When CEO Jane Walker asked me to chair the informal “Level Up Fun Committee”, part of my job is to bring back the fun and excitement back to the office. While taking cigarette breaks in our favorite hangout: “6.5″, project officer Alex Mena  (a fellow toy collector and ebay addict) and myself came up with an idea to organize the first ever LEVEL UP TOY FAIR 2007.

A lot of Level Up employees love and collect toys. What better way to showcase these than in an exhibit/contest. The timing was also perfect since we just celebrated our 5th year anniversary as a company this week.

The mechanics was simple, each employee can bring up to two toys (action figures or vehicle). A diorama or set counts as two entries.

More photos and the winners after the jump…

Submissions began last Monday and judging happened yesterday, July 27. There were several categories to win:

• Best of Show: The grand champion. This also had a first runner-up and a second runner up
• The “I’m A Geek” Toy: will go to the toy that screams out “hey! I’m a dork”
• The “Preppy Eighties” Award: goes to the toy or set that captures the nostalgia of the 80′s
• “Freak-Me-Out Toy”: You’ll go WTF?!?!? when you see this toy.

Prizes for the winners included gift certificates for Toy Kingdom, jackets, shirts and other “pledges and merchandise” from our ‘sponsors’ – the game brands themselves.

Out of more than 43 entries, only the best survived the close judging. Let’s check ‘em out:

Congrats to all our winners! The department that won (that’s ours – Marketing) will also get free pizza next week as part of the prize. Wohoo!

Still want more photos? Sure! Check out my flicker page. JC Medina also has additional photos here.

Thanks to all those who participated. I’d also like to thank Alex, Keith, Neil (and the gang at Creatives) for helping me organize and for all the support. Also, thanks to the judges like Ben, Phil and AA of Level Up International and other mancom members for taking time out from their busy scheds.

Looking forward to the next internal office event!

Cheers,

GM T