leadership

Reformed music video director Asher Brown hails from the city of Brotherly Love, and a family of teachers, writers, and toy store owners. A graduate of Wesleyan University’s Film Program, for the past decade Asher has brought his blend of east-coast sensibilities and Hollywood style to commercials, videos and branding campaigns. In addition to his work with Magic Beans, Asher also serves on the board of the non-profit ‘Play Library’, which is like a regular library, but with toys and games. He is the founder of Pollution:Studios, the garden where Magic Beans was born.

Former clown, stilt walker and Pre-K teacher, with a decade of production experience, Lola knows how to run a tight ship while embracing the spirit of play. A multi-hyphenate with a wide variety of skills, a BA from LMU and an MA from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and King’s College London, she’s breathed life into marketing activations for Red Bull and Sony, and worked with everyone from musicians like Florence & The Machine and MGMT to marketing agencies like Wieden & Kennedy. She grew up between Galway, Ireland and LA, and loves travelling and teaming up with her husband John Lloyd Taylor, Musical Director for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.

Mother of the coolest preteen on the planet, Jennifer brings to Magic Beans a wealth of expertise and nearly 20 years experience in both traditional and social media marketing at the in-house and corporate level. As former Director of Global Marketing at Munchkin Inc., she has a powerful understanding of the Juvenile Industry, and has worked extensively with brands like Nike, Nickelodeon, Disney/Pixar, Mattel, and Lego. A kid at heart, Jennifer fancies herself a serious amateur sleuth, and loves solving real-life crime mysteries on the weekends.

Studio guru David Viste comes to us from the sand of the Middle East with a wild imagination and spirited commitment to the joys of childhood. David runs Pollution:Studios, the stage, lighting and creative facility which Magic Beans calls home. He coordinates our team of producers and serves as liaison to Settlers Scenic (our fabrication shingle). A filmmaker in his own right, David graduated from Vassar College and has quite a few independent projects under his belt. His fondness for wordplay and lectures on the obscure is rivaled only by his love of model trains, movies, and Maurice Sendak.

Beantown native, Lex Edness is a middle school science teacher turned Hollywood wordsmith who likes to bring playfulness into his professional world as well as his work. His combined experience in network television (NBC’s Prime Suspect), feature films (John Swetnam’s Mad Horse Films) and charter school classrooms informs his storytelling and drives him to shoot for the stars when creating content in any medium. Lex graduated from Wesleyan University, studied drama at Harvard/A.R.T., and is repped by Art/Work Entertainment. He is also fond of the classic frozen treat, Otterpops (grape is his favorite).

Affectionately known as the Baby Wrangler, former professional entertainer Mark Ruegg is our magical compass when it comes to kids. His incredible expertise comes from years of experience as a producer and professional Baby/Child Wrangler, working with brands like Target, Old Navy, Gymboree, Stride Rite, Gerber, and Disney, to name a few. He has performed all over the world with his kids’ rock n roll stage show The Party Animals Live, and served as Executive Producer for the children’s album Never Too Young To Rock n Roll. Happily married for 12 years to an Aerialist/ Stiltwalker, Mark loves people watching on Venice Beach and piloting his beach cruiser along the Strand.

Our resident British ambassador, Leanne specializes in creating and coordinating kid content on both sides of the pond. Trained in editorial arts, targeted marketing, and broadcast production, she’s worked with Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Cartoonito. Leanne has overseen both regional and international channel launches, and cultivated an impressive professional network that spans the globe. A ferocious dancer and avid thrill-seeker, she’s also quite good at planning parties for people of all ages.