The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced that Sue Warfield, who has been serving as Interim President since September 2020 and led the organization through the pandemic, has been officially named President of the association, effective immediately.
Warfield, a 30-year industry veteran, was serving as director of member relations at ASTRA when recruited by the board to lead the organization. In her career, she has been a sales representative and store owner.
ASTRA Board chair Amy Saldanha said Warfield is known, respected, and beloved my members of the association because of her varied experience in the industry spanning three decades.
“We are so lucky that Sue was willing to help the association she loves and cares about so much during such an incredibly difficult time,” Saldana said. “We look forward to the added stability for our association and for her to remove the interim from her title. Her leadership is greatly valued and needed.”
Warfield will preside at the association’s first in-person trade show since 2019, after the Orlando show was canceled due to the pandemic. ASTRA Marketplace & Academy will take place August 5-8 in Minneapolis on a compacted schedule.
“Sue and our full board of directors are ecstatic to welcome members back to our in-person show, and we know our members are so excited to meet one another again, share ideas in person and buy the toys their customers want,” said Saldana, a Twin Cities resident who owns a toy store in the area.