Spark Team

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.

LINDSEY HEMKER

Development Manager

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.

JERAKA TWEITE

Operations and Visitor Services Manager

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.

WHITNEY PERLENFEIN

Education and Community Engagement Coordinator

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. 

GINA MARCUCCI

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

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!