LEONID SHAFIR is a founding member of the family owned Play-A-Maze Toy Company. Leonid has an extensive background in the field of play-based learning. As a graduate student, he researched the role of play in human culture and development at Wilfred Laurier University.

Moreover, Leonid worked at the Government of Canada where he examined trends in early education. His also participated in the development of the first national Early Learning and Child Care Framework. His insight and experience in how children learn and play uniquely positions Leonid to create and design toys that engage the mind, challenge the player and advance critical skills development in children of all ages.

Since childhood, GREGORY SHAFIR has held a fascination for gears and the toys that use them. So much so, he began constructing toys of his own design at a very young age, incorporating his beloved gears in many creative ways. For Gregory, a Mechanical Engineer with a successful career spanning more than three decades, it was a natural evolution for to combine his love of mechanics, gears, and toys, into entertaining recreation in the form of stimulating and fun puzzle toys.

Today, as Chief Toy Designer at Play-A-Maze, Gregory works on simple, yet innovative technologies to promote education and skill set development. Gregory hopes to provide children (and adults) with a fun way to learn new skills or perhaps sharpen old ones with his ever-evolving puzzle toys.

ANTONIA LLULL, better known as “Tonina”, has been a practicing occupational therapist for over 21 years, specializing in Pediatrics. Tonina, holds a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rollins College. In her career’s journey, she has founded/directed a multidisciplinary, pediatric rehab clinic and a private school for students with special needs in Orlando, FL; and has been part of a rehabilitation medicine department’s management team at a top rated hospital in Manhattan.

Tonina continues to treat children and work with families while also building educational programming for parents and professionals. She loves discovering, sharing, and collaborating with her community to maximize growth, learning, and creativity in children of all ages and skill levels. She offers consultation, workshops, and telehealth services – mpowerme.therapies@gmail.com

MARIE-ANGE JANVIER is a STEM activist passionate to promote science, technology and engineering. As a black Canadian with PhD in engineering who grew in an immigrant family, she knows how challenging it is for women and visible minorities to enter STEM fields. In her experience, getting children excited about STEM early in life is important to help them succeed in sciences. To promote STEM, Marie-Ange participated in various initiatives to boost knowledge of sciences among immigrant and underprivileged populations on academic and community levels.

Marie-Ange is always looking for ways to start a dialogue with various communities to advance children’s learning. Please let her know if you are interested in a short conversation to share and discuss experience promoting STEM. You can contact Marie-Ange at majanvier2020@yahoo.com