THE BNW PEOPLE

★ ★ ★

Our culture is based on the behaviors and attitudes we share with our clients. We live and breathe the mindset of discovery every day. Our work motivation and driving force behind everything we do is our desire to help people lead happier and healthier lives by adopting a mindset of discovery and leaving fear behind.”

Dedicated, savvy, and passionate team who is not afraid of last minute changes and can turn any conference call into a party.

Creative Outreach

Creative Outreach

John is a visionary entrepreneur, author, and inspiring keynote speaker. His passion for innovation has led him on a life journey of bridging key improvisational behaviors and mindset to the business world through his work with Fortune 500 companies. His quest for making the world a better place includes building a sustainable business model for a self-funding arts organization.

Contact Me About:
Ways we can help your organization focus on and transform behaviors; Keynote speaking; cultivating an innovative mindset; entrepreneurial life; giving and philanthropy; Jiggly Boy

John Sweeney

John Sweeney, Owner, Brave New Workshop

Margi is one of the most caring and skillful facilitators you will ever meet. She creates safe and fun learning environments for thousands of professional every year where they can laugh, stretch and make small shifts in their everyday behaviors.

CONTACT MARGI FOR:
Incorporating the mindset of discovery into your day-to-day routine via improvisational workouts; Programs for women, educators, and small teams; Fostering confidence, authenticity and diversity in the workplace; Allergies to cats

Margi Simmons

Director of Applied Improvisation

Renee Scott wears ‘many hats’ at the BNW, including Personal Assistant to John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl, Event Coordinator & Client Liaison for Creative Outreach trainings & events and lastly, coordinating our monthly philanthropic event Happy Hour Squared! Reneé is the quickest, fastest, and most effective way to brighten your day. And personally connect you with Sweeney and Jenni.

CONTACT RENEE FOR:
All things Happy Hour Squared; John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl Personal Matters; your daily dose of morale boosting and FUN!

Renee Scott

Sweeney and Lilledahl Personal Assistant

Strategist, innovative thinker and life-long learner who focuses on maximizing the impact of BNW’s speaking and training programs and creating sustainable models for behavioral change.

CONTACT ELENA FOR:
New business or partnership opportunities, curriculum questions, citizenship/sustainability

Elena Imaretska

VP of New Products, Partnerships and Sustainability

Bobby is an expert facilitator who has bridged improvisational behaviors to real life for 7 years. Bobby’s dedication to practice has fueled success on many stages, including The Brave New Workshop Mainstage, where he has wowed hundreds of thousands of stoic Minnesotans. Recent Shows: The Trump Who Stole Chistmas, Mad Vax, 50 Shades of Gravy, Wolf of Walmart.

Contact Me About:
Using the mindset of discovery to improve storytelling, communication, collaboration, and ideation in your company; The Star Wars Universe.

Bobby Gardner

Actor and Assoc. Dir. of Applied Improvisation

Founder & Owners

Founder & Owners

Dudley Riggs is a fifth generation member of a distinguished show business family, and has worked (since the age of 5) as a circus aerialist, movie actor, vaudevillian, comedian, writer, stage director, and producer.

A noted improvisational comedian, Riggs created the Instant Theater Company in New York, which he moved to Minneapolis in 1958 to become the Brave New Workshop.

Dudley Riggs

Founder of Brave New Workshop

Jenni is co-owner of BNW with husband John Sweeney, and serves as executive director of the BNW’s school, the BNW Student Union. Considered a ‘founding mother’ of modern improvisation study in Minnesota, Jenni has endeavored the past 20+ years to bring the mindset and tools of improvisation to as many people as possible. Outside of the BNW, the hallmark of Jenni’s community involvement is her work as co-founder of Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, a cancer support organization that opened in 2014.

CONTACT ME ABOUT:
Improvisation outreach in the community, Getting trained as an improv instructor, Applied improvisation for schools or community organizations and special audiences, Loon Calls, Using Improv for Life and Improv for Good

Jenni Lilledahl

Owner, Brave New Workshop and Executive Director, Student Union

John is a visionary entrepreneur, author, and inspiring keynote speaker. His passion for innovation has led him on a life journey of bridging key improvisational behaviors and mindset to the business world through his work with Fortune 500 companies. His quest for making the world a better place includes building a sustainable business model for a self-funding arts organization.

Contact Me About:
Ways we can help your organization focus on and transform behaviors; Keynote speaking; cultivating an innovative mindset; entrepreneurial life; giving and philanthropy; Jiggly Boy

John Sweeney

John Sweeney, Owner, Brave New Workshop