Meet Our Team

We are a small but mighty team of creative, smart, and fun individuals who care about helping kids learn! Along with our amazing Sparkologists, we have a passion for serving children and families in our community. 

Heather Nessler

Executive Director

Heather has been with Spark since April 2022.

She was thrilled to join a brilliant team with the same goal – providing safe, fun, and enriching experiences for families in our community. She believes that even one experience at SPARK can change a child’s life. The introduction to STEAM, health and wellbeing activities, or different cultures can spark the joy of a lifelong passion. Her favorite activity as a child was drawing and creative writing, which is why the Imagination Station is her favorite place in the museum. She has two teenage daughters now, but the memories of drawing, cutting, gluing, creating, and dreaming with them when they were younger are some of her favorites.

Jeraka Tweite

Operations Director

Jeraka has been with SPARK since July of 2020 and . . .

joined the team right before SPARK opened! She is excited to be part of an organization that is passionate about serving children and families in our community and offering them a fun space to learn and grow together. As a child (and as an adult) her favorite place to be was outside, often at the lake or in the woods playing, building, and exploring. No surprise, her favorite exhibit is our new Wonder Woods exhibit for toddlers. Outside of SPARK she enjoys camping and exploring new places by horseback with her family and friends. She is excited to see SPARK continue to grow and find new and exciting ways to continue to expand our reach in the community. 

Gina Marcucci

Communications Manager

Gina has been with SPARK since June 2022.

She is our handy “make it” person. Need a poster? She’ll make it. Need an activity sheet? She’ll make it. As well as running our social media and handling our website. With her wide range of experience in marketing and communications, she is always working to find new ways of outreach and connection in Rochester and surrounding areas. Her love of the outdoors has made her favorite SPARK exhibit: Wonder Woods! In her spare time, Gina performs in the local band, My Grandma’s Cardigan, and hangs out with a lot of puppies!

Megan Long

Education & Program Manager

Megan has been with SPARK since October, 2024.

She is excited for the opportunity to provide fun and educational learning opportunities to SPARK explorers to enhance their visit. Megan has a background in Environmental Education and is looking forward to seeing kids (and adults) explore and grow. In her free time, she enjoys reading, bird watching, and spending time in nature. Her favorite exhibit is H2OH! Because who doesn’t like playing in water?

Tammy Drake

Visitor Experience Manager

Tammy has been with SPARK since January 2021,

She starting as a Sparkologist, worked her way up to Play Manager, and was promoted to Visitor Experience Manager in 2024. She has a background in special education K-6, nursing, and business management. Tammy and her husband of 32 years have been blessed with 3 daughters, 1 son, and 5 grandchildren. When she isn’t working (playing at SPARK), Tammy likes to relax with painting, diamond pictures, and puzzles. Her favorite exhibit at SPARK is SPARK City. She loves to see the expression on the children and parents when they have fixed the leaks, cleared up the smog, relieved the traffic jams, and turned unhappy guests to happy guests. How many people can say they get paid to play all day?

Kylee Youngstrom

Assistant Team Manager

Kylee has been with SPARK since 2024,

She assists with team management and can often be found around the museum interacting with kids and helping them learn through play! She is excited to provide kids with an interactive approach to learning. When she’s not at Spark she enjoys hiking, reading, and writing. As a young girl Kylee spent much of her time in a little fishing boat on the Mississippi River, so no one can be surprised that her favorite exhibit at Spark is the water table. 

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Philanthropy Manager

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Interested in joining our team? Check out our current job openings here

Meet Our Board

2024-2025

CHAIR
Darcy Elmer, Associated Bank

VICE CHAIR
Claudia Tabini, Southeast Service Cooperative

SECRETARY
Melissa Brinkman, Custom Alarm

TREASURER
Andrew Forliti, Smith Schafer and Associates

FORMER CHAIR
Ken Brown, Retired Olmsted County Commissioner

Board Members

Soledad Andrade, Mayo Clinic
Angie Bowman-Malloy, Midwest Flooring Solutions
Deneene Graham, Deneene Graham Solutions
Jenny Hosfeld, Think Mutual Bank
Shannon Knoepke, Townsquare Media
Becky Montpetit, Rochester Local
Shruthi Naik, Comparative Oncology, Vyriad Inc.
Mike Benike, Benike Construction
Tim Deutsch, Pace International
Shelley Henry, Mayo Clinic
Zoey Jantsan, Edina Realty
Carla Nelson, Minnesota State Senate, Ex-Officio
Erica Schumacher, Rochester Public Schools
Chris Wendland, Wendlund Utz, Ltd Law Firm

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