Cara Lesser is Founder and Executive Director of KID Museum, the DC region’s pioneering experiential museum and educational makerspace. KID Museum is designed to accelerate and democratize access to transformative maker learning experiences that empower the next generation with the skills to invent the future. Recognized by the Catalogue for Philanthropy as “one of the region’s best nonprofits” and nationally as a leader in maker education, KID Museum has served 300,000 kids, educators, and community members since opening its doors at Davis Library in Bethesda, Maryland in 2014.

Under Cara’s leadership, KID Museum has grown from an idea to become an anchoring regional institution, offering high-impact maker learning through deep, embedded partnerships with schools, weekend and after school programs, camps, and community events. With a focus on K-8 students, their families, and classroom educators, KID Museum builds pathways for sustained student growth and development. Deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and access, the museum consistently prioritizes populations traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.

Prior to founding KID Museum, Cara held a number of leadership positions in the field of health policy and health services research. She received her Masters of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Bachelors of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University.

What's your favorite thing to make?
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Holly oversees the day-to-day operations of the museum, and ensures that our team has the people, funding, equipment, and technology required to do their jobs. She manages the visitor experience, along with our finance, facilities, human resources, IT, risk management, legal, and museum operations functions. As one of the early staff members at KID, she has supported its physical, financial, and strategic growth over nearly 10 years. She brings extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, at the local, national, and international level. Prior to joining KID Museum, Holly worked at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, and American University, and has worked with nonprofits serving youth in Nicaragua, immigrants in Denmark, and girls in Togo. Holly holds a Master's of Public Administration and Nonprofit Management from American University and a BA in International Relations from Grand Valley State University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Spreadsheets! And new systems and processes that help us work smarter.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Dorothy leads efforts to optimize and convey KID Museum’s impact to key stakeholders and partners. Prior to joining KID Museum, she served for 5 years as the founding Executive Director of Nation of Makers, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping support America's maker organizations through community building, resource sharing, and advocacy. Dorothy holds a B.A. in psychobiology from Wellesley College, an M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love making all kinds of things, from jewelry to paper craft, to textiles. Right now, I've been enjoying expanding my embroidery skills and knitting scarves and hats for the winter.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Amy manages the execution of KID Museum’s strategic plan and leads mission critical activities, including exploring the feasibility of a DC site, development of earned income revenue sources, and expanding school district relationships/partnerships. Amy also manages KID Museum’s Board communications and committees. Amy has led significant organizational initiatives to advance mission and impact in varying nonprofit environments. Most recently, she was the Director of Strategy and Operations for the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. Previously, she was the Chief Operating Officer at Martha’s Table, where she led the organization's move to a new building and crafted strategy and financial models that allowed for sustainability during that major transition. She holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelors in Human Services from The George Washington University.

What is your favorite thing to make?
Baked goods with my kids!
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Liza manages strategic partnerships, develops new business, and aligns sources of funding with programmatic initiatives. She also contributes to fundraising and works across teams to build connections between programs and KID Museum sponsors. Liza has worked in formal and informal education spaces, including at the International Spy Museum and the National Building Museum. She holds a Masters of Art in Teaching in Museum Education from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Changes almost daily. Today it’s quilts, because I just finished one!
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Will manages all of our Out-Of-School Programs such as After-School, Day Camps, and Summer Camps, working closely with the education team to ensure success. He also develops and delivers our birthday party programs!

Before joining KID, Will was the Makerspace Director of an independent K-8th grade school on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. He also coached an award-winning First LEGO League team: they earned the Innovation Project Award in 2020 and both the Robot Design and Core Values Awards in 2022. Since 2012, Will has volunteered with the Rapahope Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing joy to children and families affected by cancer.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in Learning, Design, and Technology from Penn State.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Kentucky Derby Pie
Pronouns: He, him, his.

Lucia designs and implements imaginative learning experiences for family visits and field trips. Before joining KID Museum, Lucia was a Pre-K teacher in Howard County, MD for six years and the director of a Howard County preschool. She has also worked as a gallery host and a teaching artist. Lucia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Studio Art from McDaniel University and a Masters’ degree in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Anything fiber related! One of my favorite things to make is hanging wall tapestries.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Kathleen facilitates maker learning programs at KID that foster a lifelong passion for STEAM education. Before joining KID Museum, Kathleen worked at the Orlando Science Center, first as a STEM educator and later as an education coordinator. She has also worked at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, The Little Gym, and several karate studios. Kathleen has a bachelors of science in Biology from the University of Florida.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Anything with textiles! Love working on the sewing machine!
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: He, him, his.

Savannah develops curriculum and collaborates with teachers to implement the Invent the Future program and KID After School. She also assists with KID's teacher professional development programs. Before joining KID Museum, Savannah was an instructor in the Honors College at George Mason University, teaching on research methods, museum studies, art history, and social justice movements. Savannah also worked as the Assistant Editor of the journal Anthropological Quarterly, and has worked in education and visitor services at a variety of sites, including Green Spring Gardens, Carlyle House, Mount Vernon, and National Geographic Museum. Savannah holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from George Mason University, Masters in Museum Anthropology from Columbia University, and Bachelors in Anthropology and International Affairs from George Washington University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Cookies, gardens, and anything with cardboard.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Eva helps our whole team get things done: she schedules and books our Field Trips, organizes and cares for our collection of maker materials, and keeps track of our inventory so we can keep the creative juices flowing. She provides support to both the programs and operations sides of KID, making sure that everyone has what they need to accomplish their educational goals.

Before joining KID, Eva studied Immersive Media Design at the University of Maryland, College Park. While earning her BA, she assisted the 3D printing lab in the University's makerspace.

What's your favorite thing to make?
Quilled paper jewelry.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Reid designs curriculum and facilitates maker learning programs. He has more than 10 years of experience working in youth development, including coaching, early childhood education, and STEAM Afterschool programs. In his varied experience, Reid strives to create a sense of belonging and agency for young people. He holds a BA in Psychology from Rice University in Houston and an MFA from Parsons School of Design in New York City.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love woodworking, so pretty much anything in the shop I will enjoy making.
Pronouns: He, him, his.

Noah works with young makers who participate in KID Museum field trips, after school programs and summer camp. Prior to joining KID Museum, Noah was a paraeducator with an MCPS program that helps recent immigrants and other adult English language learners obtain their GED and career certifications. He also spent a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Someone smile 🙂 Or maybe… designing and modeling things to be 3D printed!
Pronouns: He, him, his.

Sydney designs and facilitates STEAM-based educational programs for KID Museum's weekend programs, after-school, school group visits, and camp programs. Prior to joining KID museum, Sydney worked at the Maryland Science Center and the Walters Art Museum, where she facilitated visual arts and science-based programs for all ages including family experiences, school groups, and outreach programs. Sydney holds a BFA in General Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love to learn new tools and mediums, and I am constantly creating. Currently, my passions are paper sculpting, textiles, and digital fabrication.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Kate facilitates school field trips and after school programs, summer programs, and more. Before joining KID Museum, Kate taught second graders in South Korea, middle schoolers in Costa Rica, and kindergarten students in Arlington Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love making of all kinds with little kids, whether it’s cooking/baking, experimenting with arts & crafts materials, or exploring in nature!
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

As a Maker Educator, Jessica is sharing her enthusiasm for discovery with children of all ages. She has a background primarily in textile crafts, with experience as an alterations manager for a bridal salon and as a costume designer for the New London Barn Playhouse Junior Intern Company. Jessica has also been a camp coordinator and dance teacher. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Communication and American Studies from George Washington University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
The fanciest of fancy gowns.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Karah develops and facilitates learning experiences focused on creativity, innovation, and exploration for all types of makers. Before joining KID Museum, Karah worked at the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum where she led school programs and worked with teens to develop their leadership skills and community engagement. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in museum education from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
In my free time, I enjoy quilting, embroidering, and knitting.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Jake designs and constructs exhibits for Maker Playground, manages the Fabrication Lab's 3D printers and laser cutters, and comes up with new ideas to connect kids to the exciting world around them. Before joining KID Museum, he interned at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History as an exhibit writer and editor and served as the Associate Director of Georgetown's Summer Programs for High School Students. He holds a bachelors of arts in American Studies with a minor in Business Administration from Georgetown University and is in the process of completing a Master's in Museum Studies from the Corcoran School of Arts.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I like to make interior designs and spatial plans for exhibits.
Pronouns: He, him, his.

Lezlie has worked in arts education for 20 years and has experience working in museums, public libraries, learning centers, and parks, as well as in the community where children live and go to school. She has designed curricula for a variety of teaching and learning experiences ranging from take-home self-directed activities to hour-long workshops, and even year-long programs. Lezlie holds an MFA in Community Arts and a certificate in Post-secondary Visual Arts Education from MICA. She also received an MFA in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a BFA in Photography and Sculpture from Washington University in St. Louis.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
My favorite WAY to make is with other people so I like to co-create spaces to create and learn. I also make customized shoes and installations featuring an excess of paint.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Dia oversees the design and creation of open explore activities and manages Explorer field trips. Before joining KID Museum she was a youth development STEM coordinator, working primarily with middle and high school aged girls. Before that, Dia worked in advanced manufacturing in higher education. In both of these positions, she set up academic makerspaces. Dia holds a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas and a Masters in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love to rescue and revive vintage furniture.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Connie assists in lesson plan design, program prototyping, and facilitation. Before joining KID Museum, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Film Studies from the University of Maryland at College Park. Connie also worked at the National Children's Museum while completing her Master's degree in Museum Education at George Washington University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I like toy hacking with both plushies and plastic toys!
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Chanel supports KID's institutional giving fundraising efforts with foundations, corporations and government in order to achieve KID’s strategic and growth goals in the years ahead. She plays a key role in direct fundraising in addition to the organization's grant management processes. Her previously work has involved social impact program/project and team management, creative thinking, and building and maintaining strategic partnerships with various government agencies and corporations such as Smithsonian, International Rescue Committee, Oracle and The Wine Group. Chanel holds a Masters of Science in International Development Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from University of California Berkeley.

What's your favorite thing to make?
Botanical/flower Legos, capturing images through photography 📸 and sketching/drawing 🖌️

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Laurel works with schools to develop and strengthen partnerships by supporting teachers and administrators as they participate in our programs. In her role, she also teaches students. She has spent her career in the field of education in a variety of roles and with students from preschool age through undergraduate level. After beginning her career in educational research, she became a teacher, working in urban schools. She has also worked with science camps, the education department at a zoo, and in school admissions. Laurel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s in education from Duquesne University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
In the spirit of sustainability, I enjoy making things with repurposed materials.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Jaylee works with schools to ensure a seamless KID Museum visit experience. From initial communication and booking to the end of a group's visit, she takes care of the logistics which ensure teachers, parents, and students have an exceptional experience at KID Museum. Prior to KID Museum, Jaylee worked with the Smithsonian Office for the Under Secretary for Education as a graduate intern. Jaylee has a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Curatorial Studies from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Museum Education from George Washington University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Spreadsheets 😉 I also love to spend time in the Textiles Studio whenever I get the chance.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Becky Zeisel
Senior Education Program Manager

Becky works with the Invent the Future Challenge program, where she coordinates logistics, creates the curriculum, and collaborates with teachers to implement the program in schools. She also assists with KID’s teacher professional development programs. Prior to joining KID Museum, Becky was a science teacher for 10 years. She then became the manager of high school sciences for a network of charter schools, after which she created professional development workshops for teachers across the greater D.C. area. Becky received her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a master’s degree in Education from Lehman College.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
LEGO creations and messy-little-kid art.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

As Senior Manager of Research & Evaluation, Cat uses social science to understand what people learn, think, feel, make, and do at KID Museum. Her work studies KID Museum programs and exhibits to measure impact, improve and expand offerings, and ensure that KID Museum meets the needs of its communities. Cat has spent their career working in and studying informal learning at museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers, and other out-of-school time programs. Prior to joining KID Museum, Cat worked as the Audience Insights & Research Coordinator at the Field Museum of Natural History and as a Research Assistant for an evaluation and research consulting firm. She has also worked with the Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Pacific Science Center in Seattle, and a cohort of institutions as part of the Children's Museum Research Network. Cat is also an active committee member in the Visitor Studies Association. Cat holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago and a Master of Arts from the University of Washington's Museology Graduate Program with a specialization in museum evaluation.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Delicious barbecue, elaborate scavenger hunts, and beautiful spreadsheets.
Pronouns: She, her, hers, they, them, theirs.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Kristen directs the communications and marketing functions at KID. After spending the early part of her career as a journalist, Kristen has led communications and marketing efforts for nonprofits, government agencies, and corporations. She holds a Master of Science from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Virginia.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Maeve supports marketing and communications efforts across KID, with a particular focus on our web presence and community outreach. They oversee this website, kidforeducators.org, and internal communications networks, including KID's media archive. Prior to KID, Maeve held positions at Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD; the American Museum of Natural History in New York City; Bryn Mawr College Special Collections; the Penn Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He loves museums of all sorts and has worked on everything from object conservation to visitors services.

Maeve holds a BA in Anthropology and Film & Media Studies from Bryn Mawr College. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he intends to specialize in museums and archives. They are also a scholar of Antarctic history and take pride in their role helping the next generation of STEM innovators find their passions.

What

Pronouns: They, them, theirs; he, him, his.

As the Facilities Manager for KID, Jurrel is responsible for the security, maintenance, and servicing of all museum facilities to ensure that they meet the needs of the organization, our staff, and values. He brings years of experience in Recreation and Environmental Services. He has directed a community center and recreation center that programmed the surrounding communities for children ages 5 - 12, teenagers, adults, and seniors. Jurrel has also worked on the operations side of being a manager and director for an environmental services department at a hospital and nursing home. He holds a bachelors degree from Virginia State University and a masters degree from Barry University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Fishing lures.
Pronouns: he, him, his.

Lydia makes sure anyone visiting KID has a great experience, that the building is running smoothly, and that everyone who visits wants to come back! Before joining KID Museum she worked in corporate settings, where she managed building operations, scheduling, and product launch events. She has a degree from Temple University in Theatre and Public Relations, and an Event Planning Certification from George Washington University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
ART <3 I love to build with my hands and paint–what would life be without creativity?
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Megan provides cross-departmental support for the museum, managing internal staff operations, facilities, and information technologies. Before joining KID Museum, Megan served as the Assistant Director at a small heritage museum in New York. She also worked as an Oral Historian for the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program. Megan holds a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology from Stonybrook University, where she also minored in History, and a Masters of Arts in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Greeting cards using mixed media.
Pronouns: She, her, hers.

Josh supports the day-to-day operations of KID Museum, ensuring visitors have a positive and joyful experience. Before joining KID Museum, he was a Community Manager for a shared office space of over 30 small businesses, where he focused on administrative support. Josh holds an Associate’s of Arts in Communications from the University of Maryland at Shady Grove.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
Star Wars puzzles.
Pronouns: He, him, his.

Samuel Z. Alemayehu is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Cambridge Industries Energy, a leading developer of sustainable city parks that incorporate waste management, renewable energy, insect farming, food production, water recycling, metal recycling, and light manufacturing within a circular economy.

Prior to joining Cambridge, Sam was the founder of 4AFRI Media; a venture backed mobile software start up focused on the African Continent. 4AFRI was funded as the Africa version of 4INFO (www.4info.com) the leading SMS services provider in the US. 4AFRI had offices in both Ethiopia and Cameroon developing mobile-based solutions in entertainment, lottery, health, jobs and many other sectors. 4AFRI had reached over 5million customers in less than a year and produced over 100 applications. Sam also lead the creation of 4AFRI’s subsidiary, Lotophone S.A. in West and Central Africa based on exclusive license to run lottery services on the mobile phone

Samuel started his professional career in Silicon Valley as a serial entrepreneur as founder of three successful tech ventures before his 23rd birthday. Sam began creating companies while enrolled as an undergraduate at Stanford University. He was an Associate at Venrock Associates (Rockefeller Family Venture Firm) investing in consumer media and mobile applications. 4AFRI was initially incubated at Venrock but was funded independently by a consortium of investors including SpringHill Equity and leading angel investor Josh Mailman. Sam has worked in various countries in Africa including Cameroon, Gabon, Senegal, Mali, Algeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and South Africa.

Georges Andre is Co-Founder and Former President at PharmaSource, Inc., a pharmaceutical services company focused on healthcare communications and delivering programs on behalf of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Under Georges’ leadership, PharmaSource experienced fast-paced growth, culminating in a strategic acquisition by a pharmaceutical services giant. Prior to PharmaSource, Georges served as Executive Vice President and COO of Access Worldwide Communications, a business process outsourcing company servicing multiple industries. Originally from Haiti, Georges is committed to giving back to his community, blending his business acumen with philanthropy, and leveraging his expertise for positive change.

Robby Brewer is a real estate attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd. He represents regional developers, institutional owners, and retailers through the critical phases of expanding, developing, buying, and selling real property in the DC region. Robby has been an active leader in many of the area’s civic, community and cultural organizations, including Strathmore Hall Foundation, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Imagination Stage, BCC High School Educational Foundation, and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.

Board of Directors, Vice Chair
Executive Committee
Permanent Home Committee, Chair
Finance Committee
Governance Committee

Jill Chessen is co-founder and serves as Secretary of the Board at KID Museum. Jill is a residential real estate agent with the Ron Sitrin Team at Long and Foster. Their team is consistently ranked in the top 1% of Realtors nationwide. Jill also has over two decades of legal expertise in the field of affordable housing and community development. Jill also serves as a Board Member of the Northwestern University DC Regional Alumni Board. She spends much of her time volunteering for political campaigns, We Are Family in DC and JStreet. Jill aspires to focus more on world issues and to inspire children to focus on the less fortunate and to learn about the world they are inheriting.

Co-Founder, KID Museum
Board of Directors, Secretary
Development Committee, Co-Chair
Governance Committee
Strategic Communications Committee

David Goldberg is a Founding KID Museum Board member. His work has been dedicated to start-up businesses and working for large, public companies virtually all in the area of ecommerce, digital marketing, and new media, with a heavy emphasis on live events and entertainment.

Board of Directors, Chair
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Strategy Committee
Strategic Communications Committee

Sue Hendrickson is the former President and CEO of Human Rights First and a long time advocate at the intersection of tech, social impact and social justice. Prior to this role she was a Global Technology Governance Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, the former Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center, and a Lecturer at Harvard Law School. A techno-optimist and change-maker, her work focuses on digital media, emerging technology, innovation and the implications for democracy, human rights, and societal well-being. Her experience tackling complex legal, commercial, and public policy issues in emerging tech spans three decades and encompasses a wide array of technologies, including social media, digital education, AI, communications technologies, autonomous systems, biotech, fintech, Web 3.0, and AR/VR/XR technologies. Prior to Berkman Klein, Sue was a partner at Arnold & Porter, where she co-headed the Technology and Life Sciences Transactions practices. She is also a long-standing advocate for diversity in science and technology fields.

As part of the Google Brain Team, Shanika leads a portfolio of equity focused programs, research projects and initiatives to grow equitable access to computing to all end users. As an experienced and recognized thought leader in the fields of educational technology (which is any technology that supports teaching and learning), curriculum and programming tools for computing education, she will bring deep subject matter expertise, industry and/or academic knowledge and strong leadership capabilities to bear, in creating innovative strategies, next-generation, sustainable software solutions and tools to build tomorrow’s technologists, entrepreneurs, and inventors.

Corinna Lathan, Ph.D., is Board Chair and the founder and former CEO of AnthroTronix, an award-winning engineering research and development company that produces human-centered technology. Her diverse background includes extensive research, teaching, and consulting in the areas of human performance engineering, medical device design, and assistive technology. She is actively involved in STEM educational outreach programs that empower women and minorities in science and technology.

Corporate Leadership Council
Governance Committee
Strategy Committee
Development Committee
Strategic Communications Committee

Yaminah Leggett-Wells is the Director of Business Development at Amgen, where she manages alliance partnerships across all stages of drug development. Before joining Amgen, she worked at Horizon Therapeutics. With more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Yaminah's knowledge and experience includes strategic leadership, clinical operations, business development, and project and alliance management.

Yaminah enjoys serving the community through philanthropic endeavors with several organizations including The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and The Links, Inc. She has a special passion for supporting and mentoring youth and emerging leaders in STEM fields.

Cara Lesser is Founder and Executive Director of KID Museum, the DC region’s pioneering experiential museum and educational makerspace. KID Museum is designed to accelerate and democratize access to transformative maker learning experiences that empower the next generation with the skills to invent the future. Recognized by the Catalogue for Philanthropy as “one of the region’s best nonprofits” and nationally as a leader in maker education, KID Museum has served 300,000 kids, educators, and community members since opening its doors at Davis Library in Bethesda, Maryland in 2014.

Under Cara’s leadership, KID Museum has grown from an idea to become an anchoring regional institution, offering high-impact maker learning through deep, embedded partnerships with schools, weekend and after school programs, camps, and community events. With a focus on K-8 students, their families, and classroom educators, KID Museum builds pathways for sustained student growth and development. Deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and access, the museum consistently prioritizes populations traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.

Prior to founding KID Museum, Cara held a number of leadership positions in the field of health policy and health services research. She received her Masters of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Bachelors of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Founder and Executive Director, KID Museum

Jamie Maldonado is a Managing Director in Accenture’s Strategy Organization, specializing in helping CIOs make the most of their technology investments and drive technology reinvention. Jamie has worked with the leaders of numerous fortune 100 companies on large scale technology transformations, identifying legacy cost reduction opportunities and operating model optimization to enable companies’ future growth.

Jamie serves on Accenture’s North America Hispanic Leadership Steering Committee, and she is the North America Sponsor for Accenture’s National Hispanic American Employee Resource Group.

As a first generation Latina immigrant and the first in her family to go to college, Jamie has a passion for helping others with “ganas” be successful.

Alexandre H. Rene is co-chair of the global Litigation and Enforcement practice group at Ropes & Gray LLP. Alex has extensive experience representing corporate entities and their executives in connection with litigation and investigations arising out of white collar criminal prosecutions, grand jury investigations, criminal antitrust investigations, and corporate compliance matters. Prior to entering private practice, Alex was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, Fraud Section. Alex is a native Washingtonian.

Development Committee
Corporate Leadership Council

Brian Taff is the Chief Executive Officer of Streetsense, an integrated real-estate, marketing and placemaking firm located in Bethesda, MD. Previously he served in senior-level executive positions for a variety of organizations and companies, including a domain monetization platform for advertisers, a cutting-edge retail systems internet technology, a restaurant chain, and has been an adviser to numerous online business ventures and venture firms.

Strategy Committee
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Permanent Home Committee
Strategic Communications Committee

Antonio Tijerino is President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), which inspires Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities. His innovative, sustainable model for Latino leadership LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) has been recognized by the White House, Congress, Silicon Valley and Fortune 500 companies for its far reaching impact. He also executive produces the Hispanic Heritage Awards, and serves on several local boards. He has been featured in HBO’s Habla series and the TED talk series, and written articles, blogs, and a white paper about his work with youth.

Strategic Communications Committee, Chair
Development Committee

Scott Tjaden is the Manager of Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) and Partnerships at Constellation Energy. Scott oversees the strategic research collaboration and evaluation of early-stage technologies and initiatives aligned with the company’s clean energy growth strategy. With over 14 years of experience in product development, innovation, and sustainability, Scott is committed to utilizing his expertise and passion for environmental consciousness to develop impactful solutions that tackle decarbonization challenges and opportunities within an evolving energy ecosystem.

His goal is to drive sustainable advancements, ensuring innovative developments and business models facilitate the successful deployment of breakthrough climate and energy technologies. Scott actively engages with internal and external stakeholders, including industry partners, academic institutions, and customers, to identify, evaluate, and commercialize climate and energy technology solutions.