Latin Long Island - Sept/Oct. 2004

Famous Salvadoran Teenage Toy Tycoon Brings Her “Midas Touch” to Syosset’s NY College of Health Professions
by Doug Glener

The story of Mary Rodas, the world-famous “teenage toy tycoon” who became an academic pioneer in the burgeoning field of integrative medicine, is the stuff dreams are made of.

Our tale begins over twenty years ago in an apartment building in Union City, New Jersey. Four-year-old Mary accompanies her father, a Salvadoran immigrant who speaks little English, as he does repairs on an apartment. The ever-precocious little girl then strays away to watch a distinguished-looking man lay tiles.

“You’re not doing it right. You should lay the tiles this way,” Mary quipped, unaware that this innocent remark would forever change her life.

For the man laying the tiles was Don Spector, one of the top patent holders in the world — the inventor of the first hydrolic exerciser, The Muscle Worker; the hyperbaric chamber; the world’s first electronic fragrance system and most important, dozens of delightful toys.

Spector was struck by the little girl’s intelligence, insight, and bubbling personality. He reasoned, “if she can critique tiles with such exactness and spontaneity, she can critique the toys I’m inventing.” Thus was born one of the most unusual – and successful – partnerships in corporate America.

Spector’s apartment was a veritable Santa’s workshop. Little Mary would frequently visit Spector’s home and comment on his inventions with and uncanny accuracy. “It was as if she could peer into a crystal ball and know what toys would be popular with children.”

While the partnership and financial fortunes of Rodas and Spector blossomed, Mary faced many challenges and heartaches: she was left back in the second grade because of a learning disability, learning English proved to be difficult and her mother died, leaving the little girl bereft of her closest friend and confidant.

It has been said that adversity measures spirit. Rodas’ irrepressible spirit shone through the dark times to reveal an indomitable drive to surmount all trials.

Mary’s Fortunes Take a Bounce
Our tale continues at the New York City corporate headquarters of Spector’s toy company. The inventor had just created a balloon covered by a cloth sack and asked Mary for her opinion. “This is boring. Let’s change it. Maybe we should put all sorts of bright colors on the cloth,” Mary opined. And so the Balzac Balloon Ball was created. Balzac went on to rack up more than $100 million in sales and grow into a line of more than 30 products.

As a show of gratitude and recognition for Mary’s invaluable contributions, Spector named her the vice president of marketing at a six-figure salary – upon her graduation from elementary school. Rodas was now the youngest corporate executive in the history of America.

Fame and fortune quickly followed. Mary appeared on Dateline, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, CNN, The Today Show, Inside Edition, The Adam Smith Show and hundreds of other talk and news programs around the world. She was the recipient of the 1999 Latina Excellence Young Entrepreneur Award and an original inductee into the Hispanic American Hall of Fame. And in 1998, she was named one of the Top 20 Women Under 30 by Working Woman magazine and one of the top 40 Business People Under 40 by Crain’s New York Business.

Mary had reached the pinnacle of success. And she had yet to graduate from high school.

Off to College
Many youngsters who enjoy spectacular success at such a young age often avoid the sacrifices required to go to college. But not Mary, “Learning is an ongoing process. I never want to shut a door of opportunity, and want to have every option open to me.”

While attending New York University with a major in communications. Mary spent her time providing counsel and advice to leading corporations and actively volunteered in the Hispanic community. Then she had another meeting with Spector – one that would once again change the direction of her life.

Teenage Toy Tycoon Turns To Academic Pursuits
Spector had decided to devote himself to philanthropic activities and was appointed chairman of New York College of Health Professions, one of the country’s largest institutions that integrates the methodologies of the East and West for both preventative and curative medicine. The school was the first in New York to receive state approval for a degree program in Massage Therapy and the first in the United States to have a degree program in therapeutic bodywork. New York College of Health Professions was searching for a director of admissions, and Mary’s philanthropic bend, insight into people and compassionate nature made her an ideal candidate.

The administration at New York College quickly agreed. And so the young girl whose life wa changed by a kindly mentor was to become a mentor to men and women contemplating a career in the healing arts. “It is very gratifying to help people make decisions about their careers. I feel satisfaction knowing that our students will help alleviate the suffering of those in pain,” said Rodas.

Rodas is not your typical director of admissions. Her office is not a revolving door filled with and endless stream of prospective students. She takes time to get to know every candidate. She wants to help. She becomes their friend. “Twenty years ago, a chance meeting with Don Spector changed my life. It taught me to seize an opportunity when one is at hand. Now it’s my turn to give back and help our students become the architects of their destiny,” added Rodas.

So the most recent chapter of the story of Mary Rodas comes to a close. It will be fascinating to see how she writes the remainder of her life’s story.