Licensing International, the global brand licensing trade association, has officially inducted industry innovators Joseph Kaminkow, Maca Rotter and Stu Seltzer into its coveted 2024 Hall of Fame class.
At the event, International Licensing also presented awards and scholarships to rising industry stars and students. By combining tradition with change, the event is an annual opportunity to reconnect with long-standing industry professionals, develop new talent and invest in the future of the brand licensing industry.
Joseph, Maca and Stu are pioneers in the global brand licensing industry, and their contributions have not only led to significant innovation but also set standards for leadership and integrity. They bring iconic brands to life in ways that continue to be passed down from generation to generation. This induction is a fitting recognition of their profound impact, as each of them has left an indelible mark on our industry, inspiring countless others to follow in their footsteps.
Joseph Kaminkow is Chief Innovation Officer at Aristocrat Gaming, and as Kaminkow comments, “Licensing has always been at the core of much of what I do.” He began his career at Logical Highs, a game development company he founded , and later collaborated with Gary Stern to add popular brands such as The Simpsons, Star Wars and Star Trek to pinball games. He was later hired by International Game Technology to revolutionize slot machines in the same way, injecting licensed games into the game. Now at Aristocrat Gaming, Karminkow brings pop culture to every corner of the casino with this licensing talent.
Maca Rotter is considered the empowering queen of Mexico. With over 25 years of experience in marketing, branding and licensing, she has overseen unparalleled domestic and international market growth. Much of this growth can be attributed to her brand licensing work throughout Mexico, even founding a Mexican Licensing Association chapter. Rotter currently serves as President and CEO of La Panadería Licensing and is the first Latina woman on the Board of Directors of Licensing International.
Stu Seltzer has led the Seltzer Licensing Group for more than 25 years. Here, Seltzer used his strong negotiation skills and knowledge of the licensing industry to develop partnerships with powerful brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Warner Bros. DC Comics, Unilever, Miracle-Gro and the American Red Cross. In addition to his work at the agency, Seltzer is an award-winning professor at New York University, imparting his years of experience to future brand licensing professionals for more than 20 years.
In addition to honoring the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, the event also presented the 2024 Rising Star Awards to eight young professionals. These individuals were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee based on their emerging talent, underscoring Licensing International’s goal of promoting industry growth and innovation
Licensing International 2024 Rising Star Award Winner. |Source: Licensing International / The Toy Book
Licensing International 2024 Scholarship Recipients. |Source: Licensing International / The Toy Book
The event also awarded Licensing International Foundation 2024 scholarships to 10 brand licensing students. This prestigious scholarship program provides grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to outstanding students studying business, marketing, design and other areas of brand licensing. In order for the industry to continuously adapt to the wave of popular culture and evolve, new concepts are needed. This investment in future leaders ensures the long-term success of the brand licensing industry.
Nominations for Licensing International’s 2025 Hall of Fame class are now open. To nominate an industry luminary or to learn more about the Foundation’s careers, visit Licensing International’s website.
