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Leadership
Board of Directors
Jovani Ford, President
Greg LaVann, Vice President
Greg was appointed to the museum board in 2020. He is the Senior Vice President of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation. His primary job is to increase the economic activity of the Greater Yuma region by attracting and expanding base industry within the community.
He has previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Arizona Educators Association Federal Credit Union along with The Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Arizona Young Professional board, and the Southwest Technical Education District - Workforce Council.
Greg is a native of the Bronx, New York. He has called Yuma home since 2007 when he moved to the area immediately after graduating from Belmont Abbey College. He is super excited to open the museum because he understands that vibrant, healthy communities invest in their children's education from an early age.
He has previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Arizona Educators Association Federal Credit Union along with The Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Arizona Young Professional board, and the Southwest Technical Education District - Workforce Council.
Greg is a native of the Bronx, New York. He has called Yuma home since 2007 when he moved to the area immediately after graduating from Belmont Abbey College. He is super excited to open the museum because he understands that vibrant, healthy communities invest in their children's education from an early age.
Jenny Kaste, Secretary
Jenny Kaste is a transplant to Yuma but has made this community her home. Jenny was part of a military family and moved frequently and traveled often. Her variety of experiences bring a wide perspective to the board. She joined the board in 2014 and serves as the board Secretary.
Jenny moved to Yuma directly after graduating from Elmira College in upstate New York with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Anthropology & Sociology. She began teaching 5th grade at Valley Horizon with Crane School District. She has collected a variety of teaching experiences in her years with the district and now teaches at Gowan Science Academy.
Jenny first ignited her passion for education when she served as a youth volunteer and logged over 600 hours at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. She later served on a youth committee to help build a Children’s museum in Bangor.
She currently lives and works in Yuma County with her husband and son. She is very excited to be overseeing the educational development of the Children’s Museum of Yuma County.
Jenny moved to Yuma directly after graduating from Elmira College in upstate New York with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Anthropology & Sociology. She began teaching 5th grade at Valley Horizon with Crane School District. She has collected a variety of teaching experiences in her years with the district and now teaches at Gowan Science Academy.
Jenny first ignited her passion for education when she served as a youth volunteer and logged over 600 hours at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. She later served on a youth committee to help build a Children’s museum in Bangor.
She currently lives and works in Yuma County with her husband and son. She is very excited to be overseeing the educational development of the Children’s Museum of Yuma County.
Jim Larson, Treasurer
Jim Larson was elected to serve on the board in March of 2014 and has been actively involved since then. He was elected by the board to be board president from 2017-2019.
He is a 2005 graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working as an Engineer at Southwest Gas.
He and his family have called Yuma home since they relocated in 2010 to be close to family. Jim, along with his wife and three children, are very excited about having our very own children’s museum right here in Yuma!
He is a 2005 graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working as an Engineer at Southwest Gas.
He and his family have called Yuma home since they relocated in 2010 to be close to family. Jim, along with his wife and three children, are very excited about having our very own children’s museum right here in Yuma!
Kristen Smith Eshaya, Board Member
Angel Gutierrez, Board Member
Miriam Limon, Board Member
Miriam Limon joined the Children’s Museum of Yuma County’s Board of Directors in 2021. Born and raised in Yuma, she graduated from Cibola High School and attended Arizona Western College. She is currently the Senior Director of Marketing at AEA Federal Credit Union and has over 17 years of experience in private and public sector marketing.
Miriam volunteers with organizations that support local children and education. She is currently serving as Board President of the Education Foundation of Yuma County and as Business Representative on the First Things First Yuma Regional Council.
Outside of work, Miriam enjoys going on adventures with her fiancé, Benjamin, and their daughter, Audrey.
Miriam volunteers with organizations that support local children and education. She is currently serving as Board President of the Education Foundation of Yuma County and as Business Representative on the First Things First Yuma Regional Council.
Outside of work, Miriam enjoys going on adventures with her fiancé, Benjamin, and their daughter, Audrey.
Ricardo Perez, Board Member
Ricardo Perez was appointed to the Children’s Museum of Yuma County’s Board of Directors in 2021 to fill a vacancy. He is the Senior Vice President and Operations Administrator for 1st Bank Yuma. He started with 1st Bank Yuma in 2005 moving his way up from teller to his current role overseeing branch operations, I.T., bank security and various other roles.
He has previously served in the Yuma Regional Partnership Council of First Things First from 2009 – 2020 and is an active member of his church Agua Viva, serving in the Worship Team and Children’s ministry.
Ricardo is a native of Yuma County. He attained his Master’s in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2019 and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) class of 2017. In June of 2021, Ricardo was recognized in the national Independent Banker’s Magazine (ICBA) as part of their third annual 40 under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders. Ricardo and his wife reside in Yuma with their three children.
He has previously served in the Yuma Regional Partnership Council of First Things First from 2009 – 2020 and is an active member of his church Agua Viva, serving in the Worship Team and Children’s ministry.
Ricardo is a native of Yuma County. He attained his Master’s in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2019 and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) class of 2017. In June of 2021, Ricardo was recognized in the national Independent Banker’s Magazine (ICBA) as part of their third annual 40 under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders. Ricardo and his wife reside in Yuma with their three children.
Kevin Burge, Board Member (In Memorium)
Kevin Burge (March 5, 1974-August 27, 2022) was appointed to the Children’s Museum of Yuma County’s Board of Directors in November of 2013 to fill a vacancy. During his tenure on the board, he served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer and was instrumental in every facet of our development. Kevin was employed by Core Engineering Group, PLLC and worked with them since November 2013.
Kevin previously served as the president of the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers as well as serving as the president of the Yuma Rotary Club July 2016-June 2017.
Kevin was a native Yuman who was excited to move this endeavor forward for area children to enjoy. Kevin graduated from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff) in 1997 and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering.
Kevin is survived by his wife and their two children.
He will be greatly missed as the Museum moves forward with opening in our permanent home.
Kevin previously served as the president of the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers as well as serving as the president of the Yuma Rotary Club July 2016-June 2017.
Kevin was a native Yuman who was excited to move this endeavor forward for area children to enjoy. Kevin graduated from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff) in 1997 and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering.
Kevin is survived by his wife and their two children.
He will be greatly missed as the Museum moves forward with opening in our permanent home.
Staff
Melissa Rushin Irr, Executive Director
Melissa is a Yuma native and highly respected veteran educator (Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from ASU and Masters of Education degree from NAU). In 2017, she joined the Children’s Museum of Yuma County as its second Executive Director. Since that time, she has led the organization’s day-to-day operations and programming overseeing the Summer Children’s Museum at Yuma Art Center from 2017-2019, pandemic response programs, a wide variety of community outreach appearances, advocating for the museum locally, regionally, and nationally, fundraising/grant writing, and developing the exhibit and programming plan for our soon-to-open permanent location on Main Street.
When not busy in the museum or in the community, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband of 32 years, Kevin, their two grown sons, James and Jason, and their extended family. You’ll find Melissa and Kevin attending many community events, traveling to interesting places around the country, and engaging in art, music, theater, and science events wherever they can find them.
The entire Rushin and Irr families are looking forward to the opening of the new year-round location of the Children’s Museum so that the children and families in and around Yuma County can enjoy, play, and learn for many years to come.
When not busy in the museum or in the community, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband of 32 years, Kevin, their two grown sons, James and Jason, and their extended family. You’ll find Melissa and Kevin attending many community events, traveling to interesting places around the country, and engaging in art, music, theater, and science events wherever they can find them.
The entire Rushin and Irr families are looking forward to the opening of the new year-round location of the Children’s Museum so that the children and families in and around Yuma County can enjoy, play, and learn for many years to come.
Christine Bryant, Operations & Education Manager
Christine is a Yuma transplant originally from Illinois. She moved to Yuma in 2021 after graduating from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri with her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Religion, with minors in Anthropology and Public History. After working in another local museum for the past year, she joined the staff at the Children’s Museum in late 2022 and is looking forward to creating new programs and developing community based projects.
In her free time, Christine is the Western Region Director for the Museum Association of Arizona, where she represents the museums in her region on the state level. She is also an avid lover of the outdoors and animals. You can find her hiking the many trails around Yuma or in the local plant nurseries. At home, she has four dogs, a cat, two reptiles, and a scorpion! In high school, Christine was involved in her community theater productions and also won the title of Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen 2016 through the Miss America Organization.
In her free time, Christine is the Western Region Director for the Museum Association of Arizona, where she represents the museums in her region on the state level. She is also an avid lover of the outdoors and animals. You can find her hiking the many trails around Yuma or in the local plant nurseries. At home, she has four dogs, a cat, two reptiles, and a scorpion! In high school, Christine was involved in her community theater productions and also won the title of Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen 2016 through the Miss America Organization.
Camille Castro, Exhibits & Visitor Experience Coordinator
Camille is a Yuma native known in the community for her involvement in fine arts and public events. She has been a staff member of the Children's Museum since 2017 and has been eager to help the museum and community grow since then. She loves sharing her passion for the arts and science with museum visitors.
In her free time she can be found working with various art media, playing the trombone, or contributing time to other organizations.
She is also nationally and internationally known for her deep rooted love for Ska music. She has performed with her favorite band, The Toasters, on multiple occasions and travels across the country for shows and festivals with her ever-growing friend group, the Rude Crew.
In her free time she can be found working with various art media, playing the trombone, or contributing time to other organizations.
She is also nationally and internationally known for her deep rooted love for Ska music. She has performed with her favorite band, The Toasters, on multiple occasions and travels across the country for shows and festivals with her ever-growing friend group, the Rude Crew.
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