Robert Tonner worked for Effanbee in the early 1990s. He was hired by Effanbee to help develop and design new doll lines for the company. During his time at Effanbee, Tonner worked on several doll lines, including the Brenda Starr collection and the Little Rascals collection. Tonner’s work at Effanbee helped to rejuvenate the company’s product lines and bring new collectors to the brand. In 1991, Tonner left Effanbee to start his own doll company, the Tonner Doll Company, which has since become a highly successful doll manufacturer in its own right.