heathero@explorationworks.org

Heather has a varied background that makes her a great fit for her role at ExplorationWorks. She has completed three bachelor's degrees in Business, Art, and Education from Queen's University, including a year abroad studying International Business at IESEG in France. Passionate about experiential learning, Heather taught middle school Math and Science for many years. Most recently, she has spent the past decade running a non-profit outdoor education center in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Heather is looking forward to getting to know the Helena community and exploring new opportunities to provide an even bigger impact. Heather loves to spend time outside with her husband and three children.

karig@explorationworks.org

Kari Gagner is the Deputy Director at ExplorationWorks, where she oversees all things marketing, communications, human resources, and organizational leadership. Kari joined the ExWorks team in 2016 as the Marketing & Events Manager. Before that, Kari served as the Digital Communications and Events Manager for the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Communications.

When Kari isn’t at work, you can find her trying out new recipes, indulging in reality TV, or spending quality time with her husband, two very active sons, and their dog, Edie. Fun fact: Kari and her mom teamed up to paint the giant periodic table mural in our upstairs classroom!

lilye@explorationworks.org

Lily grew up in Eugene, Oregon where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon. Since then she has had a wide variety of adventures; from working with monkeys in Belize to teaching preschoolers in Missoula (more similar than one might expect). She has collected scientific data on the prairies of Eastern Montana, taught marine science on the coast of Washington State, and interpreted nature for families in both Glacier National Park and the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. These experiences have given her a passion for sharing her excitement and curiosity about science and the natural world and makes ExplorationWorks a perfect fit. In her free time Lily loves baking, reading, and exploring all the magic of Montana’s wilderness!

saraf@explorationworks.org

Sara joined the ExplorationWorks team in the fall of 2016. She has been passionate about science for as long as she can remember, always asking how and why. Then taking apart anything she could get her hands on to see how it worked from the inside out (although, she wasn’t as keen on putting them all back together properly). Sara grew up in Missoula, MT where she attended the University of Montana, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry in 2015. Throughout her college career, Sara spent her days exploding things with liquid nitrogen, building robots, and studying C. elegans (aka nematodes). Since moving to Helena, not many things have changed. Sara is still exploding things, building robots and getting Montanans excited about science! In her spare time, Sara loves to play and hike with her pups Macklin and Hallie, explore new places, and design things to be printed on ExplorationWorks’ 3D printer!

Dr Liz Gundersen has had 2 careers in Helena. She was one of the founders of the Helena Pediatric Clinic, and on retirement, she volunteered her help to the small group of community members who developed ExplorationWorks. She has been a Board member since 2003, but the most enjoyable part of her involvement has been taking kids to local streams and lakes in the Water Wonders program, and establishing a robotics program that has grown to involve kids from grade 2 up into middle school. There is always something new happening at ExWorks - and trading ideas with the staff on a dozen different projects keeps her young!

mattj@explorationworks.org

Matt Jetty hails from Rhode Island where he grew up on baseball, rock n’ roll, and Dunkin Donuts He graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in New York with a degree in marine engineering and marine transportation and spent many years working in the maritime industry, in shipyards and out at sea. He has worked on tug boats, ferries, ocean crossing container ships, sailboats and yachts. He moved out West in 2005 and spent six years working for the island of Alcatraz taking care of its fleet of boats and facilities. In California he met his bride - and Helena native - Meghan. In 2012 he became an official landlubber when his family relocated to Helena. He soon fell in love with ExplorationWorks and their mission. Matt worked as a volunteer for several years before taking the position of Exhibits and Facilities Manager in May 2018. His two young boys are big fans of ExplorationWorks and he hopes to inspire science induced awe in all the kids who visit.

whitneys@explorationworks.org

Whitney grew up on a patch of heaven in Wyoming and has always had an affinity for all things earthy. As a child she was happiest digging in the dirt, going to museums and learning about the world around her. She was encouraged to always ask questions and due to that has an immense love of learning. Her hobbies include hiking, foraging, cooking, and creating various visual arts. She studied multiple art forms such as ceramics, digital art, and art history. When she isn’t collecting rocks, bones or snake shed skins, she’s in her garden tending to her herbs or painting among her chickens.

shannont@explorationworks.org

Shannon is a native of Helena and has always loved it here. She graduated in 2007 from Carroll College with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. After graduation, Shannon worked for several years both in public school and private pre-school before stepping away from teaching. She is very excited to return to an educational environment! 

Shannon loves to spend time reading, being in the sunshine and cheering for the Red Sox & Boston Bruins. She lives with her husband James, son Jackson and their cats, dogs and goldfish.