It’s no secret that children’s media champions the importance of play, but the word is as expansive as the industry itself. This year, our storytellers share their personal reflections on the power of play to reveal pivotal moments when play shaped their identities and influenced the way they approach their craft. 

Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with shared stories!

Join us for a conversation with the creative minds behind the captivating series that takes us back to the rock! We’ll be chatting with Executive Producer, Halle Stanford, Executive Producer, writer and puppeteer John Tartaglia, writer Charley Feldman, and puppeteer, Jordan Lockhart.

We’ll explore Season 2, now airing on Apple TV+, hopes for future seasons and the coming together of children’s media gurus to reboot an epic show. Get ready to be inspired by their passion and creativity!

Join us for our members only monthly networking meetup! Please RSVP on the website for entry.

Join us for “Beyond the Screen: Early Career Explorations in the Future of Children’s Media,” a panel hosted by CMA and NYU and moderated by Evelyn McVeigh and Chris Blasting. Featuring industry pioneers like Award-Winning Producer Rick Siggelkow, creator of Shining Time Station, and Melinda LaRose, an Emmy-nominated children’s TV writer for shows such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, this event is tailored for undergraduates and early career professionals. Gain insights into the evolving world of children’s media and valuable advice on starting points and career paths.

Panelists: 

Emerald Wright-Collie

Emerald is a Two-Time Emmy Award Winning Series Producer, currently working as the Director of Development at Sony Pictures Television Kids.

Catie Asip

As associate director of content for PBS KIDS, Catie Asip oversees the development of new broadcast,streaming, and interactive content. She works with creators from pitch to pilot, helping shape theirprojects for the PBS KIDS audience. She also serves as production executive for several current PBS KIDSseries, including Lyla in the Loop, Rosie’s Rules, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, and Jelly, Ben & Pogo. Based inBrooklyn, New York, Catie joined PBS in 2016 and is an alumna of Hollins University.

Melinda LaRose 

Melinda Richards LaRose is a four time Emmy-nominated pen-for-hire, specializing in children’s media. Most recently, she took up residence in Wonderland as a staff writer on Disney Junior’s Alice’s Wonderland Bakery while making frequent visits to the Bronx on Alma’s Way. Other writing credits include Emmy Award-winning Outstanding Preschool Series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat and Tumble Leaf; Netflix’s The Creature Cases, Apple TV+’s Duck & Goose, Get Rolling with Otis and Pretzel and the Puppies; Nick Jr.’s Santiago of the Seas, Sunny Day, Nella the Princess Knight, Bubble Guppies and Dora and Friends; PBS and Amazon’s Clifford the Big Red Dog and Hero Elementary; Disney Junior’s Vampirina and Jake and the Never Land Pirates; Amazon’s Creative Galaxy; and Sprout’s Astroblast. There are more but my guess is your eyes are getting tired right about now. Melinda got her start writing in the preschool world on The Wonder Pets, Oobi and 3^rd & Bird. She got her humble beginnings in children’s media as the host of “The Playground” radio show for Boston’s WERS-FM. Melinda lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two focus group participants children – ten-year-old Ben and six-year-old Lauren.

Rick Siggelkow

Award-winning producer Rick Siggelkow has created and produced over 200 hours of tween and pre-school television. His series have aired on multiple networks including PBS, Discovery Kids, BBC, Noggin, Nickelodeon, Fox Kids, CW, CBC, YTV, the ABC and ZDF. Siggelkow was co-creator and producer of Shining Time Station (65 half-hours and five primetime specials) which introduced Thomas the Tank Engine to North American audiences and is among the highest rated children’s series to air on PBS. Other series creator and producer credits include Dinosapien, for CBBC and Discovery Kids (15 half hours), Ace Lightning, for BBC, CBC and U.S syndication on Fox and UPN (35 half-hours); Noddy, for PBS, CBC and TVO (65 half-hours and a primetime special) and Tweenies, for Noggin and Nickelodeon. His shows have won two Emmy’s in addition to receiving numerous other awards, including two Gemini Awards, a Parent’s Choice Gold Award, an Action for Children’s Television Award, a New York Film Festival Bronze Apple Award, an Angel Award, a Silver Hugo Award, two International Monitor Awards, two Armstrong Awards, and a Gold Award at the International Houston Film Festival. His most recent television production was Little People, 52 x 11, an animated series based on the iconic Fisher Price toy brand, and he has just completed eight half-hour quiz-show podcasts for Encyclopedia Britannica.

Creating toys that captivate both children and their parents is crucial for building a successful brand. The goal is not only to design and offer toys or content tailored to children’s ages but also to grasp the preferences of parents, who are often the primary decision-makers. How do we commission and interpret research to truly serve and understand our audience?

Join Dr. Amanda Gummer, the visionary behind GoodPlayGuide.com, Drew Vernon, Director of Education at tonies® USA, Hattie Foster, Strategy Director at PRELOADED, as they share expert insights to help you better understand your target audience.

Hattie Foster is Strategy Director at PRELOADED, A BAFTA-winning immersive games studio that uses emerging technologies to create playful, purposeful experiences that exist in museum settings, at home, and in public spaces for family audiences. Hattie supports partners in navigating this new play space through an audience-first collaborative design practice – with a focus on the power of play for learning and behavior change.

Drew Vernon is a former child on a mission to improve the childhood experience by reducing screen time and increasing creativity and imagination. He started his career launching new beauty products for Procter & Gamble and Jergens. Tired of selling lotion and wishing to return to childhood, he moved to the toy industry and led the U.S. preschool department for LEGO. Here he created “Prescription for Play”, partnering with over 2,000 pediatricians to encourage parents to play with their children. Drew led the U.S. marketing launch of tonies, and recently transitioned roles to lead a new Education department. In this role, he shares the educational benefits of tonies with parents, teachers, and librarians. Drew lives in the mountains of Utah with his wife and three children.

Elevate Your LinkedIn Game

Your LinkedIn profile serves as a powerful canvas to showcase your expertise, accomplishments, and personal brand. However, simply uploading what’s on your resume to create a profile isn’t enough to help recruiters and decision-makers find you.

Join Scott Traylor (Bay Area CMA President) as he reveals hidden LinkedIn features to help get your skills and experience noticed. In this virtual LinkedIn clinic, you will:

• Master the power of Boolean search to find job opportunities that match your qualifications and preferences

• Discover what recruiters see when they’re searching for the ideal candidate for a specific role

• Learn how to optimize your profile’s SEO to increase your visibility to recruiters

• Gain valuable insights and practical tips to make your profile stand out from the crowd

Whether you’re actively seeking new opportunities or looking to enhance your professional presence, this workshop will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to leverage LinkedIn effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to take your LinkedIn profile to the next level!

Zoom link will be sent to attendees on Friday, April 19th via Ticket Tailor email.

Join our member-only networking event on Thursday, April 18th! 

Please remember to register and the Zoom link will be sent the day before the event.

Discover the world of children’s music with CMA Jamz! Join us as we welcome Harold “Fyũtch” Simmons II, the GRAMMY-nominated music and social justice artist. With his innovative sound and powerful messages, Fyũtch is pushing the boundaries of what children’s music can be, crafting tunes that are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and socially conscious. 

From concerts to classrooms, his experience as a musician, teacher, and speaker allows him to educate, entertain, and empower audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The name Fyütch, which was originally ‘Future,’ represents knowing where you’ve been to know where you’re going. Fyütch coined his music genre “Fyüsion,” a blend of Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, and Soul. His work has been showcased on The Today Show, the Nick Cannon Show, and The New York Times. As a songwriter and producer, Fyütch has contributed to Grammy-winning albums, radio charting songs, and original compositions for television and family media. Fyütch also writes and performs music with his 6 year old daughter, Aura V.

Crafting Kid Culture offers an inside look at the brands shaping children’s media. Through insightful conversations with key players across the industry, this ongoing series explores the vital roles and day-to-day efforts of professionals at all levels – from entry-level to executive – as they create what’s new, now, and next in children’s content.

David Levy is the Head of Studio at Pinkfong USA. With more than 20 years of experience in animation and development, Levy has worked for several entertainment corporations such as The Walt Disney Company, Invisible Universe, Viacom International, and more. Levy’s unique and fast-paced approach to development was honed during his time as Director of Animation at Disney+, where he spearheaded the creative and production to create original animated content on social media for Lucas Film, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, and others. Levy is the author of several best selling books on the animation industry, including Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive (2nd edition, 2021). He’s lectured and taught at Parsons, SVA, NYU, RISD, and Pratt, and was president of the New York chapter of ASIFA (Association International du Film d’ Animation).

Crafting Kid Culture takes you behind the scenes of the brands that shape the world of children’s media. This engaging series invites you into thought-provoking dialogues with industry insiders, offering an intimate glimpse into the essential roles and tireless efforts of professionals across all levels – from newcomers to seasoned executives. Discover the driving forces and creative processes that bring the newest, freshest, and most innovative children’s content to life.

Daniel Barnes is an Executive Producer and TV Development Executive currently based in Los Angeles, California. He was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, and is a proud graduate of The University of Alabama with a degree in telecommunication and film. In 2014, Barnes was selected for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation internship in the category of Children’s Programming. At the end of his internship, he was hired full time by Hasbro Studios and has been working in children’s and family entertainment since. Over his career, he has worked on some of the biggest children’s brands including “My Little Pony,” “Transformers”, “Thomas the Tank Engine”, “Rescue Heroes”, “Morphle”, “Little Baby Bum”, “Blippi,” “Cocomelon”, “Care Bears” and “Holly Hobbie” while working at major studios such as Hasbro Studios, Amazon Prime Video, Moonbug Entertainment and currently Cloudco Entertainment. In 2021, Barnes was selected by The University of Alabama’s College of Communication as an Outstanding Alumnus. In 2023, he was honored at the 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Awards which honors The University of Alabama’s legendary young alumni who have made a vital impact on their industry, field or community. In his spare time, Barnes enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to concerts and traveling.