We’re able to deliver creative, impactful and educational programs thanks to the work of our talented staff. To find out more about each staff member, click on the photos below.
MARGARET EAMES
Margaret joined The National Theatre for Children over 20 years ago, after many years of working in the graphic arts industry. As the owner and CEO of NTC, Margaret oversees the company’s employee benefits plan, accounts receivable and payable, the company payroll and monthly financial statements, as well as general office management. Margaret is extremely proud of the work NTC accomplishes on a daily basis and is thrilled to have made a difference in the lives of so many students and families over the past 40 years.
Phone:763-452-1103
Email:[email protected]
WARD EAMES
In 1978, Ward founded NTC to deliver entertaining and engaging programs that motivate families, students and educators. For over 45 years, organizations have used NTC’s engagement strategies and tactics to enhance their reputations and visibility in the communities they serve. Ward has worked with clients in the energy, financial services, health, technology, environment, recycling and consumer products industries, among others, and has produced a news series called Kids News as well as a nationally broadcast TV series for tweens and teens called M@dAbout. As NTC’s founder, Ward is retired and now spends his days as a financial board member, advisor and pursuing new opportunities.
EDDIE EAMES
Becoming a full-time part of the NTC team in August 2009, Eddie has a unique perspective on NTC’s operations. A Marketing & Communications major and graduate from the University of St. Thomas, he analyzed the NTC business model and practices. As the Chief Revenue Officer and Director of Client Success, Eddie is responsible for managing NTC’s business development by creating relationships and nurturing long term clients who partner with NTC to actively engage students, teachers and families on important societal issues through the school channel. Prior to this role, Eddie has spent time executing projects in numerous areas of NTC ranging from Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service departments.
Phone:7634521115
Email:[email protected]
PATRICK ROWAN
In 1998, Patrick started his career at NTC by educating and performing for children all across the country. During this experience, he quickly realized and saw firsthand the important impact that NTC’s programs have in in the lives of students and their families. This unique opportunity to make a difference in the world is why so many organizations have hired NTC over the past 40 years and it’s what keeps Pat energized and excited to come to work every day. Mr. Rowan comes from a long line of educators and has helped NTC to grow and evolve. Over the years, Pat has been responsible for all the operational aspects in producing educational programs, school assemblies, special live events, livestream events, video productions, digital activities, social media, educational curriculum, print materials, distribution and product development. He works constantly with executive management to run the business, as well as manage an immensely talented staff filled with knowledgeable, aware, creative, stimulating, fun, caring personalities, who have helped to build NTC into the largest educational touring theatre company in the country. Pat is passionate about the work we do here at NTC and leads the company from a pragmatic point of view, with clear intentions, communication, humility, collaboration, consideration, common sense, creativity and comradery. As NTC’s president, Patrick Rowan oversees all departments by keeping a finger on the pulse of the day-to-day operations and overall management of the organization. Pat is happily married to his wife, Jennifer, a High School teacher, and a proud parent of identical twin daughters and a son.
NIKKI SWOBODA
A career program director and education advocate, Nikki connects the dots across NTC departments to ensure a streamlined, communicative, and fulfilling experience for NTC’s clients and students. Nikki serves as Client Success Manager for NTC’s kit programs with ComEd, Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Solutions. She is an award-winning educator and contributing author to scholarship on innovation in education (TYA/USA), Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives in educational theatre (Special Report on Education from Theatre Communications Group) and the Kennedy Center’s K-12 curriculum on Theatre Benefits for Autism. She is tasked with managing business development and content marketing, acting as a liaison between NTC and various stakeholders, and supporting school outreach through marketing and other initiatives. Nikki implements new client programs across NTC departments until operational standards are met. She serves on NTC’s Strategic Planning Committee and Executive Staff. Her best gig of all time, however, is being on Team Theisen, where she gets to be Ben’s partner, and mom to Lynnea and Van.
Email:[email protected]
DEREK MEYER
Derek Meyer began his career at NTC as an actor in 2008 and performed in over 25 different shows, touring to schools across the country, through 2014. Since then, Derek has been focused on making sure that every school NTC performs for gets the same great experience. He is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin – Green Bay with a degree in Theatre. When Derek isn’t at NTC, he can probably be found riding his bicycle, performing in a show, or baking something tasty.
Phone:18008583999 ext. 216
Email:[email protected]
Leititia Bailey
Leititia joined NTC in July 2023 as the School Outreach Director. Leititia is responsible for effectively leading efforts in providing educational outreach programs to schools and clients for the company. Leititia is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock with a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and attained a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University, Lisle, IL. In her free time, Leititia enjoys crafting, volunteering within the community and being a part of the sisterhood and service in her sorority.
BILL TURNER
Bill Turner began working for NTC in 1995 as an actor. He was instrumental in developing characters for such shows asWhere in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and 2Smart 2Smoke. As an artistic associate, Bill began directing and building shows. As Technical Director, Bill managed set design and construction, prop design, costume development, and production budgets. He also served as Technical Producer forShakespeare in the Park. Bill also served as Director of Production, and General Manager of The National Theatre for Children. Bill currently manages the technical infrastructure at NTC.
Phone:7634521113
Email:[email protected]
JOHN TRONES
John Trones joined NTC in 2008 as a part-time employee in what was then known as the School Marketing Department, and later transitioned to a full-time tour coordinator in 2009. In 2011 Trones stepped into the role of the Director of School Communications where he coordinated the scheduling and communications efforts for thousands of schools and dozens of clients every school year. In 2017, John made the move to Director of Production where he oversees all aspects of Production for NTC. An avid musician and actor, Trones enjoys performing at a variety of venues when not at NTC.
Phone:7634521108
Email:[email protected]
FRANK MACIEL
As the Director of Video Production, Frank oversees the production of NTC’s educational video content. He is also the Creative Director for Livestream Learning Studio, an educational livestream subscription service that delivers virtual events to schools across the United States. Frank has worked with NTC for over twenty years, touring as an actor; writing for the educational TV series M@dAbout; and hosting KiDSNEWS, an educational news and current events program, produced by NTC. As a current member of the Creative Services team, Frank creatively sticks his nose in as many NTC projects as possible. Prior to his work with NTC, Frank worked extensively with the Walt Disney Company in California, writing and directing stage productions for their theme parks and teaching improvisation through Disney Performing Arts, a program that focused on teaching creative arts-related skills to students in grades K-12.
Phone:7634521129
Email:[email protected]
MORGAN MARX
Morgan joined NTC’s Production Department in 2015, as the Digital Manager. It’s her job to create and manage NTC’s web and multi-media materials. Besides her work at NTC, Morgan is a freelance videographer and an experimental cook/baker.
Email:[email protected]
Jeremy Day
Jeremy Day is excited to return to NTC! Jeremy first worked with NTC in the fall of 2010 touring Energized Guyz: Conserving up Comedy. Jeremy graduated from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI, with a double major in Music Theatre Performance and Arts Administration: Running a non-profit. For the last 12 years Jeremy worked with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre in Barrett, MN, bringing classic fairy tales (with a twist) to thousands of students in the Midwest. As an Outreach Manager, he will help facilitate bringing NTC’s theatre programs to students across the entire country. In his free time, he enjoys watching rom-coms, baking, and listening to audiobooks.
JENNY PFARR
Jenny came to NTC with years of experience in Business Administration, Office Management, and Accounting. She started at NTC as a sales caller, help the title of Marketing Coordinator and has moved on to Office Management. As the Office Management Coordinator, she is the gate keeper of our client database. She manages NTC’s Salesforce prospect marketing, manages conference events and helps maintain budgets. She assists with coordinating NTC’s Pardot Software, MPI Data, and Conversica System. She supports Client Services and our Accounts Payable/Receivable Department. Jenny is in charge of ordering all NTC office supplies and equipment. She also manages landlord maintenance and deals with vendors for office related supplies and services. In general – she helps out where ever needed. Jenny lives in Minneapolis with her family. She enjoys photography, spending endless hours with her two crazy kids, and is always up for whatever adventures that may come her way.
Phone:7634521119
Email:[email protected]
KEZIA FLORENCE
Kezia Florence (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of the NTC team! After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a customized degree in theater and interdisciplinary design, she split her time between working on props and scenery for local theater companies, designing logos and promotional materials as a freelancer, and designing jewelry and packaging for a wholesale fashion company. After years of building a strong interdisciplinary base of design knowledge through these varied mediums, Kezia now focuses her talents on graphic design and is proud to support the NTC mission and work with visually pleasing and effective graphics and print materials.
When she’s not making magic with Adobe Illustrator, you can find Kezia roller skating (yes, I can do tricks), performing long-form improv with her group “Denim on Denim,” or cuddling her cat, Yo-Yo.
MELISSA KIM
PHIL WARD
Born and raised in the Midwest, Phil has lived in Los Angeles since 1983. He was a touring actor with NTC in the early 90s and at one time held the record for the most NTC performances. These days, when he’s not casting and directing NTC tours for the Southwestern U.S., he can be found performing with the improv group ComedySportz Los Angeles, where he is the Managing Director. He is a longtime ensemble member at Theatre of Note in Hollywood, where he has served as an actor, director, writer, composer and musician. He has also written and directed plays for the Repertory Theater of America in Baltimore.
You can also see Phil in a handful of independent films, including Robert Altman’s STREAMERS, and hear him on a handful of albums, including his live CD “Easily Amused,” featured on the Dr. Demento radio show.
Email:[email protected]
EVAN JACKSON
Evan started his career at NTC as a touring actor in 2014, completing seven tours over a three-year period before moving to the Twin Cities to fulfill the role of Production Writer and Coordinator and has since transitioned to Casting & Company Manager. Prior to working full time for NTC, Evan worked for various companies and theatres across the Midwest and Eastern United States as an actor having done over 1,200 performances in 21 different states. Evan is a native of Lafayette, Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University where he studied Mass Communications and Acting. Outside of the theatre world, Evan enjoys watching sports, playing card games, doing crossword puzzles and a strong cup of black coffee.
Email:[email protected]
SETH CAMPBELL
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Seth Campbell began his career with NTC as a touring actor in the fall of 2019. He later appeared in numerous educational videos for NTC’s new livestreaming platform. In 2020, Seth joined the Creative Services team as part of the livestream and video production crew. He quickly became an invaluable resource doing everything from camera and sound design to editing video and producing livestreams. In 2023, he began his role as Company Manager, becoming more invested than ever in the success of NTC and its company of actors. In his spare time, Seth can be found hosting his own livestreams and talking about sports, as well as enjoying frequent trips back to his homeland, Madison Wisconsin.
Email:[email protected]
Dariya Kimmes
Dariya began her career at NTC as a touring actor in 2018 after completing her BFA in Musical Theatre at Drake University. She went on to explore the world of Office Administration, before returning to NTC in 2024 as the Production Manager. When not in the office, you can find Dariya hosting trivia, reading, or spending time with her partner, Jared, and their two cats.
Jordan Stewart
Jordan is thrilled to be continuing her NTC journey as a School Communications Manager. Beginning as a Lead Communications Rep, she worked with schools across the country encouraging them to take advantage of NTC’s amazing programs. After graduating with a B.A from Columbia College Chicago which encompassed music, theatre, management, and education she taught a wide variety of classes/workshops at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and was an integral part of the store leadership team with Target here in the Twin Cities. As a Communications Manager, she will facilitate school programs across the country with the sole purpose of engaging, and educating students through a collective theatre experience. In her spare time, Jordan enjoys crafting, singing, and snuggling with her 12 yr old pup.
Email: [email protected]
Phone:1-800-858-3999 ext. 455
JEANNINE COULOMBE
Jeannine Coulombe joined NTC in 2022 as the Sales and Marketing Content Manager. Prior to coming to NTC, Jeannine was the Manager of New Plays and Conservatory Director at Stages Theatre Company for 14 years. She developed over 25 stage adaptations of children’s literature with playwrights and composers hailing from around the country. As a teaching artist Jeannine taught students ages 3-18 for 25 years in schools and classrooms throughout Minnesota. As a theatre professional she has worn many hats and co-founded two professional theatre companies in the Twin Cities. She has worked as a professional playwright, director, dramaturg and producer. As a creative writer Jeannine has written plays for both youth and adult audiences and currently finished her first novel. As a professional writer Jeannine has written grants, blogs, digital and print marketing copy, website content, and hundreds of teacher resources guides. At NTC she is thrilled to bring her theatre, teaching, writing and marketing background together into one job. Jeannine grew up in Northern Minnesota within shouting distance of Canada. She lives in St. Paul with her husband and two daughters and enjoys hiking, reading and traveling to places she has not yet experienced.
Email:[email protected]
Rebecca Hanson
Becca joined the outreach team at NTC in 2022 after ten years in art education. As a School Outreach Manager, she facilitates communication with schools to bring NTC’s engaging educational theatre to students and teachers throughout the country. Becca graduated from Bethel University with a degree in visual art education and enjoys making pottery and prints in south Minneapolis. She spends her free time traveling, listening to audiobooks, and finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Megan Evans
Megan joined NTC in July 2024 as the Bookkeeper and Payroll Administrator. Megan has been in the administrative field for 18 years and is excited to bring that experience to the NTC family. In her free time Megan enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time with her cats.
Email:[email protected]