Our Team

Kirsten’s passion is mentoring and developing others to help meet their full potential. She has been in the education field as an administrator helping teachers on professional development, while also working with schools to run more efficiently. Outside of the work setting, you may find Kirsten golfing, being with friends/family on the lake, or hanging at home with her poodle Grover.

Krista is an experienced communications professional with a passion for connecting with people, bringing awareness to the public, and directing events. She has a very outgoing personality and looks forward to finding new connections and building relationships. You will often find her spending time with family, traveling, or socializing at a new local restaurant.

Greer is a graduate of Macalester College where she studied sociology and education and researched the impact of economic barriers in education. She wants to make sure that all kids are excited to learn and feel empowered in the classroom. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, cooking, and spending time with her dog.

As a first generation college student, closing the achievement gap and creating true accessible opportunities for youth is what fuels Courtney’s passion for working at createMPLS. Tackling a new LEGO set is the kind of challenge she enjoys. When not supporting programs, she loves to dance, be outside, drink chai lattes, and celebrate life!

Rachael graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a B.S. in Biology. She spent the next 7 years teaching Environmental Education in Minnesota, Maine, Indiana, Oregon, and Washington. While in the Pacific Northwest, Rachael missed thunderstorms, lightning bugs, and our 10,000 lakes. So, she moved back home and earned her Master’s in Elementary Education and Elementary K-6 Teaching License from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2019. She worked as an Elementary Science Specialist from 2019-2023 before joining the createMPLS team. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing students light up when they have an "Ah-ha!" moment. Outside of work, Rachael enjoys hiking, bird-watching, hanging out at coffee shops, and game nights with friends.

Matt is a graduate of the Art Institute of Minnesota with a degree in Media arts and Animation. A lifetime learner of technology and art, he’s excited to promote ideas and creative problem solving in kids wherever it leads them. He loves to tinker, draw, and play games, and his favorite animal is the goat.

Mitchell graduated from Mcnally Smith College of Music with a degree in Music Performance. Throughout his career as a performer and educator he has gained a passion for gaining new knowledge about technology and cultivating growth the Twin Cities community. Mitchell continues to educate and inspire students by promoting creativity and individualism in the classroom.

Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a PhD in Computer Science focusing on computer graphics, scientific visualization, and high dimensional analysis. He has taught technology classes at both the college and high school levels. He enjoys sharing what he has learned with all his students. Professionally, he has worked as a software developer for over 10+ years, programming for companies including Dell Inc., Accenture Technology Labs, OATI, the University of Minnesota, and Los Alamos National Lab. In real life, he cherishes his time camping, biking, and exploring this world with his wife and two kids.

Erin joined createMPLS to assist with managing the organization’s finances and provide administrative support to the team. She is also an Occupational Therapist and is passionate about helping people overcome barriers to living their most meaningful life. Although working somewhat behind the scenes for createMPLS, Erin is happy to contribute to improving opportunities for youth in the city she loves and grew up in. Erin lives in Minneapolis with her husband, twin boys, and her dog, Freya.