Sandy began his career in early childhood, where he worked for 10 years as both a director and teacher.  He was co-founder of two Children’s Coop day care centers in Cambridge, MA.  During that time, he received a M. Ed in Administration from Cambridge College.
    His toy career began in 1985 where he founded Sandy and Son Toy Store.  This store is now known as Stella Bella Toys in Cambridge, MA.  He owned and managed the original location for 13 years.
    Sandy Ruben and Associates was founded in 1999.  For a number of years, it was simply Sandy and his Toyota covering 6 states by himself.  The organization has grown to 7 reps covering 8 states with over $10,000,000 in sales.  The group recently doubled their showroom in Atlanta to over 4,500 square feet.
    Sandy is committed to both the Specialty Toy Industry and to ASTRA.  He was selected as the ASTRA Sales Representative of the Year in 2015.  He has been a member of ASTRA for 20 years and has been a panelist/presenter at their conferences, as well as serving on their Board of Directors (2003-2005).  

Tom Darnell

Tennesee, Kentucky

Phone:  615-945-8939

Fax:  931-358-0373

E Mail: darnelltoys@gmail.com

Tom has 25 years servicing the mid-South as a sales representative in the specialty toy industry.  He is from and lives in Clarksville, TN with his wife Elizabeth and their children Jack Thomas and Sarah Catherine.  Tom is an avid fan of the University of Tennessee Vols!

Katherine Hodges

North Carolina, South Carolina

Phone:  919-244-8774

Fax:  919-800-3001

E Mail: toyrep@nc.rr.com

Katherine’s entire career has been in the specialty toy industry.  Her first job was in a specialty toy store at the age of 15 and that retailer continued to employ her as a store manager and multi-location buyer until one day she bought their company.  Katherine owned her stores for 10 years before becoming a sales representative.  She has been nominated for the ASTRA Sales Rep of the Year award twice and realized this year that she has been to Toy Fair over 25 times!  She lives in Garner, NC with her supportive husband John and their son Taylor.

Don worked in the retail industry for the past 37 years, 20 of those years in the toy industry.  He was a co-owner of a toy store with 2 locations in North Carolina.  Prior to coming to Sandy Ruben and Associates, he was a sales rep and area sales manager with GUND.  When not travelling and selling toys, you’ll most likely find him acting, directing, and singing at Town & Gown Players in Athens, GA.

Valerie is a transplanted New Yorker, or, as she says it "New Yawker". She got smart and moved south 23 years ago! Valerie started her sales career in the Aerospace Industry and eventually decided toys were just more "FUN"!  She and her family divide their time between their home in GA and their lake house in AL. 

Misty lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband.  She has 10 years sales experience in the gift industry, including years as a GUND rep, before joining Sandy Ruben & Associates in 2014.  Misty is dedicated to developing productive business relationships with her customers.  On Sundays in the fall, you’ll find Misty cheering on the Carolina Panthers!

Rachel Jones

Virginia, Outer Banks

Phone:  218-230-8898

Fax:  888-898-9864                                                       

E Mail: toysalesrep@hotmail.com

Before Rachel moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, she owned a popular store in Scottsdale, Arizona called Sugar Magnolia.  Rachel thought it only fitting to go into toy sales after the move since she has a built in toy testing department with 3 young children at home.  You can trust her opinion based on her research!  She understands the importance of each order and loves to help her customers with just about anything to do with their businesses.  Rachel believes it's about the relationship more than anything.  Rachel was nominated for ASTRA's Sales Rep of the Year for 2016.

Lea Ann Hilton

Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi

Phone:  502-460-1291                                                      

E Mail: leaannhilton@yahoo.com

Lea Ann has over 7 years of experience working as a sales representative.  She has worked with plush companies (Ty and Ganz) as well as gift companies (Midwest CBK and Larry Lucas).  

Chris opened her first toy store Bean Head Toys in Atlanta in 2007 when she saw there was avoid in her in her area for a typical neighborhood toy store. By 2011, she had opened her second store smack dab in the heart of Buckhead. Chris enjoyed running both stores, working with her customers, and doing all the buying for seven years but then decided she liked the other side of toys; the showroom side. She lives in Sandy Springs, GA. with her husband Kevin and they are enjoying being empty nesters with three kids in college!