BraveSpace’s training was a completely different experience all together. Traditional training has been largely ineffective in making a difference in culture. The difference in BraveSpace is it gets to culture almost immediately and has a lasting effect.
— VP OF SALES EXCELLENCE, Elavon

Helping Teams and People Work Better

 

Kristy Oliver is a Certified Applied Improv Practitioner, Speaker, and Learning Experience Designer at BraveSpace. With nearly two decades of experience performing, studying, and teaching improv, Kristy combines her deep expertise in improvisational acting, B2B Sales, and Corporate Training to create impactful learning experiences. Drawing from her diverse background, she helps teams and individuals harness the power of experiential improv-based learning to develop critical interpersonal communication skills, enhance collaboration, and unlock their full potential in both personal and professional environments.

Kristy’s work at BraveSpace brings improv to corporate settings to boost innovation, creativity, collaboration, and essential communication skills needed in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven workplaces. Many companies find it hard to create opportunities for these practices, but now is the perfect time to prioritize them, and BraveSpace is here to assist!

 

 

About BraveSpace

 
 


BraveSpace offers training and team-building programs that use improvisation for engaging and impactful learning that sticks. Our programs focus on your goals and are designed to create lasting engagement. Whether your team needs to improve communication or enhance collaboration, creativity, and innovation, our experts will work with you to understand your team's specific needs and outcomes. In today's changing business environment, adaptability and handling uncertainty are essential skills. Join us and be Brave!
 

 
 

Facilitators

We can do more together than solo. The BraveSpace team is made up of veteran Facilitators based all over the world. We draw from a vast network of expert trainers, improvisers, actors and subject matter experts to match the best talent to each engagement based on client needs. Meet a few of our talented Improvisers.

 
Rountree, A-23.jpg

Amanda Rountree

Amanda Rountree has been performing improvisational theatre professionally since 1992 and teaching since 1998. In 2014, she moved to the Atlanta area from Chicago, where she was a faculty member with the Second City Training Center.  She has facilitated team-building, brainstorming, collaborative problem-solving, and other events to both small organizations and large corporations in various cities throughout the country utilizing improvisation. She is delighted to be a part of BraveSpace.  Find out more about Amanda at her website: amandarountree.com.

 
Mark Kendall.jpg

Mark Kendall

Mark first got into comedy while studying film at Northwestern University. He had a chance to work at Comedy Central through the Chris Rock Summer School Program for up and coming comedy writers of color. During his time at Comedy Central, he got to pitch jokes to the writing staffs of "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report." Mark performs comedy in Atlanta at Dad's Garage Theatre Company and Highwire Comedy. He also teaches improv and sketch writing. He is currently touring with his one man show "The Magic Negro and Other Blackness" a sketch show that examines the depiction of black men in the media. For his work with the show, he was named "Best Professional Funny Man" by Creative Loafing Atlanta.

 
Brent Darnell.jpg

Brent Darnell

Brent Darnell is a playwright, author, actor, improviser, and Dramatists Guild member. He is also a pioneer in bringing emotional intelligence to the construction industry and has taught people skills to technical people at 100 different companies in 20 different countries. He also teaches these skills at Auburn, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and the University of Cincinnati.  He has published eight books on emotional intelligence and people skills for technical people.

 
Maggie-headshot1.jpg

Maggie McHugh-Parrish

Maggie’s professional background includes serving as an executive with software development and implementation companies and as a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Today she practices project turn-arounds, facilitation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, and is active in the Applied Improv Network & International Association of Facilitators. Maggie is a graduate of the Creative Problem Solving Institute, enjoys playing as an improv actor, and is a working artist. She leads her firm, Guidancy, bringing soft skills to a hard world while helping clients achieve their success story!

 
Lisa Fey.jpg

Lisa Fey

Lisa spent 30 years at The Coca-Cola Company - splitting her time in sales, marketing and training and development. She built her cred by growing business, promoting a team culture and coaching people with genuine feedback that empowered them to advance. Her passions outside the corporate realm enable her to captivate audiences with humor and storytelling. She has commanded multiple TEDx stages, performed improv theater and left her footprints upon every continent on the planet. Lisa understands the value of human connection in business dynamics and how to motivate people to attain their potential. She delivers the perspectives of a seasoned executive, the freshness of a comedienne and the authenticity you’d expect from a gal who grew up in a Southern farm community of 800. Lisa now runs Lisa Fey Speaks working as a keynote speaker and facilitator helping drive growth in people and businesses by sharing her secret formula.  

 
IMG_9659.JPG
 
43094607_4619541682574_8366242116719869952_o.jpg

Sarah Simmons Turner

Sarah is a graduate of The Upright Citizens Brigade (Los Angeles) & Dad’s Garage (Atlanta)’s Improv Programs. Her troupes include Automatic Improv, Ground Control and Superconductor. She was Education Director for Relapse Theatre (‘10-‘12), coached house teams at HighWire for two seasons (‘15 & ‘16) and coached a Harold Team for Action Show Studios (‘19). Sarah has been performing her entire life and trained at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA) as a professional Actor (‘14). She is currently represented by Jana Van Dyke & has been improv facilitating with BraveSpace since 2018.

In addition to Acting and Improv, Sarah has led about five other lives. Her degrees are in Public Relations & Political Science (‘04 Appalachian State University) and she currently freelances in Event, Festival & Social Media Management. From administrative work to selling real estate to leading teams of 100+ sales associates, Sarah brings an unique and professional perspective to her improv facilitating.
 

 

MATT BRUGGEMAN

Matt Bruggeman received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University. While Matt was training in the art form of improvisational theater, he experienced the importance of communication skills in the workplace in his field. Given the transformational effects Matt found from improv exercises, he now shares this experience with others.

Trained at Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City, Matt specializes in workshops that revolve around understanding yourself and how controlling our focus can drastically change the way we communicate and function.