OUR STORY
It's all started 20 years....
Our story began at Smarty Pants improv theater in Dayton, OH during the early 2000s. Founded by Joey Greene, Smarty Pants brought a unique approach to improv, combining ComedySportz style, outdoor education philosophy, and game theory. We performed comedy shows, taught workshops, and entertained schools across Ohio. Post-Smarty Pants, we expanded our improv training through Second City, iO, and the Annoyance Theater. With added experience in marketing, tech startups, film, commercial advertisements, the corporate ladder, and one of us even appeared on Netflix.
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THE TEAM
Matt Derda
Founder
Matt Derda started doing improv in high school and joined Smarty Pants Theater company in 2004. While attending Miami University (OH) he also toured the country performing and teaching improv and acting in commercials. After college he moved to Chicago to study improv at iO, the Annoyance Theater, and completed the Second City Conservatory program.
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Although Matt never got on SNL, it led to a successful career as an experienced marketer. He leveraged his improv skills in roles at nonprofits, tech startups, and PepsiCo. Additionally, he uses his passion for storytelling as a singer-songwriter.
His unique journey, from improv to the corporate landscape, encapsulates the essence of Storymind's approach.
John Woodruff
Head of Video
John Woodruff is an LA-based, award winning director/producer who has over twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry.Through his work on countless film and video productions, John has built a team of industry professionals that allow him to deliver the quality and experience of Hollywood to corporate video productions.
This, combined with his experience working as a creative consultant with companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Lexus Nexus, IAMS and Harley Davidson, make him a favorite for companies seeking high quality video content.
Joey Greene
Head Facilitator
Joey began his improv career at the age of 18 at ComedySportz Kansas City, along with Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Billy Brimblecom (Thundergong), and Eric Melin (Air Guitar). He has graced stages with various improvisational groups and festivals, led countless workshops, and actively engages with the global improv community through the Applied Improv Network (AIN).
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Joey is also an experienced outdoor educator and is certified in ropes courses. He’s blended the team building exercises from outdoor ed with improvisational games to create a unique curriculum. He’s taught workshops all over the world, including the Wharton School of Business, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and the US Department of Defense.
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In 2019, Joey was featured as a hero on Netflix's Queer Eye.