Ahren Hoffman has joined Crazy Aaron’s as the new marketing team lead. Hoffman joins the company after previous roles at the National Lekotek Center and American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA).
Crazy Aaron’s is known for its tactile play Thinking Putty line and its Clean With Color soap and sanitizer introduced last year, among other products.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ahren to Crazy Aaron’s team,” said founder and executive chairman Aaron Muderick. “Ahren’s long list of accolades and incredible work made it easy for us to select her for the role of marketing team lead. We look forward to seeing where she takes our brands.”
As the manager of industry relationships and partnerships at the National Lekotek Center, Hoffman’s role involved evaluating toys and play products beneficial to all children, particularly those with disabilities, at AblePlay.org, a project of Lekotek. As part of this work, she contributed to multiple toy guides and play resources and was published in a manual related to benefits of sensory play.
At ASTRA, Hoffman worked as business development director, identifying and implementing partnerships to increase revenue, as well as creating proposals for events, programs, and education. She collaborated with team members and vendors on matters ranging from food and beverage to signage to audio visual.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in therapeutic recreation with a minor in psychology from Central Michigan University.
“When I began my career in the toy industry back in 2007, I couldn’t have imagined this journey. Although the start of my career included influence from the toy industry, my degree was in therapeutic recreation and focused on leisure experiences for people of all ages with disabilities,” Hoffman said. “I am beyond excited to settle into my role with an incredibly talented team behind me. I know this is only the beginning of a great journey with the Puttyworld family.”