Jeffrey B McMullen
Jeff comes to the Santa community with as many diverse skills as the North Pole has snowflakes. After graduating from High School, Jeff applied to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. That particular year over 6,300 people applied to Clown College and Jeff was one of 60 students to be accepted into this one-of-a-kind College.
Upon graduating, Jeff was offered an opportunity to be a touring member with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, as a clown, a childhood goal of his.
After touring with the show, Jeff returned to his childhood town of Appleton, Wisconsin to attend regular college, at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. During his Junior year, Jeff accepted a job opportunity to perform as a nationally recognized fast-food spokesperson for Arizona and southern California, which he accepted and finished his degree program between UW Oshkosh and Arizona State, in television film production. During this time, Jeff also becomes a highly sought-after standup comedian performing comedy magic in clubs and for corporate events.
After 5 years in Arizona, Jeff once again returned to Appleton, with his wife Debbie, to return to college and earn his master’s degree in Speech Communication and Theater. A few weeks after graduating, Jeff accepted a staff position with Ringling Brothers Clown College and was one of five American Clowns to start the Ringling Brothers Clown College – Japan, in Tokyo. A unique experience that Jeff still holds dear to his heart. Jeff’s primary responsibility to Clown College Japan, was character development, movement, and magic.
Following that, Jeff spent the next 30 years traveling the world performing his comedy magic show and teaching the “Magic of Laughter” at festivals, performing art centers, conventions, and corporate events.
During this time, opportunities to portray Santa would arise from time to time and Jeff would slip into a red suit and pretend to be Santa. Pretend is the correct term. This all changed when Jeff was invited to present his seminar on how to “Effectively Communicating to Young People” at an International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santa Convention. This proved to be a career changing event. For the first time, Jeff was introduced to the professional Santa world. He loved it and it loved him. Since then, he has been the featured presenter at numerous national and international Santa conferences and events…sharing his vast experiences of performing with Santa and Mrs. Claus’s.
Now, as the visionary of Kringle U, Jeff is looking forward to what he believes God put him here to do in the first place… teach others how to impact lives in a positive way through smiles, love, and acceptance through the character of Santa Claus!
