Robert Fuhrer

Considered one of the country's top toy experts, Robert Fuhrer founded Nextoy in 1981. For over 25 years Nextoy has been connecting original toy and game ideas with the companies that market them. Nextoy serves as product placement specialists for Toys & Games, Publishing, and Gifts & Novelties. Nextoy’s clients include Hasbro, Mattel, SpinMaster, The Sharper Image, Capcom, The New York Times, Crayola, Reader Digest, Bandai, St. Martin's Press, HarperCollins, and many others. Fired up by KenKen, the hot brain-teasing puzzles from Japan, Robert set up KenKen Puzzles LLC to license and market KenKen worldwide.

Lisa Shamus

Lisa Shamus began her marketing career in 1987 at The Walt Disney Company and from there, moved on to Marvel Comics where she rose to the position of Vice President. In 1995 Lisa joined Hamilton Projects, one of the leading corporate and entertainment licensing companies where she oversaw corporate licensing for Jeep, Dodge, Schering Plough, and entertainment properties such as Melrose Place and South Park. In 2007 Nextoy approached Lisa with KenKen, and she jumped at the chance to be involved with launching the phenomenon throughout the world!

David Levy

David Levy is an International Chess Master, world renowned artificial intelligence expert and author, and currently serves as President of the International Computer Games Association.
David was recently awarded the Loebner Prize! Click Here for details!
David has also appeared on the Colbert Report to discuss his book Love and Sex with Robots! click here to see the clip.

Will Shortz

Will Shortz, puzzle editor of The New York Times since 1993, is the only academically accredited "enigmatologist" in the world, having earned a degree in enigmatology from Indiana University in 1974. Mr. Shortz also received a law degree from the University of Virginia. After graduating, he skipped the bar exam and began a career in puzzles. Before joining The New York Times, Mr. Shortz spent 15 years as editor of Games magazine, a bimonthly devoted to puzzles and games of many kinds. In 1978 Mr. Shortz founded, and remains director of, the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held annually. He also founded the World Puzzle Championship in 1992 and serves as captain of the U.S. team. He also served as the captain of the U.S. team at the first annual World Sudoku Championship in 2006 in Lucca, Italy. In addition to editing the weekday and Sunday crossword puzzles for The New York Times, he has served as Puzzlemaster for Weekend Edition Sunday on National Public Radio since the show’s inception in 1987. Will has authored or edited more than 100 books including collections of New York Times crossword puzzles and his bestselling series of Sudoku books. He was recently featured in the critically acclaimed documentary Wordplay.