The Toy Association’s Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications, and Laura Mangiaracina, senior director of sales for global experiences, have been named finalists for Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment’s (WiT) 2026 Wonder Women Awards in the PR & Communications Excellence and Rising Leader (Under 500 Employees) categories, respectively.
The Wonder Women Awards honor outstanding female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers whose exceptional accomplishments have made a profound impact on the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries. In total, 170 women have been nominated from companies like Amazon, Mattel, The LEGO Group, Moose Toys, Jazwares, Hasbro, and more, in categories ranging from Digital Innovator and Licensing Excellence to Mentor of the Year and Catalyst for Change.
“Congratulations to all the exceptional WiT Wonder Women Awards finalists, including our very own Adrienne Appell and Laura Mangiaracina, on this well-deserved honor,” said Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association™. “Adrienne has been instrumental in elevating the visibility and reputation of the toy industry through strategic media engagement and timely communications that have supported our members during some of our industry's most pivotal moments. Laura has played a critical role in bringing transformative initiatives like the new Toy Building in El Segundo to life and expanded opportunities for members year-round. We are incredibly proud to see them recognized alongside this year's outstanding Wonder Woman nominees, whose innovation, leadership, and dedication continue to inspire and strengthen the toy community.”
The Wonder Women Awards’ PR & Communications Excellence category celebrates leaders in public relations who drive brand visibility, reputation, and storytelling through impactful communication. Appell's nomination reflects a year of impactful communications leadership that strengthened the toy industry's public profile, from guiding The Toy Association response to the tariff crisis through the #KeepToysTariffFree campaign, to leading Toy Fair’s 2026 media strategy, which generated more than 1.5 billion impressions and positive media coverage on the innovative U.S. toy industry. Additional safety and advocacy initiatives, including creative activations on Capitol Hill and consumer education campaigns, highlighted the value of play with policymakers and families.
The Rising Leader (Under 500 Employees) category recognizes a professional from a small-to-mid-sized company who is making bold contributions and showing strong leadership potential. Mangiaracina's nomination recognizes her instrumental role in bringing The Toy Association's long-envisioned Toy Building in Los Angeles to life, transforming the concept into more than 100,000 square feet of showroom space in less than a year. In addition to leading this landmark initiative, she has spent more than a decade expanding sponsorship opportunities at Toy Fair, helping exhibitors maximize their visibility while consistently demonstrating strategic leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to creating value for members and the industry.
Voting for each category will be open to all WiT members from July 6 to 24. To vote, all eligible voting members received an ElectionBuddy ballot via email with the subject line “Vote Now: ElectionBuddy for WiT– 2026 Wonder Women Awards.” Contact [email protected] for any assistance with voting.
Winners will be announced at the Wonder Women Awards Gala at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 17, coinciding with The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview® market weeks (taking place September 14 to 25 in El Segundo).
Click here to see the full list of 2026 Wonder Women Award finalists and learn more about the candidates.