Leadership
The Minnesota Comic Book Association (MNCBA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization staffed and run entirely by volunteers. That includes our leadership! Minnesota Comic Book Association (MNCBA) leadership donates hundreds of hours of their time, year-round, to make the administrative, funding, and organizational magic happen for MNCBA events. It's A LOT of work, but it's worth it!
Jen Bateman • Stephen Henninger • Matthew Walkosz • Eric Childs
Jen Bateman, MNCBA President and Creative Director
Jen Bateman, MNCBA President and Creative Director, with their original 11" × 17" ink artwork for a 2024 MNCBA promotional poster.
Jen Bateman is a veteran of the independent comics and webcomics community with over 20 years of experience in online branding and marketing, self-publishing, and website building. In addition to being an accomplished cartoonist and illustrator, their professional work experience includes small business administration, best operating practices, team management and training, and leadership roles.
A member of the National Cartoonists Society, Jen's webcomic Behind the 8-Ball has been nominated for a 2024 NCS Divisional Reuben Award.
Jen grew up in Houston, TX, and moved to Saint Paul, MN, in 2015.
Jen's primary focus as leader of the MNCBA is to archive and preserve the Minnesota comic book community's past while building a vibrant, sustainable origanization that will help support the community long into the future.
Stephen "Sparky" Henninger, MNCBA Vice President
Stephen Henninger, MNCBA Vice President, at SiouxperCon 2024
Stephen Henninger's day job is Kitchen Coordinator at an Intensive Residental Treatment Services (IRTS) facility. His goals are to bring unique comic book-related content to the MNCBA newsletter, and to make MNCBA events the best comic book conventions not only in the state of Minnesota but the entire Midwest. Over the past 40 years, he has been involved with every aspect of the Minnesota comic book community except owning a comic book shop himself.
Stephen is also a member of the 2025 Saint Paul Vulcans Krewe!
Matthew Walkosz, MNCBA Volunteer Coordinator
Matt Walkosz, MNCBA Volunteer Coordinator, in his office at Speed Print, Inc.
Born and raised in Saint Paul, MN, Matt Walkosz is a long-time comic collector and enthusiast. He is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in art. Matt has even had a short story published in the St. Paul Almanac. Currently he owns and operates Speed Print, Inc., a fifty-plus year-old print shop in West Saint Paul, MN.
In his role as Volunteer Coordinator for the MNCBA, Matt's goals are to ensure everyone at MNCBA events has a fun and safe time — whether you are attending or helping behind the scenes. We hope you'll consider joining us!
Eric Childs, MNCBA Secretary and Panel Moderator
Eric Childs, MNCBA Secretary and Panel Moderator, at Mind's Eye Comics
Eric Childs is a comic book enthusiast and creative thinker, channeling his passion for comics into community engagement and literacy advocacy.
As the proprietor of Mind's Eye Comics and THICKETÞ Publishing (subsidiaries of Archived Expressions LLC), he's made a significant impact, earning the title of Main Street Champion for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District in 2021.
Originally from Kansas City, MO, and a Minnesota resident since 1991, Eric is an entrepreneurial "superhero" who has garnered attention from Marvel Studios and various news outlets for his dedication to community building and championing Black history and representation.
