Brian McCroden
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Brian McCroden founded the company in 1982 and has grown the business from a distribution company with $100K in sales to a $50-60M multi-brand manufacturing and distribution corporation. He has created a humanistic and real corporate culture where every employee feels esteemed, important, and unafraid to say and do what they think is right for the company. Currently, Brian's role as Executive Chairman is to formulate and execute the long-term vision of the company.

Brian holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.

What is your favorite sports team?
"If the Warriors ever won the championship, that would be my biggest thrill as a sports fan, currently."

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
"I am a good tennis player – City of Oakland champion in the over 50 division. I enjoy jazz, wine, and my four daughters."

If you were stranded on a desert island with 3 WCN products, what would they be?
"One of our MLB fashion caps to keep the sun off my face and to muse upon, an American Crown cozie when it gets cold at night, and either a licensed water bottle to hold water or another fashion cap to offer to whoever lands on the island for a ride off!"

John Allenberg
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

John Allenberg joined West Coast Novelty in 1991, after working as the Vice President of Sales of a giftware manufacturer. Initially, he worked in Santa Monica, California as WCN's National Sales Manager and in 1998 he moved to the Bay Area to become the President. As President, John's role was to establish new relationships, drive overall business, and oversee sales, product development, purchasing, and marketing. In 2011, John was promoted to CEO to set the overall short and long-term vision of the company and lead the company through change.

John holds a Bachelor's degree in Business from Colorado College, as well as an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles with a concentration in Marketing + Strategic Planning.

What is your favorite sports team?
"UCLA basketball! When I was in junior high school in the early 1970's, I used to hang out in front of Pauley Pavilion and scalp tickets to the games. Sometimes we had more tickets than we needed and sold them for extra cash. Thus I began my career in small business."

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
"In 2004 my family and I took a sabbatical in Barcelona, Spain for a year. We are all now fluent Spanish speakers."

If you were stranded on a desert island with 3 WCN products, what would they be?
"A pair of American Crown board shorts, an LA Lakers bottle jersey, and a Los Angeles Dodgers washed twill cap!"

Lance Littlejohn
CHIEF OPERATING AND FINANCIAL OFFICER

Lance Littlejohn joined West Coast Novelty in 1985, after working five years in marketing for Business Equipment Manufacturers. In his 26 years at WCN, he has managed every single department in the company at a various stage in his career. Currently as COO/CFO, Lance manages distribution, order management, credit collections, accounting, and information technology.

Lance holds a Bachelor's degree in Business from BYU, as well as a Masters of Management degree from Northwestern University.

What is your favorite sports team?
"Oakland A's"

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
"If I could combine writing poetry while riding
up a gondola for a perfect powder run, that
would be a perfect day."

If you were stranded on a desert island with
3 WCN products, what would they be?
"Board shorts, flip flops, and a t-shirt."