SPARK 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.

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.

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.

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.

Education and Community Engagement Coordinator
Whitney Perlenfein
Whitney has been with SPARK since March 2022 and joined with the hope of offering more educational opportunities for children and families. She aims to provide an asset to the community where families get excited to discover what they are going to learn through play today. She loves seeing the learning and interactions between children and parents as they play. Her favorite exhibit is the Light Bright wall because playing with it it highlights so many different areas of development. When playing with a light bright, children and parents of all ages can explore and learn.

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!
Play Managers
Our Play Managers can be found on the Museum floor, ready to help and keeping things in order!

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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?

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Taylor Monnett
Taylor has been with SPARK since October 2022. With a background in adult and youth counseling, he joined the team with enthusiasm to help foster a healthy environment of fun and learning for kids. Taylor met his wife rock climbing in Utah where he grew up in a big family (with over 20 nieces and nephews!). His other hobbies include archery, violin and guitar, and video games. His favorite exhibit at Spark is the Light Bright, because it is fun to organize all the different colors and create pixel-like art. If you need someone to play with during your time at SPARK, Taylor is always game!