MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Recently, The Bakken Museum honored longtime board of directors chair Brad Bakken and welcomed incoming chair Heather Walch. In addition, the museum welcomed three new members to the board, Ryan Johnson, Doug Paulson and Jeffrey Rainey.

Brad Bakken has Chairman Emeritus after over 30 years of service to the museum and 15 as Board Chair.

"I want to thank Brad Bakken for a decade and a half of dedication to tinkering and exploring," said The Bakken Museum President & CEO Alissa Light. "Brad has led the museum through two major renovations, ushered in a new mission and vision, and leaves the position of Board Chair with a gift of creative thinking and problem-solving."

Heather Walch succeeds Brad. Heather has served on the museum's board since 2016 and stepped into the interim president & CEO role from March to September 2022. Heather is passionate about science and technology, with a longtime career in chemical engineering. She spent 12 at H.B. Fuller, focusing on adhesives, hygiene, and consumables.

"There are few places like The Bakken Museum that provide not just the technical skills to feel confident in science and technology, but also the encouragement to think creatively, make mistakes, and do things in a brand-new way," said Heather Walch. "I'm thrilled to serve as board chair to help expand the museum's reach and support our excellent staff who provide top-quality programming and experiences."

In addition to the change in chairperson, The Bakken Museum welcomed three new members to the board of directors:

Ryan Johnson, Fredrikson & Byron
Ryan Johnson is a corporate health care attorney and shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron P.A. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and the Advisory Council of The Planetary Society, which was founded by Carl Sagan. Ryan previously studied European healthcare innovation as German Marshall Fund Memorial Fellow.  Ryan co-chairs his firm’s Life Sciences and Health Care Practice Group.

Doug Paulson, American Institutes for Research
Doug Paulson is a Senior TA Consultant for the American Institute for Research. Paulson served as the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) from 2010-17 and became Director of Academic Standards and Instructional Effectiveness in 2017. Before serving at MDE, he spent ten years as a middle school science teacher, elementary teacher, curriculum integration coordinator, and intern principal in Robbinsdale, Wadena-Deer Creek, Anoka Hennepin, and Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose school districts.

Jeffrey Rainey, Dakota Electric Association
Jeffrey Rainey is the Economic Development Director for Dakota Electric Association. Previous to his role at the electric cooperative, Rainey served as Manager & Staff Lead, MSP Regional Air Service Partnership (RASP); Trade & Investment Project Management for GREATER MSP. In addition, he is a board member of the Minnesota Governor's Workforce Development Board (GWDB), co-president of the Stanford Alumni Club of Minnesota, and immediate past president of the Hennepin Schools Building Company Board of Directors.

The Bakken Museum is an independent 501(c) nonprofit governed by a 24-member Board of Directors. A complete list of The Bakken Museum's Board of Directors can be found online here (thebakken.org/people).

Images and logos are available for download: thebakken.org/press-kit

The Bakken Museum
The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential of science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska, the museum features interactive exhibits for all ages, a world-renowned collection of artifacts, and exceptional STEM education programs. For more information, visit thebakken.org. Find @thebakkenmusem on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Press Contact:
Laura Whittet
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Bakken Museum
whittet@thebakken.org // 612.446.3104