Licensing International has announced the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. The Hall of Fame Awards honor executives’ legacies, bodies of work, and unique contributions to the global brand licensing community.
This year’s inductees are Allison Ames, President and CEO of Beanstalk; Susan Brandt, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises; Steven Ekstract, CEO and Chief Content Officer at entertainmentxtracks; The Hallmark brand and legacy, founded by J.C. Hall; international icon Dolly Parton; and film director, producer, writer, and actor Kevin Smith.
In addition to celebrating the inductees’ accomplishments, this event will also honor their leadership within the industry by raising funds for the Licensing International Foundation scholarship program. The program grants scholarships to deserving individuals around the world who are interested in a career in brand licensing. Since 2020, the Licensing International Foundation scholarship program has awarded more than $500,000 in funds to 54 scholarship recipients. The program is a crucial element of Licensing International’s ongoing work to support the next generation of licensing professionals and ensure the industry continues to grow and evolve.
These licensing icons will be honored at the 2025 Hall of Fame Awards in New York City on December 3rd. Taking place at Gotham Hall, the event will also spotlight rising talent currently making strides in the licensing industry.
The Rising Star program recognizes young professionals from around the world who have been nominated by their peers for their contributions to the global brand licensing industry. The 2025 Rising Star recipients will be announced later this year.
Maura Regan, President of Licensing International, said:
“There is more to celebrate at this year’s Hall of Fame Awards than ever before. We are honoring licensing veterans who have helped to shape our industry and our community. Their decades of commitment and creativity have helped to push the business forward, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. This event is also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on gifted newcomers in the form of our 2025 Rising Stars. It is crucial for the global brand licensing industry to connect with and support the next generation of licensing leaders.”
Those interested in sponsoring the 2025 Hall of Fame Awards should reach out to Maria Ungaro (mungaro@licensing.org).
