People of Play, a division of The Toy Association, will honour Mike Moody and Phil Orbanes with Lifetime Achievement Awards and Judy Ellis as the Industry Game Changer at the 18th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards on Saturday, November 8. This year’s ceremony, themed “Friendship,” will celebrate the creativity and innovation that drive the toy and game community, but also the enduring bonds that bring inventors, designers, and industry leaders together. The event will take place at Joe’s Live Concert Venue in Rosemont, IL.
“The theme of ‘Friendship’ feels especially fitting for the TAGIE Awards this year,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “The toy and game community thrives on shared creativity — inventors, designers, marketers, and educators coming together to bring ideas to life. Mike, Phil, and Judy each embody that collaborative spirit. Their work has not only inspired countless products and careers but has also built lasting connections that remind us why this industry feels more like a family than a business.”
Mike Moody has over 30 years experience from serving as a buyer for John Menzies PLC to becoming a marketing leader at Tyco Matchbox Toys. Moody is the CEO of Seven Towns Ltd, a leading toy and game invention studios, where he has guided the company’s creative for over two decades. His work has contributed to brands including Boglins, Rubik’s, Junior Monopoly, Silly Sausage, Who’s the Dude, and many more.
Phil Orbanes is a celebrated game designer, author, and founding partner of Winning Moves. He has served as a senior vice president of research and development at Parker Brothers. He is the author of several books on Monopoly and game history, including “The Monopoly Companion” and has served as the chief judge of the U.S. and World Monopoly Championships for more than 30 years.
Judy Ellis whose educational work continues to shape the global toy industry, founded the world’s first baccalaureate program in Toy Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she served as chair and was ranked as distinguished professor. Her career has focused on advancing creative, ethical, and inclusive toy design while mentoring generations of industry leaders. A 2013 Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductee, Ellis has received numerous awards for teaching and service.
Throughout the evening, TAGIE awards will also be presented to winners in 13 categories. Public voting for each category is open through October 24.
The TAGIE Awards will be hosted by Karri Bean, senior licensing manager of Disney Consumer Products, and JoAnn McLaughlin, senior vice president of licensed product, design, & development at Disney Consumer Products, will deliver welcome remarks. Jeremy Padawer, chief brand officer at Jazwares, will present a keynote. This year’s awards are sponsored by Disney (Presenting Sponsor), Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, Longshore, Nextoy, Super Impulse, The Playmakers, Baby Paper, Backdrop.com, Peggy Brown Creative, and Design Edge.
Founded in 2008, the TAGIEs celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world. The awards ceremony takes place annually in the fall in conjunction with the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, and the Young Inventor Challenge.
Click here to purchase tickets for the 2025 TAGIE Awards.
