SPARK Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
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.

Executive Director
Heather Nessler
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.
507-218-3106

Development Manager
Lindsey Hemker
Lindsey has been with SPARK since October 2018. Her passion is development and helping the organization reach its highest funding potential. Working at SPARK allows her to write grants for programs that the community and SPARK visitors are passionate about. She has 5 year old twins that are always wanting hands on activities, and the museum is a place for them to expand their learning through play! Her favorite childhood toy was the easy bake oven (the most popular exhibit in children’s museums is the pretend play kitchen). She enjoys the Imagination Station the most because she loves painting and doing crafts.
507-218-3104

Operations and Visitor Services Manager
Jeraka Tweite
Jeraka has been with SPARK since July of 2020 and joined the team right before the SPARK opened! She enjoys being a part of an organization with a mission focused on families learning and growing through time spent together. Her 8 year old daughter is very creative and is always looking for a project, the museum has a fantastic Maker Space to offer a creative outlet for all ages. As a kid she loved being outdoors, and spent most of her time at the lake or outside playing and exploring. She enjoys finding creative and engaging ways to enhance our visitors experience at the museum by expanding on our current exhibits and programs.
507-218-3105

Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Gina Marcucci
Gina has been with SPARK since June 2022. She has come on board to help spread the word in the community about SPARK. With a wide range of experience in marketing and communications, she hopes to find new ways of outreach and connection in Rochester and surrounding areas. Her favorite exhibit is the H2OH! water table. In her spare time, Gina performs in the local band, My Grandma's Cardigan, and plays with a lot of puppies!
507-218-3107

Education and Community Engagement Coordinator
Makeila Nyman
Makeila has been with SPARK since October, 2023. She enjoys creating opportunities for all ages to play, learn, and discover together. After being an elementary teacher for several years, she hopes to bring her knowledge of student development and engagement to make exciting educational experiences for all. Seeing kids have “lightbulb moments” as they play is her favorite part of being at SPARK. She grew up traveling back and forth between Mexico, and her family farm in Iowa. With that upbringing she was able to enjoy learning about cultures as well as nature through experiential learning opportunities. She looks forward to being a part of the many ways that SPARK brings the community together.
507-218-3108
Our Play Managers and Program Facilitators can be found on the Museum floor, ready to help and keep the museum running!

Play Manager
Tammy Drake
Tammy has been with SPARK since January 2021, starting as a Sparkologist and working her way up to the newest position as Play Manager. 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?

Program Facilitator
Cat Fisher
Cat has been working at SPARK since February 2023, starting as a Sparkologist and stepping into the Program Facilitator position after a few months. She loves working close with the kiddos. She facilitates various activities, from art to story times to yoga, all with the purpose of interacting and learning in fun, positive ways. Cat's favorite exhibit is the air wall. She loves when you change the direction of the air and feels it is therapeutic to watch. "I love my job, couldn't ask for anything better. Children are my world. I have been working with children since I was 12 years old."