Benjamin Lloyd, Executive Director

Ben runs all three program areas of Bright Invention. He teaches classes for all abilities, leads the ensemble and is the Program Director for Creative Corporate Training. From its founding in 2011, Ben has now guided Bright Invention to its current incarnation: as a flexible and dynamic performing arts nonprofit which does three things: improvise, corporate training, and creative work with marginalized communities. 

From 1994 - 2013 Ben acted professionally on every major stage in the Philadelphia region, as well as in New York City, Edinburgh Scotland, Portland Oregon and other places. His second novel, The Deception of Surfaces, was published in July 2011. It is a follow up to his first book The Actor’s Way: A Journey of Self-Discovery in Letters, published by Allworth Press in May 2006. He is also the author of various articles and pamphlets on theatre and Quakerism.  He has a B.A. in Theater Studies from Yale College, an M.F.A. in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. He lives in Philadelphia.

Robert Stineman, Finance Director

When not performing on stage, Bob serves as a bookkeeper and accountant for both for and non-profit businesses around the Philadelphia area. Though a role he stumbled into, his experience with finance has offered him the chance to serve as a managing director, office manager, AR/AP specialist, and paralegal over the last 10 years. Since 2015 he has been Bright invention’s Director of Finance in charge with daily bookkeeping, financial planning, budgeting, and federal tax filings. He can also be found as the part-time bookkeeper for the law firm of Kolman Ely, PC located in Langhorne, PA. Recently he began working as a bookkeeper and advisor for Simpatico Theater Project, a group he served as Managing Director for 2 seasons. He has helped restructure and streamline billing and monthly financial record keeping for several different businesses and hopes that he has helped make all “this money stuff” less scary for folks.

Rick Horner, Ensemble Director

Since 1997, Rick has been involved in studying, performing, coaching, and leading various improv groups in Philadelphia proper. Rick was one of the Founders of the Philadelphia Improv Festival and was sole Founder of the F. Harold Improv Festival. Rick was one of the first House Team Directors at Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) (Team Activity Book), who created monthly long-form shows to sold-out audiences. Rick also created and has facilitated the Improv Incubator, which has been running weekly for almost seventeen years and which is open to anyone who is willing. Rick performs virtually with Vintage Improv (Timeless and the Merritt House Team), Ricochet Illustrated Improv and two teams in Improv College. Rick is also half of two different virtual duos; Holdwater and PortmanTwo. Rick created LCR, the progenitor of the fledgling Blue Bell / Ambler improv community scene, focused on creating a healthy improv community in the Philadelphia suburbs. Rick also coaches and directs a musical long form improv team (coming soon to a screen near you!) When not coaching or doing improv, Rick is re-watching Planet of the Apes movies, looking for meaning.

Jamie teaches companies, job seekers and students to enhance the customer experience which is a natural extension of a decade spent as a “Five Diamond” concierge. Prior to opening J. Cooperstein Hospitality Consulting, LLC, a certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Jamie was the Director of Concierge Services for a boutique property management firm, and played an integral role in implementing lifestyle services at their portfolio of luxury high-rises. Jamie was also a Concierge at the AAA Five-Diamond award winning Rittenhouse Hotel and Condominiums in Philadelphia. She is a former President of the Philadelphia Area Concierge Association and has obtained her Master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Temple University. When not working with private clients, Jamie also teaches a “Hotel Customer Service” course, that she designed, at Drexel University. Jamie lives in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia with her husband and strong-willed, princess loving 5-year-old.

Joshua is the Senior Manager of Strategy & Partnerships at the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), where he’s worked since October 2015. At WPSI, he is responsible for fostering and expanding WPSI’s relationships with employers, funders, and other workforce organizations to open new career pathway opportunities for talent across Philadelphia. Previously, as the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning’s Philadelphia territory, Joshua passionately promoted educational programs and services to parents, schools, and the community, developing strategic partnerships to promote the Sylvan brand and build awareness of programmatic services. Prior to that, Joshua was a middle school and high school math teacher, beginning his teaching career here in West Philadelphia after earning his Master of Education from Saint Joseph’s University.

Currently, Joshua lives in Fishtown with his 9-year-old and a 6-toed cat. He enjoys listening to local music, writing songs, and finding new adventures with his son.

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jared has been a teacher and director at Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City for over a decade, working with young folx to develop their academic and theatrical skills both in and out of the classroom. He has been a teaching artist with the All-Inclusive, All-City Teen Theatre Ensemble since its inception. Jared also serves the community as an American Sign Language-English interpreter. He holds Bachelors degrees from Muhlenberg College in both English and Theatre, a Masters degree in Education from Hunter College, and is a graduate of the LaGuardia American Sign Language - English Interpreting Program. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and currently has five published novels to his name. He lives in NYC with his husband and two delightful cats.

Ellen Metro is Associate Director, Corporate Relations at the Drexel Solutions Institute at Drexel University. In this role Ellen is responsible for connecting industry with the greater University community’s world-class expertise and resources to cultivate partnerships and create solutions that drive innovation and are custom-tailored to organizations and their people. Ellen has a dynamic career comprising a background in higher education, workforce development, project management, luxury-level corporate hospitality leadership and client relations management. In every hat she’s worn, Ellen has realized that her favorite thing about her work is people and providing empathetic, compassionate service to others. A former certified Spinning instructor, overall “fitness nut”, and lover of movement, Ellen was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder - a physical disability - in 2019. After a long road of trial and error and finding a holistic care plan that worked for her, Ellen is beyond grateful that her illness is now in full remission. Inspired by her parents – both retired special education teachers , her own experience with disability, and her genuine love for people, Ellen now wishes to provide help, support, and creative inspiration to others who live and thrive with disabilities.

Ellen holds a M.S., Higher Education, Student Affairs and Services from Drexel University. She lives in South Philadelphia with her two rescue cats Mr. Hicks and Princess Leia. When not working, volunteering, and moving she enjoys cooking, crafting, reading, listening to all types of music, and laughing.