st, 2021: Chicago Toy & Game Fair and The Young Inventor Challenge
The organisers say there is something for everyone at the virtual fair. In addition to seeing inventions from the under 18 crowd at the Young Inventor Challenge, there will be Stages of Entertainment and Shopping Experiences from a selection of toy and game companies.
For additional information or to register for the Virtual POP Week visit www.chitag.com.
