Executive Team & Board of Directors

Minnesota Children’s Museum Executive Team

Dianne Krizan, President

About Dianne
Dianne has led the museum since 2010. Under her leadership, the museum launched and completed a $30 million expansion and renovation of the flagship location in downtown St. Paul. During her tenure, the museum has opened a satellite in Rochester, installed literacy-based exhibits in libraries across the state and increased scholarship memberships for low-income families.

Dianne has a bachelor of science in chemical engineering and a master of public affairs from the University of Minnesota. She focused the first 18 years of her career on research and development, including director of innovation at General Mills. Prior to joining the museum, she led fundraising efforts as managing director of development at Minnesota Public Radio and its national affiliates. Dianne’s favorite ways to play involve golf and photography.

Email Dianne

Briana Geurink, Vice President of Philanthropy

About Briana

Briana joined the museum in August 2019. Prior to joining the museum, she served as vice president of advancement at Opportunity Partners and oversaw the annual giving program at Animal Humane Society. Briana is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and an active leader in advancing philanthropy, serving as the Minnesota President for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2018 and currently serving on the organization’s Board of Directors. Briana’s favorite way to play is gardening with her kids (for the few months when weather allows!).

Email Briana

Bob Ingrassia, Vice President of External Relations

About Bob
Bob joined the museum in 2014, bringing more than 20 years of communications, marketing and digital media experience. He oversees the marketing, communications and sales departments, leading efforts that drive attendance and membership while engaging parents in the power of play. He also plays a leading role in analyzing and forecasting attendance and revenue trends.

Prior to joining the museum, Bob led accounts at an integrated marketing agency in Minneapolis and served as a reporter and editor at news organizations in St. Paul, New York City and Dallas. Bob earned a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota. Fun fact: Bob’s “other car” is a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda convertible.

Email Bob

Jessica Turgeon, Vice President of Museum Experience

About Jessica
Jess joined the museum more than 25 years ago as a part-time cashier. Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, all of which she has infused with a passion for ensuring a fun and rewarding visitor experience. Jess served as project manager for the museum’s $30 million expansion and renovation, completed in 2017. She now oversees museum exhibits, visitor services and facilities, as well as the museum’s robust traveling exhibits business. Jess has bachelor’s degrees in English and Russian, and a Master of Business Administration from Carlson School of Management. When she is not working, Jess can usually be found immersed in a good book.

Email Jessica

Michelle Blodgett, Director of Experiences

About Michelle

Michelle has been with the museum for more than 25 years and considers herself a lifelong experience maker. She began her career at the museum as a Visitor Assistant and quickly moved into programs, transforming the museum’s visitor offerings. Michelle has held numerous positions and led various projects, including serving as the lead developer on three galleries during the capital expansion, Smart Play Spots and the Creativity Jam prototypes.

Outside the museum, Michelle has held the roles of gallery director at the College of Visual Arts, art education coordinator at the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center and lead toddler teacher at the University of St. Thomas. She holds a bachelor of arts in arts management with a minor in education and a master’s in human development with a focus on creativity. Michelle is a passionate artist and can often be found teaching the art of paper marbling at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts or working in her studio.

Jessica Petrie, Director of Marketing and Communications

About Jessica

Jessica joined the museum in September 2020 after working as the Director of Digital Communications for an integrated marketing communications agency. Prior to that, she oversaw all internal and external communications for the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, one of the largest nonprofit performing arts centers in the country.

With more than a decade of experience in marketing and communications, Jessica has a passion for helping organizations use social media, online content and other digital communications tools to tell their stories and authentically connect with people. Outside of work, Jessica is a big supporter of the arts, loves exploring the city with her family and hopes to someday visit every national park in the country.

Lindsey Taveren, Director of Finance and Technology

About Lindsey

Lindsey joined Minnesota Children’s Museum in 2025, continuing her passion for strengthening youth-focused organizations that make a difference. With over 15 years in the nonprofit world—10 of those focused on finance—Lindsey knows how to keep organizations mission-driven while navigating changing economic landscapes. Before this, Lindsey served as CFO and Interim Executive Director at the Child Neurology Foundation, where she advanced from her original role as Director of Accounting, Finance and Technology. Her track record also includes working at American Academy of Neurology where she drove major investments in finance technology systems and provided fiscal management to the American Brain Foundation, Child Neurology Foundation and the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Lindsey earned her MBA from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, specializing in finance and entrepreneurship.

Board of Directors

Officers

Adrian Chiu, Chair of the Board, Executive Vice President and President, Water Solutions, Pentair

Clayton O’Toole, Chair Elect, Partner, McKinsey & Company Inc

John Henningsgard, Treasurer, Managing Director, Piper Sandler & Co

Sara Swenson, Secretary, Vice President, Goff Public

 

Board Members

David Benedict, Senior Director, EY Parthenon

Tricia Brackeen, Vice President Internal Audit, Polaris Industries 

Will Brady, Senior Vice President Quality and Performance Improvement for Medicare and Medicaid, United Healthcare

Robin Cerio, Director of Operations, Legacy Trailer Solutions; School Board Member, District 196

Liz Clark, Senior Marketing Manager, Old National Bank

Grady Davis, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Market Access & Commercial Partnerships, Beckman Coulter

Jessica Ehrlichmann, Vice President and General Manager, Andersen Corporation Windows & Doors

Kevin England, Vice President Enterprise Corporate Development & Strategy, 3M

Kate Gaio, Instructional Coach, Wayzata Public Schools

Nicole Garrison, Senior Director, Global Employer Brand, RBC

Cody Griggs, Vice President, CH Robinson

Amber Hedlund, Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Xcel Energy

Bryan Hollaway, Partner, Salesforce Sustainability Services, ERM

Su Ryeon Kang, Parent

Lateef Ledbetter, Senior Counsel/Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo

Lariss Maldonado, General Counsel, LifeSource

Kareem Meliani, VP North America Marketing, Institutional Division, Ecolab

Ashley Merrill, General Manager, Advanced Membrane Solutions & Donaldson Company

Katie Milliken, Strategy Director, Corporate Strategy & Development, Cargill, Inc.

Derek Naill, Managing Member, Diamond Path Ventures, LLC

 

Gregory Ogunsanya, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, HB Fuller

Ben Ollendick, Regional Managing Director, Ascent Private Capital Management of U.S. Bank

Kathryn Ott Kostka, Parent

Marcus Ploeger, Partner, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Steve Rambeck, Vice President Business Development and Commercial Strategy, Ever-Green Energy

Janet Roller, Vice President Global and North America Channel Marketing, Aveda

Vineeta Sawkar, Radio Host, WCCO

Severin St. Martin, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Nadia Siddiqui, Vice President of Advancement, The Women’s Foundation of MN; Owner, The Coven Richfield

Gada Simeso, Vice President, Best Buy

Vanessa Slots, Pediatrician & Site Medical Lead, M Health Fairview

Ross Stedman, VP of Operations, Securian Financial

Andy Thesing, VP, Actuarial & Analytics, Travelers Insurance

Adrienne Todd, Director, Target Corp

Clarise Tushie-Lessard, Founder & Principal, CTL Strategies

Deborah Walker Kool, Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, PA

Cody Warren, Vice President & Wealth Advisor, Sequoia Financial Group

Harlee Wood, Senior Talent Development Systems Specialist, Patterson Companies

Pin It on Pinterest