Global Toy Experts is your entry way to the people and information you need to know to grow your business. CEO Richard Gottlieb is a globally recognized expert on the toy industry. Richard and his associates possess intimate relationships with today's most powerful decision makers in toys, play and popular media. Through their experience and extensive knowledge base, as well as Richard's connections to media and toy industry contacts, Global Toy Experts is able to partner with you to create and implement your company's future now business model.

Through Richard's accomplished public platforms as a magazine publisher, trusted media contact, and highly followed writer, established conference producer, frequent guest speaker and seasoned member of multiple executive boards and committees, he is able to raise your company's profile with decision makers and thought leaders, resulting in mass productivity and profitability for your business.

ABOUT US

Global Toy Experts is a world-renowned consultancy and resource for toy industry insight and information. We provide cutting-edge analysis and strategies to domestic toy manufacturers as well as to international providers who are looking to raise their profile in the United States & the world. We provide a full range of services for inventors including licensing and manufacturing as well as providing M&A services for companies looking to acquire or be acquired in the toy space.

The consultancy also provides unique observations and commentary at speaking engagements and conferences globally- furnishing the toy industry with exceptional blueprints for success. Additionally, Global Toy Experts publishes Global Toy News, a Web-based magazine that covers toy industry news and provides a variety of resource links. www.globaltoynews.com

OUR TEAM

Richard Gottlieb
Principal and Founder - Global Toy Group

Richard Gottlieb is the highly regarded toy Founder and CEO of Global Toy Experts, the globally recognized consultant to toy industry leaders. In addition, he is the Publisher of Global Toy News, the toy industry’s independent voice.

Richard is frequently interviewed by media worldwide, and has been called on by ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, Newsweek and many other media outlets. Considered an expert on the toy industry, Richard is frequently asked to speak at toy industry conferences and serve on various executive panels.

To contact Richard for consulting, an interview or to speak at your conference, click here.

Steve Velte
President - Global Toy Experts

Steve Velte is a product guy. He personally owns all or part of a dozen US patents and received his Electrical Engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1984. Steve started his long successful career almost three decades ago with Hewlett-Packard, prior to joining the company’s spinoff Agilent Technologies. During his career his technical achievements included providing first customer market placement and design input for a variety of technologies including state-of-the-art Remote Fiber Test Systems deployed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, PC- based instrumentation and Hewlett-Packard's “acceSS7” system. With Steve as a key team leader, “acceSS7” system sales grew from zero to over $1 billion of installed base.

After leaving Agilent, Steve became CTO and then President of a publicly traded company -OnScreen Technologies. He raised over 8 million dollars for the company and spearheaded the development of two ground breaking next generation Light Emitting Diode (LED) display products:

RediAlert™ Rapid Dispatch Emergency Sign

Living Window™

After joining GTE, Steve formed an M&A division for the company and is licensed to provide these services for both buyers and sellers of companies and product lines. Here are some additional product development that Steve matured from concept to retail shelves:

Legendary “Cowboy Cactus™” – a three dimensional accessory for car antennas the Cowboy Cactus sported a cowboy hat, sunglasses, a handkerchief and sold over 2.5 million pieces. We established vendor numbers with Walgreens and Walmart among the large customer base.
Antenna Riders™ - Mr. Velte invented a series of two dimensional products that slide onto an antenna and appear to hold on for dear life as a car drives down the road. Licenses with Garfield and Dilbert were secured and creations such as the notable characters of “Carzilla” and the “Outsider” were sold.
“Ellisse” line of touch control dimmers - this a line of touch only light dimmers that are incredibly easy to use and aesthetically different than anything on the market. The holding company, Radiant Controls, was awarded European, Japanese and US patents and received an ADEX Platinum Design Award.
Jishaku™ - Launched in June of 2008, over 250,00 games were sold as RSV’s first flagship product in the game industry and has been sold in over twenty countries. Jishaku was named one of the top 10 games of 2009 by the Chicago Tribune, named Game of the Year by Learning Express and received dozens of additional industry awards.
The SCRUBLE Cube™ - A cross between Scrabble and the Rubiks Cube the Scruble Cube was sold at Toys’R’Us and Barnes & Noble, produced in five different languages and distributed internationally by Brio.
Photoloco™ - A great drawing game that incorporated unique features that made foe a fun and fast paced game. Photoloco was licensed to Giochi Preziosi & University Games and sold throughout the US

So if you are entering a new market, introducing a new product, want to sell your company (or buy one) or simply need prduct development input chances are Steve can help.

Christian Braun
Hobbies & Collectibles - Global Toy Experts

Christian found his way to collecting early. At the age of 15, he started his first business buying and selling old inventory from independent toy stores all over Germany. In 1987, he assisted his older brother in writing a guide to Siku Models and then went on to finance his studies including his MBA by buying and selling collectible toys.

After graduating from the London Business School, his career took many different paths including being a Partner at an M&A boutique in Russia, consulting with Bain & Co in Ukraine, running the largest German radio station, joining an Enterprise software company as Senior Vice President for Business Development, becoming a Partner at a transatlantic M&A boutique for tech businesses and running a Private Equity team for General Electric.

Then in 2000, he returned to the collectibles industry by building the biggest European eBay business with $40 million GMV. He then went on to create the largest network of collectible-related forums with 600,000 members. In 2013 he embarked on his most ambitious project yet by launching hobbyDB - a database that will one day have every collectible ever made. hobbyDB now has 580,000 members and 2,500 volunteers that are all working towards the goal of documenting 100 Billion Collectibles, eventually. Christian also served on the board of Auto-Archives, is an advisor to the Nicola Bulgari Center for American Automotive Heritage, and the Chair of both the Model Car Hall of Fame and the Pop Culture Hall of Fame.

Wendy Levey
Global Toy Experts

Wendy Levey founded and directed Epiphany Community Nursery School, ECNS ETC and STEAM-E Summer Days camp. The school was founded in 1975, the activity center called ECNS ETC was originally called Rhythm and Glues and was founded in 1990 and STEAM-E Summer Days camp was founded in 1996.

Educated at Wheelock College, Bank St. graduate School and Teacher’s College, Wendy decided to start her own school. As the school grew from 5 children at inception to as many as 150 children, she began developing an educational foundation based on 3 blocks: 2s need to learn how to share and separate, 3s need to learn how to be independent and 4s need to be active learners. Each one of the steps builds on the former step. The school was highly multi-cultural celebrating many holidays through food and music.

No institution survives being stagnant, so Wendy added classes in Emergent Reading and Emergent Math for the 4s and Sequencing the Body, Sequencing the Mind for 3-year old children. Because she knows children need educational fluidity, it made sense to have classes and camp available to the children as well. She added Sunrise Movement before school started in the morning, so they can have a gym activity first thing and be ready to learn more capably when they enter the classroom. Healthy body, healthy mind is always important.

Wendy has served on the Boards of two independent schools, a college and a rehabilitation center, helping her to stay current with educational and societal trends. She has also been part of several films about getting into school: Nursery University directed by Mark Simon and Getting Into Kindergarten directed by Pam French.

Wendy Levey now consults full-time on all things education, helping families from all over the world with children from pre-school through high school with their educational journeys in New York City, Westchester and Connecticut. This runs the gamut from child assessments, to parent information sessions individually or to corporations and companies, to interview skill work for middle school, high school or college, to suggestions on classes, books or enrichment specialists, to advocating at the schools applied to. Her close ties to the schools over the years, her respected honesty in dealing with the admissions teams, her true understanding of the strategy in school placement, her belief in fit not brand and her on-site visits for current knowledge of programming and changes are hallmarks of what “all things education” means.

Miguel Ortuno
IT & Design - Global Toy Experts

Miguel has worked in various creative fields for more than 17 years and is thrilled to contribute his talents and experience to the Global Toy Experts team. Having worked as Creative Director for a Chicagoland PR Agency for years, Miguel joins Global Toy Experts to help expand the brand in a bold, bright, fun and professional way. Although having a degree in design, Miguel continues to explore additional education and design opportunities to keep up with this ever-changing industry.