Meet the Minds Behind Mini Manners
A Collective of Experts, Educators, and Creatives
The Mini Manners team brings together decades of experience across early childhood education, brand strategy, parenting, production, and modern etiquette. From classroom leaders to creative visionaries, each member plays a unique role in shaping a show that’s not only developmentally sound, but also joyful, engaging, and deeply impactful for today’s families.
Myka Meier
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Beaumont Etiquette & Mini Manners
Myka Meier is the Founder and Co-Creator of Mini Manners and a globally recognized expert in modern etiquette, with a mission to make kindness common and help raise the next generation of confident, caring humans. As the founder of Beaumont Etiquette, she has trained thousands of individuals, from Fortune 500 executives to children, on how to lead with confidence, warmth, and respect in every setting. She also co-founded The Plaza Hotel’s iconic Modern Etiquette Program, where she taught Eloise-inspired children’s courses for ages 3–17 and signature adult programming focused on business, social, and dining etiquette.
Myka’s work has been featured in The Today Show, The New York Times, Vogue, and more, and she has built a global community of over 1 million followers by making etiquette feel evolved, inclusive, and approachable. At the heart of it all, she’s a proud mom of two, driven by the belief that manners aren’t about rules; they’re about showing care and kindness. Mini Manners is her way of giving something lasting to the next generation: a joyful foundation of inclusion empathy, and confidence.
Myka proudly serves as a Global Ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is committed to supporting its mission to advance cures and find treatments for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Ariana Swerdlin
Co-Creator & Chief Brand Officer Mini Manners, Co- Founder ATeam Communications
Ariana Swerdlin is the strategic and creative lead behind the Mini Manners brand. With over 15 years of experience in brand development and communications, she specializes in building culturally resonant brands that connect deeply with modern audiences. Her expertise spans creative direction, story-telling and holistic brand positioning, skills she’s used to bring household names to life across the lifestyle, hospitality, and education sectors.
As Co-Founder of ATeam Communications, a full-service branding and marketing agency, Ariana oversees brand strategy, campaign development, and narrative-driven marketing. Ariana and her business partner Abby have worked alongside Myka Meier for over a decade, helping shape and grow her brand across platforms. Long before launching their agency, Myka dubbed them “The ATeam”, a name that stuck as they went on to build a leading branding and marketing firm.
Mary Haywoode
Early Childhood Consultant, Founder of Little Bee Learning Studio
Mary is an Early Childhood Education Consultant for Mini Manners, where she reviews every episode to ensure it aligns with best practices in child development and supports age-appropriate learning. She holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Catherine University and is an American Montessori Society–certified Infant and Toddler teacher. Driven by a lifelong passion for early childhood development, she opened Little Bee Learning Studio in Hoboken in April 2016 and later expanded to Maplewood in July 2019.
At Little Bee Learning Studio, Mary fosters creative, SEL-aligned learning in small-group environments, nurturing both child and caregiver growth.
As a mom of two, Mary understands firsthand how important it is to have tools that support both children and parents. That’s why she values Mini Manners, a resource that brings structure, heart, and a little extra magic to everyday moments.
Pamela Canada Fiander
Pamela Canada Fiander, Ed.D. is a highly respected leader in early childhood education, bringing over 40 years of experience as a principal, superintendent, and accreditation director. With both a Doctorate and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, her career reflects a deep commitment to elevating educational standards and inspiring whole-child development.
As an architect of Mini Manners’ developmental framework, Dr. Canada ensures our content is rooted in the latest best practices in early learning. Her guidance guarantees that every episode not only aligns with developmental psychology but also delivers measurable value in children’s social and emotional growth. Her leadership elevates our SEL-first approach and ensures our pedagogy remains rigorous, impactful, and trustworthy.
Abigail Hennelly
Head of Sales & Marketing Mini Manners, Co-Founder ATeam Communications
Abigail oversees distribution strategy, sales growth, and multi-channel marketing efforts. She leads initiatives across digital campaigns, brand partnerships, and retail outreach—ensuring Mini Manners reaches families nationwide.
She brings brand, sales, and marketing leadership experience from iconic organizations including NBCUniversal, The Plaza Hotel, and 92Y.
As Co-Founder of ATeam Communications, Abigail brings invaluable expertise in partnership and sales strategy, brand development, and marketing execution—guiding both emerging and established brands toward measurable growth.
Nick Testa
Composer, Head of Audio Creative, Mini Manners
Nick Testa is the composer and head of audio creative for Mini Manners, where he creates original music and sound design that kids love—and parents actually enjoy. A musician, commercial songwriter, dad, and longtime DJ, Nick draws inspiration from his own family to craft songs that are upbeat, playful, and full of heart.
Outside the studio, he mentors youth at Camp Mariposa, supporting kids impacted by family substance use, and works with Miami Valley Meals to fight food insecurity. Whether it’s a campfire singalong or a jingle, Nick’s goal is simple: spread joy through music.
Before focusing on children’s media and nonprofit work, Nick toured internationally with bands like Hawthorne Heights, Punchline, Bayside, Metro Station, and fronted the party band Nightbeast.
Katelyn Meade
Director of Operations
Katelyn Meade is the Director of Operations for Mini Manners, where she ensures every piece of the brand flows smoothly from managing episode tapings and production logistics to puppeteering and overseeing the rollout of brand materials. With a background in customer success and client relations, Katelyn brings a detail-driven, solutions-first mindset to everything she does.
Whether she’s orchestrating shoot days, troubleshooting behind-the-scenes challenges, or lending a hand (literally) on screen, she plays a vital role in bringing the world of Mini Manners to life and helping the brand grow with care and precision.
