Summit

Beth Bodenmiller is a licensing, product development, and creative executive with a passion for turning big ideas into successful, on-brand products. She has extensive experience helping well-known brands grow, from strategy and global sourcing to factory collaboration and full product development. Beth has worked with globally recognized names, partnering closely with licensors and internal teams to ensure brands remain authentic, relevant, and commercially successful. Known for her collaborative and strategic approach, she excels at creating licensing frameworks and launching products to market. She has held senior leadership roles at GMason Group, Silver Buffalo, and The Northwest Company, managing large licensing portfolios that include Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC Universal, Reebok, and lifestyle brands. Negotiating agreements and launching product lines across home, apparel, pet, baby, and consumables.  In addition to her corporate work, Beth has shared her expertise as an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Textile Surface Design program, mentoring the next generation of designers through hands-on textile and CAD courses.

Lisa Broadbent is President of Kanata on Demand, where she leads global print-on-demand and digital commerce initiatives for licensed brands, retailers, and content owners. With extensive experience across licensing, apparel, and on-demand production, she focuses on scalable, data-driven merchandising models that reduce risk and accelerate speed to market. Broadbent is known for helping brands leverage print-on-demand as a strategic growth engine across e-commerce and retail channels.

Gina Cappi is Chief Creative Officer at Mad Engine, where she leads design and brand partnerships across a broad portfolio of licensed apparel for teens, kids, and Gen Alpha. With extensive experience in fashion and consumer products, she has worked with leading entertainment, sports, and lifestyle brands to create trend-driven collections for major retailers. Known for her ability to translate pop culture into commercially successful apparel, Cappi specializes in building culturally relevant fashion programs for the next generation of consumers.

Steven Ekstract is a licensing industry veteran, thought leader, and event producer with more than three decades at the center of brand, entertainment, and consumer products licensing. He is the founder of Global Licensing Advisors, co-founder of the X Tracks Licensing Summit series, and founder and  former publisher of License Global, where he helped shape the industry’s leading media platform. A member of the Licensing International Hall of Fame, Ekstract has worked with major brands, studios, and retailers worldwide and is co-author of Brand Licensing For Dummies (Wiley, 2025). He is widely recognized for his insights at the intersection of culture, commerce, and intellectual property.

Marianna Fundator is a seasoned licensing and brand development executive with over twenty years of experience and deep expertise across domestic and international business development, product development, marketing and compliance. She joined IMG Licensing in 2020, where she drives culturally driven, design-led fashion and art partnerships, such as those with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Van Gogh Museum, Norman Rockwell, Vera Bradley, and Nikki Lund. Prior to IMG, Marianna co-founded Reliance Brand Management, representing clients like Authentic Brands Group, Marquee Brands, and Wave Hill Partners, as well as held senior roles at Jonathan Adler, Iconix Brand Group, and Affliction Holdings, while starting her career at Giorgio Armani USA. Marianna also serves on the Advisory Board of Fashion Institute of Technology’s Department of International Trade and Marketing for the Fashion Industries program, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, and previously taught and remains an active guest lecturer on licensing and global brand strategy.

Ildiko Juhasz is an Assistant Professor in the Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she merges academic insight with more than twenty years of leadership experience across all sectors of the beauty industry. A recognized expert in fragrance marketing, brand licensing, and innovation, she brings a deep understanding of the global beauty marketplace.

Before joining FIT, Ildiko held senior executive roles including Vice President of Global Communications & Influencer Marketing at Inter Parfums, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAR), where she oversaw global fragrance communications strategies for iconic brands such as Ferragamo, MCM, Anna Sui, Donna Karan, and Oscar de la Renta. Her earlier work with LVMH Fragrance Brands as Director of U.S. Education further deepened her expertise in luxury brand storytelling and experiential marketing.
Known for her ability to connect the creative and commercial facets of fragrance, Ildiko brings deep understanding of brand partnerships, licensing strategy, and the intersection of artistry and commerce.

Sid Kaufman is a veteran licensing executive and co-founder of the X Tracks Licensing Summit series, with decades of experience building and managing global brand licensing programs. As founder of Kaufman Licensing, he has worked with a wide range of fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment properties, helping brands expand into new categories and markets through strategic partnerships. Known for his practical, deal-driven approach, Kaufman has been a trusted advisor to licensors, manufacturers, and retailers across the industry and is recognized for his leadership in connecting brand owners with growth opportunities worldwide.

André Lake Mayer is a veteran toy and entertainment licensing executive with more than 25 years of experience building global consumer products programs for major franchises. She has held senior leadership roles at companies including Spin Master, Bandai America, Playmates Toys, Lucasfilm, Paramount, and Cookie Jar Entertainment, working on iconic brands such as Star Wars, Power Rangers, Star Trek, and Disney properties. Known for her expertise across toys, entertainment, and licensing strategy, Lake Mayer specializes in turning intellectual property into successful global consumer products businesses. 

Ted Larkins is a licensing and brand-protection executive at Octane5, where he works with global brands, sports leagues, and entertainment properties to manage licensing rights, approvals, and digital asset workflows. With extensive experience across consumer products and technology platforms, he focuses on helping companies streamline licensing operations and protect brand integrity in an increasingly digital marketplace. Larkins is known for his expertise in connecting technology solutions with the practical needs of licensing and merchandising teams.

Lauren Lieberstein Kessler is a licensing executive at Brandgenuity, where she helps lead brand-extension strategies for global consumer and lifestyle brands. She works across deal development, partnerships, and retail execution, translating brand equity into successful licensing programs across fashion, accessories, and consumer products. Known for her collaborative, detail-driven approach, Kessler supports brands in building scalable, culturally relevant licensing businesses.

Shannon Maher is the dean for the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, overseeing the school’s 10 associate’s and baccalaureate programs. Maher served as a faculty member and chair of the school’s Home Products Development Department from 2013-20. She has been an active member of the college community, serving with distinction on a range of collegewide and faculty senate committees. She was co-chair of the committee that guided the school in its successful accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs in 2018.
Prior to FIT, Maher spent 20 years in the manufacturing and retail sectors of the apparel and home industry fields. She arrived at FIT from Hanover Direct, Inc., a multi-brand e-commerce corporation based in New Jersey, where she was senior vice president for product development and sourcing. She holds memberships in the AATCC, CMG, and IFDA, and received her Greenleaders Certificate from the Sustainable Furnishings Council. With extensive experience in merchandising, product development, sourcing, and strategy, she continues to be active in the industry as a strategic product development consultant, having partnered with Ross Stores, AlixPartners, SUN Capital, and KPMG.

Vita Mallela is a technology and fashion innovation executive and co-founder of Flokshop.ai, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to streamline product development, visualization, and merchandising. With a background spanning fashion, digital commerce, and emerging technologies, she works with brands to accelerate design cycles and bring products to market more efficiently. Mallela is known for her forward-looking perspective on how AI is transforming the creative and commercial sides of the fashion and licensing industries.

Angus Martin is Senior Vice President at Kanata on Demand, where he leads strategic partnerships and marketplace initiatives, including programs with Amazon and other major e-commerce platforms. With deep experience in licensing, digital retail, and on-demand production, he focuses on scalable, data-driven merchandising models that help brands test, launch, and grow licensed products with greater speed and lower risk. Martin is known for his expertise in connecting licensing strategy with modern e-commerce distribution.

Dana Mavros is a licensing and e-commerce executive at AMZtailored, where she works with brands to develop and scale print-on-demand and marketplace-driven licensing programs. With experience across Amazon and digital retail platforms, she focuses on data-driven merchandising, rapid product testing, and long-tail assortment strategies for licensed brands. Mavros is known for her expertise in using on-demand production and e-commerce tools to accelerate growth and reduce risk in modern licensing programs.

Yelena Mogolefsky is a seasoned fashion industry executive with over twenty years of experience spanning product development, global sourcing, and supply chain strategy. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Fashion Institute of Technology’s International Trade and Marketing for the Fashion Industries program, she launched her career in children’s apparel, where she began cultivating her deep understanding of product creation and production dynamics​.  She held key leadership roles at  Li & Fung and Hanes Brand Inc., before joining Foot Locker as Director of Product Development and Sourcing.  Together with her current position as Senior Vice President of Sourcing and Production at Komar Brands’ Intimates Division, she has overseen the supply chain of footwear, belts, cold weather accessories, sleepwear, intimates, kids’ products, and active wear. and apparel. Yelena leads teams across New York, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. With a strategic mindset and strong operational acumen, she plays a critical role in driving Komar’s continued growth and efficiency in an evolving global marketplace as well as sustainability and traceability initiatives to build resilient and transparent supply chains.

Meredith Norrie is a senior licensing executive at Mattel, where she works across global consumer products initiatives for some of the company’s most iconic brands, including Barbie. She focuses on strategic partnerships, fashion collaborations, and retail programs that extend Mattel’s franchises into lifestyle categories. Known for her expertise in brand storytelling and cultural relevance, Norrie helps translate beloved characters into successful fashion and consumer products programs worldwide.

Roz Nowicki is Global Head of Consumer Products at Miraculous Corp, where she oversees worldwide licensing, retail, and brand extension for the hit franchise Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. With more than two decades of experience in the licensing and entertainment industries, she has held senior roles at companies including Mattel and Peanuts Worldwide, managing global programs for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Known for her strategic, fashion-forward approach, Nowicki specializes in building cohesive, global licensing platforms that drive both brand equity and retail success.

Greg Pan is an intellectual property attorney at Nolan Heimann, where he advises brands, entertainment companies, and creators on licensing, trademark, and technology-related matters. His practice focuses on the intersection of IP, digital media, and emerging technologies, helping clients navigate complex issues around content, brand protection, and commercialization. Known for his practical, business-oriented approach, Pan works closely with companies developing new models in AI, fashion, and consumer products.

Sue Perez-Jackson is Head of North America Licensing and Retail Development at Hasbro, where she leads strategic partnerships and category growth across the company’s portfolio of global brands. With extensive experience in consumer products, retail, and licensing, she has worked with major entertainment, toy, and lifestyle properties to build scalable, culturally relevant programs. Known for her strategic, retailer-focused approach, Perez-Jackson specializes in turning iconic intellectual property into powerful, cross-category brand platforms.

Jessica Poce is a licensing executive at Kodansha, where she develops consumer products and brand collaborations for the publisher’s globally recognized manga properties. She works across fashion, lifestyle, and retail partnerships, helping translate Kodansha’s storytelling and visual aesthetics into culturally relevant products. Known for her strategic approach to premium collaborations, Poce focuses on positioning manga as a powerful platform for fashion and luxury brand extensions.

Christine Pomeranz was an international banker for twenty years as Senior Vice President at the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Relationship Manager at Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Group Limited, and Assistant Manager at Citibank. She started teaching in 2002 with New York University and the World Trade Institute at Pace University and is currently the Associate Professor and Chairperson for the International Trade and Marketing for the Fashion Industries department at FIT.

In addition to teaching international finance, international management, and international business transactions courses, she organizes field trips and career development programs for students, founded the Talking Trade @ FIT guest lecture series, serves on various committees, and is instrumental in raising funds to enhance student professional development.

Pomeranz was appointed by successive United States Secretaries of Commerce as a member of the New York District Export Council, and currently serves as its Chair.

Robyn Joi Reitano has more than thirty years of experience in marketing and advertising. Following her career in the brand licensing industry, Reitano serves as a senior lecturer and adjunct professor since 2018. She teaches fashion and business law, global business, organizational behavior, brand licensing, global fashion, luxury fashion, integrated marketing communications, brand management, principles of marketing, and consumer behavior classes at Hofstra Law, Pace University, Long Island University, LIM St. Joseph’s University, FIT and Molloy University. Robyn began her career working at the renowned advertising agency Young and Rubicam for  accounts including Colgate Palmolive. In 1995, she graduated law school and worked for Court TV and became the licensing director at the ASPCA. She began a career at the agency level as a brand licensing manager/licensing attorney at both Viacom and IMG.  

She won the prestigious Licensing International award for brand of the year for her work with Tommy Bahama. She also worked on high profile accounts such as USPS, Jeep, South Park, Family Circle, Parents Magazine, Popular Science, Penn Racquet Sports, Dr. Scholls, Coppertone, and many fashion and art brands.

Jason Schupbach is the president of the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is a nationally recognized expert on support systems for creatives and the nexus of creativity and comprehensive community development.
Preceding his position at FIT, Schupbach was the dean of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. He is a nationally recognized expert on support systems for creatives and on the nexus of creativity and comprehensive community development. 
At Drexel, Schupbach led the college to success in fundraising, rankings, scholarly output, enrollment, and faculty, staff, and student support. He launched a groundbreaking new apprenticeship model of education with URBN and was the co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, published in 2025. Before joining Drexel, Schupbach was the director of The Design School at Arizona State University (ASU), where he led the ambitious ReDesign.School initiative to reinvent design education for the 21st century and was a key advisor to ASU on diverse projects, such as the Studio for Creativity, Place and Equitable Communities; James Turrell’s large-scale land artwork, Roden Crater; and ASU’s downtown Los Angeles campus.

Prior to ASU, he was director of Design and Creative Placemaking programs for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), where he oversaw all design- and creative-placemaking grantmaking and partnerships, including Our Town and Design Art Works grants, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design, and the NEA’s federal agency collaborations. In addition, he oversaw "Creativity Connects," the first report in a decade on the major trends and conditions affecting U.S. artists and designers, and a new grant program to support partnership projects between creatives and other fields of practice.

Earlier, Schupbach served then-Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts from 2008 to 2010 as the Creative Economy director, tasked with supporting creative and tech businesses in the state. He formerly was the director of ArtistLink, a Ford Foundation-funded initiative to support creatives and to stabilize and revitalize communities through the creation of affordable space and innovative environments for creatives. He has also worked for the mayor of Chicago and New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. He has written extensively on supporting creatives and the role of art and design in uplifting communities. His writing has been featured as an Aspen Institute "Best Idea of the Day."

Stu Seltzer is a veteran licensing executive, Licensing Hall of Fame inductee, and co-author of Brand Licensing For Dummies (Wiley, 2025). With decades of experience across fashion, entertainment, and consumer products, he has built and managed global licensing programs for major brands and retailers. He has also taught licensing at New York University for more than 20 years, helping educate the next generation of industry professionals. Seltzer is widely respected for his strategic approach to brand extension, retail partnerships, and deal-making, and is a frequent speaker and advisor across the licensing industry.

Lori Singer has been a transformative force at Parlux  since assuming the role of President in 2019. A visionary leader with a unique ability to merge cultural influence with prestige fragrance, she has redefined how brands engage with modern consumers while preserving their luxury heritage. Lori drives the company's global strategy; fostering innovation, evolving business models and securing strategic licenses and partnerships that propel growth. 

Under Lori's leadership, Parlux delivered one of beauty's biggest success stories - the launch of Billie Eilish's debut fragrance and her subsequent collection as one of the fastest-growing artist fragrance lines in history. She also revitalized legacy fragrance house Vince Camuto, launched Drake's Better World Fragrance House and re-staged Paris Hilton's fragrance brand with the launch of her 30th fragrance, Iconic. Expanding beyond traditional beauty categories, Lori led the introduction of The Shop Men's Grooming Line in collaboration with LeBron James and Maverick Carter.

Before joining Parlux, Lori built an impressive career at Coty as Group Vice President of Global Marketing, driving growth for some of the most iconic names in luxury fragrance, including Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, and Vera Wang. Her expertise in crafting compelling brand narratives and consumer-centric strategies laid the foundation for her success at Parlux.

Under Lori's leadership, Parlux has embraced a digital-first strategy, launching worldwide direct-to-consumer businesses for brands such as Billie Eilish and Paris Hilton Fragrances. She has also forged exclusive partnerships that have redefined the industry's retail landscape. Her innovative approach to distribution and brand storytelling has set new standards, earning her recognition as one of the Top 50 Women Brand Marketers.

Lori’s impact on the beauty industry has been widely celebrated, with honors including the 2024 WWD x Beauty Inc. Top 50 Women in Power and the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Achiever Award. She also plays a key role in shaping the industry’s future as a board member of both CEW and The Fragrance Foundation, further solidifying her leadership and influence.

Through strategic partnerships, cultural foresight, and digital innovation, Lori Singer is not just shaping the future of fragrance—she is redefining the future of beauty.

Sami Souid is CEO of Republic Brands Group and IHL Group, where he leads global apparel manufacturing, sourcing, and brand-building initiatives for a wide portfolio of fashion and lifestyle labels. With decades of experience across design, production, and retail, he has helped scale both emerging and established brands through strategic partnerships and licensing. Known for his entrepreneurial approach, Souid specializes in turning creative concepts into commercially successful, globally distributed brand platforms.

Laura Takaragawa is a licensing executive at VIZ Media, where she works on consumer products and brand collaborations for some of the world’s most popular anime and manga franchises. She focuses on fashion, lifestyle, and retail partnerships, helping translate fan-favorite properties into culturally relevant products and experiences. Known for her deep understanding of anime fandom and market trends, Takaragawa plays a key role in expanding VIZ Media’s presence across fashion and consumer products.

Jenna Troyli is the co-founder of Noted Communications LLC, and for the past decade has helped creators and brands clarify their voice and amplify their stories on a global scale. Through Noted, she partners with clients across fragrance, flavor, and culture-driven industries to shape narratives, develop thought leadership, and create marketing strategies that resonate with both industry insiders and broader audiences.

Jenna brings a deep editorial and industry leadership background to her work. She previously served as managing editor of Perfumer & Flavorist+, where she played a key role in guiding industry discourse. She also hosted the Two Sense podcast and served as conference director for Flavorcon (2021–2024) and the World Perfumery Congress (2022 & 2024), and is the conference director for the World Perfumery Congress 2026.

In addition to her client and conference work, Jenna serves on the board of the World Taste and Smell Association, is Communications Chair of the Women in Flavor and Fragrance Commerce, and was a steering committee member for the Barcelona Perfumery Congress 2025, contributing to global collaboration and leadership within the industry.

Larry Warsh is an art collector, publisher, and cultural entrepreneur known for building bridges between art, design, and global consumer culture. He is the founder of No More Rulers and a contributor to Jing Daily, where he writes about the intersection of luxury, creativity, and brand storytelling. Warsh has assembled one of the world’s leading collections of contemporary Chinese art and has produced numerous books and projects that connect artists, designers, and brands across disciplines.

James Zahn is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book and a leading voice covering the global toy, licensing, and entertainment industries. With more than two decades of experience in trade journalism, he reports on emerging trends, retail strategies, and the intersection of toys, gaming, and pop culture. Zahn is a frequent moderator and speaker at industry events, known for his sharp insights into how intellectual property travels from screen to shelf.

Ari Zebersky is founder and CEO of Negosh, an AI-driven platform designed to streamline licensing negotiations and deal management for brands, agencies, and manufacturers. An entrepreneur focused on modernizing the licensing business, he created Negosh to bring speed, transparency, and data-driven decision-making to the traditionally manual process of brand partnerships. Zebersky is known for his forward-thinking approach to how artificial intelligence is transforming licensing, deal flow, and collaboration across the consumer products industry.

Kristen Zimmer is Director of Lifestyle Extensions and Brand Collaborations at SEGA, where she leads global fashion and lifestyle partnerships for the company’s iconic gaming franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog. She works across brand strategy, collaborations, and retail to translate gaming IP into culturally relevant fashion and consumer products. Known for bridging entertainment, streetwear, and pop culture, Zimmer helps position SEGA’s properties as lifestyle brands for new generations of fans.

Effy Zinkin is Chief Operating Officer of WHP Global, where he oversees the growth and global licensing strategies for a portfolio of iconic brands including Toys“R”Us, Babies“R”Us, Vera Wang, Rag & Bone, Joe’s Jeans, and Isaac Mizrahi. With decades of experience in brand management, licensing, and retail, he has held senior leadership roles across the industry, driving international expansion and strategic partnerships. Known for his disciplined, platform-based approach, Zinkin focuses on scaling heritage brands through global licensing, digital commerce, and retail innovation.

Amanda Zussman is a licensing and brand-extension executive at Brandgenuity, where she works with global consumer brands to develop strategic licensing programs across fashion, lifestyle, and consumer products. She specializes in translating brand equity into commercially successful partnerships, managing deal structures, approvals, and retail execution. Known for her practical, market-driven approach, Zussman helps both established and emerging brands build scalable licensing platforms.