This session will give a view into the makings of our experience calendar. Every staff member, volunteer, and intern interfaces with the experiences through their creation, operation, or communication of the experiences, and can benefit from understanding how they all connect across the year.
I joined this amazing institution in 2003 and have played a role in experience development since my early days in the Lilly Theater, Interpretation, Exhibits, and now as VP of Experience Development & Family Learning. My graduate work focused on rural museums as part of their community... Read More →
Did you ever wonder just what goes on inside that lab hidden behind the ScienceWorks water table? You’re not alone. In this session, learn about STEMLab’s role in the museum and participate in one of our hands-on programs!
I've been at the museum for 12 years and I've spent that entire time in School Programs working in the STEMLab (and the Biotech Learning Center back when it was that). I received a Master's in Museum Studies from IUPUI in 2012, during which time I also worked here in the old planetarium... Read More →
Go on the road with the traveling exhibits team! Join Jen and John to learn about building, booking and managing life on the road for our traveling exhibits. Participants will also get a behind-the-scenes peek of the SCOOBY-DOO Mansion Mayhem installation in real time! Cool!
Jen Crespo has been a member of the TRX team since spring 2023. Her job is to build relationships and act as a liaison between venue and brand partners when representing the TCM traveling exhibits. She is a natural communicator and loves a captive audience and being a hype queen for... Read More →
John Rothenbuhler has been a member of the TRX team since March 2020. He likes working with people and managing the details required to keep exhibits looking good. He loves to travel and explore new places and he’s got a BFA in fine furniture design (which is a fancy name for woodworking).John... Read More →
Meet the accessibility team. Learn more about how we embed and promote accessibility and inclusion into exhibit design and development, across other departments, and planning toward our future. Tell us what’s important to you and bring us ideas of how we could be more involved with your work.
I have educational and experiential backgrounds working in healthcare as an Occupational Therapist and being the Accessibility Associate at TCM. I completed a capstone internship at the museum in 2022 and have been part-time employed in this role since. I work with Betsy, and we collaborate... Read More →
I have been with the museum for 14 years in a few different roles and currently serve as the Accessibility Manager. I have project management experience and a good deal of experience with TCM operations. As Accessibility Manager, I am responsible for advocating for and leading efforts... Read More →
Your job title doesn't say "brand manager"—but you are one. In this session, VP of Brand Strategy & Sales, Jenny Holland, unpacks TCM's exciting new brand and shows how every role on our team shapes the experience we deliver. Come see the new look, learn the story behind it, and discover your place in it.
Jenny Holland is the Vice President of Brand Strategy and Sales at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. She has spent nearly 20 years in the cultural arts sector, building marketing strategies that drive engagement and revenue. With a background in journalism and a focus on digital... Read More →
Meet the animal ambassadors for the museum and the team that care for them! With a behind the scenes look at procedures and best practices, discover what it takes to create and maintain a happy and healthy ecosystem within a museum setting.
She has been a gallery interpreter with the STEM team for over seven years. She has a background as a zookeeper at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, where her favorite animal to work with was Magic, the Yellow Belly Anaconda
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Do you think the Lilly Theater is the coolest place in the museum? Of course you do! Come celebrate and learn about the 50-year history of the Lilly Theater through opening day photos, newspaper clippings, flyers and programs, and videos. Additionally, get insider access to past ideas for renovations, productions, and future plans!
Production Stage Manager & Front of House Assistant, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Kristin (she/her) is an Indy-based theatre artist from Noblesville, Indiana and a ‘23 graduate of Indiana State University. She has worked at many theaters around Indy as a stage manager, scenic painter, costume assistant, and more! She enjoyed contracting with the Children's Museum... Read More →
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
The AV team comes together to offer a compelling look at the art and science behind making the magic at TCM. Our panel of AV experts will address your questions in the engaging discussion!
Brad McKinney is Design Lead of Interactive Technology at TCM. Prior to joining the Interactive Technology team at TCM, Brad taught Visual Communication Design (VCD) at Anderson University as tenured faculty in the Dept. of Art + Design. Upon the department’s closure, he took a... Read More →
Jonathan Bailey is the Director of AV at our museum. He went to school at Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Film and Video Studies. After graduating he spent six years doing live video work for touring musicians before coming to the museum in 2018. He also has... Read More →
Nico Rowland is our AV Event Technician. He went to Ball State University and graduated with a degree in Theatre Design and Technology. Nico grew up in Indianapolis and has been coming to the children’s museum since 2000 and started working at the museum in 2022. They swear on hydration... Read More →
Alex Hartley is our Lighting Design Specialist at the museum. He attended Johnson University Florida where he studied communications. He has been working on AVL systems in one way or another since twelve years old! He has spent time as an AV contractor, Disney lighting tech, and... Read More →
Jason Umbreit is our museum’s Exhibit Automation Specialist overseeing the power control systems for the interactives of the galleries since 2016. He has a Bachelor of Communications degree with emphasis on electronic media from University of Indianapolis. From college he worked... Read More →
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Curious about the magic that takes place in the classrooms hallway and how those programs/events have evolved over the years? Come to this session to learn about experiences that are created and delivered to a variety of family audiences.
I have a formal background in Elementary Education. I have worked as a teacher and also as an administrative coordinator for two for-profit, Fortune 500 companies. My TCM journey started 20 years ago when I was hired as the Information Coordinator for Interpretation and School Services... Read More →
Information Coordinators are now Admins, but the work (and the people doing it) remain central to museum operations. What does the ‘Admin’ role mean in practice? This panel explores administrative and operational support across the museum, examining the responsibilities these roles share, the specialized work unique to each position, and how Admins help sustain essential day-to-day functions behind the scenes.
Siobhan started her TCM journey as a Special Exhibits Gallery Interpreter in 2019, was part of the first cohort of Tier II Gallery Interpreters in 2021, and moved to her current role as Exhibits Project Coordinator in 2022. Although much of her time is dedicated to serving exhibit... Read More →
Alysia Prunier has been the Executive Office Administrator for the past 7.5 years. She provides executive-level administrative and operational support to museum leadership, helping coordinate strategic initiatives, Board and executive meetings, communications, travel, and organizational... Read More →
Administrative and Project Coordinator, Experience Development
Liv serves as the Administrative and Project Coordinator for Experience Development at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where she supports exhibit teams and cross-departmental initiatives through project coordination, planning, and collaboration. She enjoys bringing people together... Read More →
Kriss Ziegler started out as a Seasonal Coach in RSLE. They were passionate about staying on during the off season, which wasn’t a guarantee for seasonal staff, and one of the stipulations for staying was working as an elf in Jolly Days. Snickerdoodle; Knight of the Sprinkle Forest... Read More →
Amy Telezyn is the Collections Coordinator & Assistant Registrar for the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where she has supported the Collections department for the past 10 years. In her role, she provides administrative, operational, and collections management support and has... Read More →
Come learn what TCM’s Research and Evaluation Department does and how we support the Museum as a learning institution! We will use the Take Me There: Peru experience as a case study to unpack the evaluation process and how we collect data from visitors to answer questions for other staff members.
I have been part of the M-Team for over 15 years. I love helping the institution and my coworkers learn what is working for our constituents and where we can improve our experiences and practices to achieve our mission!
Susan Foutz (she/her) is the Director of Research and Evaluation, holds an MA in Museum Studies, and has led TCM’s Research and Evaluation Department since 2014. Before joining the museum, she worked as an evaluation consultant at museums around the country for a decade. She’s... Read More →
Syd Overtoom (he/they), MA is the Research Assistant in the Museum's Research and Evaluation department. They were previously the Research and Evaluation Intern while completing their Master of Arts in Museum Studies at IU Indianapolis. He is often out on the floor, asking visitors... Read More →
Please join to connect with current and former DEAI taskforce members as they consolidate the history of the taskforce to talk on the current state of the DEAI task force and its alumni group, and the efforts that have been accomplished. See how your peers' efforts have affected the museum through a presented timeline and ask how the taskforce is working toward future projects. See if this is something that you want to be a part of.
Manager of Individual Giving, over 4 years at the Museum, 3 years of service on the Task Force, 1st year of service on the alumni group, part of the LGBTQ+ community
Nico Rowland is our AV Event Technician. He went to Ball State University and graduated with a degree in Theatre Design and Technology. Nico grew up in Indianapolis and has been coming to the children’s museum since 2000 and started working at the museum in 2022. They swear on hydration... Read More →
4 years at the museum, 1st year of service on the DEAI taskforce, Black bisexual married to an undocumented Mexican immigrant, Volunteer Services Coordinator, former Youth Program Instructor, former middle school English teacher** I will make sure you receive Bre's headshot!!
You have walked the track, helped to run the Ferris Wheel, or visited our taco stand, but do you really know what all goes on outside in RSLE? Learn about how this department has impacted the museum over the last decade and debunk some myths on what it is we actually do. Our team works hard and plays hard, and through this presentation we hope to inspire other teams to do the same.
Abby Hall (formerly Abby Baldwin) has been a part of the RSLE team since 2018. She has served as a full time coach, the Program Lead, and is currently the Program and Training Supervisor for RSLE.
Laura Hix (formerly Laura Markley) started her TCM career with SPX in Interpretation. She has served as the SPX lead, the STEM Supervisor, and is currently the Staffing and Scheduling Supervisor for RSLE.
