MHTA Welcomes New Staff Members

MHTA - The Minnesota High Tech Association is proud to announce and welcome three new members to its staff.  The position reflect MHTA's new strategic plan adopted by its board of directors.

I am really pleased with the depth of experience and expertise each of these staff members are bringing with them to MHTA,” said Margaret Anderson Kelliher, President and CEO of the Minnesota High Tech Association. “We built our strategic plan around making Minnesota one of the country’s top five technology states within this next decade. These individuals will be instrumental in helping MHTA realize that vision.”

Tim Barrett will join MHTA next month as its STEM Coordinator. Barrett has extensive experience developing and managing educational programs with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. He was part of the team that coordinated the Minnesota High Tech Foundation’s recent STEM Expo in Minneapolis. Barrett has worked as a special consultant for The Bakken Museum, helped redesign 3M’s Visiting Wizards educational outreach program and also worked on the People of Science project supported by grants from the Medtronic, General Mills, Boston Scientific and Cummins Power Generation Foundations. Barrett is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas and received his Masters of Arts degree from North Dakota State University.

Becky Siekmeier is currently serving as the SciTechsperience Program Coordinator. SciTechsperience is Minnesota’s paid internship program for college students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees. MHTA is administering the program for the Minnesota Science & Technology Authority. Siekmeier is an experienced team builder and project planner in both corporate and nonprofit settings. She spent more than sixteen years working in advertising and marketing operations at Best Buy. Siekmeier recently received her Masters of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Erika McCallum will begin work next month as MHTA’s Programs and Events Assistant. McCallum has extensive experience as an event coordinator and public policy assistant. She worked as an Election Assistant for Ramsey County. McCallum recently completed her Masters degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Barrett and McCallum will begin work at MHTA on February 15.