The Team
David Jahn
Co-Founder
David Jahn has an extensive professional background that includes actor, improvisation teacher, and public relations specialist. Prior to launching Innovate Improv Solutions, David partnered in creating The Donahue Group, one of Los Angeles' leading public relations firms, which specialized in corporate events, marketing and publicity. After building the company for a decade and becoming the company's CFO, David left The Donahue Group in 1999.
While still active in his PR company, David began teaching at the Groundlings Theatre, the renowned improv and sketch comedy troupe famous for launching the careers of many household names. It was there he recognized improvisational training could be brought to the workplace. He has since coached employees on every level for numerous companies. David's teaching also led to directing numerous productions, including the Groundlings' legendary Sunday Show. David's own films, Pro-Choice and Day Stripper, have played throughout the world.
David's television credits include Morning Show, Black-ish, Arrested Development, The Comeback, Modern Family, Doin' It Yourself, Cougar Town, General Hospital, and a series regular role on My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss for Fox. His film credits include The Package, A Patient Man, Men Women & Children, and Thank You For Smoking. David’s one-man shows Do You Fear What I Fear? and Fill Your Hole have played to sold-out houses. The Los Angeles Times called David's abilities “wholly distinctive"....David is doing something improvisational right this second.
Krista Gano
Co-Founder
Krista Gano is an applied improvisation facilitator and communication strategist with more than three decades of experience spanning film, theater, executive leadership, and experiential training.
She served as Executive Director of The Groundlings Theatre, working alongside many of today’s leading comedic performers, and has operated inside high-stakes creative and corporate environments at every level — from performance and production to executive strategy. Her background in storytelling and live performance gives her a deep understanding of how voice, presence, and narrative shape influence.
Krista has designed and facilitated programs for global brands and creative organizations, and she served on faculty for more than a decade with Kaiser Permanente’s Clinician–Patient Communication program — experience that continues to inform her work in healthcare and medical communication environments.
She works especially well with creatives and innovation-driven teams, helping individuals clarify their voice, articulate their ideas, and communicate with confidence. Clients often describe the experience of working with her as having a powerful advocate in the room — someone fully invested in the strength of the work while honoring the ownership of the creator.
Krista is also co-host of the podcast This Is How My Brain Works, where she explores creativity and late-identified neurodivergence. This lens informs her approach to facilitation, helping organizations better understand cognitive diversity and build communication systems that support a range of working styles.
Known for her warm but unmistakable style, Krista blends improvisational agility with practical strategy — equipping leaders and teams to navigate complexity, build trust, and perform with clarity under pressure.
Patrick Bristow
Facilitator
In addition to hosting Puppet Up Uncensored, Patrick teaches improv and acts here and there. You may remember him as the “Wigmaster” on SEINFELD, or as the hyper-goodie “Peter” on ELLEN. Other TV credits include THE MORNING SHOW, MINX, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, FRIENDS, THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY, MINX, and more. Film credits include BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR, the accidental comedy SHOWGIRLS, PAIN AND GAIN, and the evil voice in SUPERINTELLIGENCE. In 1985, he appeared as an uncredited extra in the opening scene of the TV movie, HOLLYWOOD WIVES. Somehow that ended up on his IMDB. Also - his hair used to be bright red. Like crazy red. Really red.
Cathy Shambley-Baer
Facilitator
Cathy Shambley is an alumna of The Groundlings and a seasoned actress, writer, and facilitator with a deep love of storytelling and collaboration. Her background in performance brings warmth, quick thinking, and sharp comedic instincts to every room she leads.
In addition to her work in television and film, Cathy is also a passionate foodie who believes the best conversations — like the best meals — are built on shared experience, curiosity, and connection.
Laura Carson
Facilitator
Laura Carson is an actress, writer, and producer with more than 30 years of experience in performance and storytelling. She led theatre and filmmaking programs at Idyllwild Arts Academy, Working Artist Group and Denver Center for Performing Arts. Her stage and screen credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, Bruce Almighty, and national commercial campaigns, and her award-nominated short film Dime Short has screened at festivals nationwide.
For more than 20 years, Laura has also trained medical professionals in communication and patient engagement, working with clinicians at institutions including Kaiser Permanente, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. Through applied performance techniques, she helps professionals strengthen presence, listening, and relational effectiveness in high-stakes environments.
Guy Stevenson
Facilitator
Guy has been involved with the Groundlings since 1998 and has been teaching there since 2006. Performing in the Groundlings Sunday Company helped him get a position writing and producing on the Fox show MAD TV. Guy has also appeared on "Punk'd", "Reno 911", "Curb your Enthusiasm", "The League" and "Parks and Rec", to name a few. Guy has taught improv to thousands of students all over the country, from beginning child classes to directing seasoned adults in advanced student shows, and is often requested to lead cooperate training classes. Guy continues to volunteer teaching improv and communication skills to veterans. He strongly believes that improv is a vital tool not only for the actor, writer or director but anyone who strives to be more collaborative and innovative within a group setting. “The communication skills taught in an improv class will carry to all aspects of your life.” Guy lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three sons and is himself a proud veteran of the Marine Corps.
Christine DiDonato
Facilitating Partner
Christine DiDonato, founder of Career Revolution, Inc., is an innovator in the space of employee and leadership development. As the former Head of Talent for Sony Electronics, Inc., Christine focused her passion and research on acquiring, coaching and developing organization’s youngest generation of employees to become the next generation of leaders.
As a leading advocate for Millennial Career Development, Christine created AccelerateME, a unique feedback tool specifically designed for today’s young professionals to get the feedback they crave and take greater ownership of their career path.
Christine is a progressive facilitator that moves groups beyond theory to put solutions in place that address the challenges of a new generation. Christine is a LinkedIn Author and recognized leader in her field as seen in her contributions to popular media sources like TIME, Money, Inc., Forbes, Human Capital Institute, Society for Human Resource Development, College Magazine and USA Today.
Michael Churvin
Facilitator
Michael Churven is a director, actor and writer based in Los Angeles. He is currently a main company member of The Groundlings Theater where he performs improv and sketch comedy weekly. Acting work includes television appearances in ABC’s Modern Family and Adult Swim’s Mike Tyson Mysteries. He also regularly directs, teaches and performs at improv theaters throughout Europe and Australia. In addition, he enjoys bringing the art of improv to corporate organizations looking to connect and improve their presentation skills. He has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland in Australia and is a practicing attorney admitted to the California bar.