LIMA is saddened to learn of the passing of long-time member Catharine Bushnell after a long battle with brain cancer.
Together with her late husband, H Michael Sisson, Catharine was one of the original members of the licensing industry and was instrumental in the development of the Licensing Industry Association (which later merged with the Licensed Merchandisers’ Association to form LIMA) 
In 1981, Catharine and Michael together founded the Sisson Group that specialized in all aspects of international licensing including property development, design, sales and marketing on a worldwide basis.  By 1992, Catharine and Michael, together with partner KJ Istok, founded Eastern European Merchandising Corporation, recognizing the opportunity in Eastern European territories. The company remained headquartered in New York but opened offices throughout the territory and represented some of the biggest names in the business.
In 2007, Catharine and KJ merged EEMC with Ink (formerly Kidz Entertainment), creating between them one of Europe’s leading licensing agents working actively on the licensing of movies, brands and entertainment throughout Eastern Europe, Russia, CIS and the Nordics.
Catharine will be greatly missed by her friends and colleagues in the licensing community.