The Team

LAURIE PHILLIPS
Co-founder and Executive Director

Laurie helps people navigate uncertainty and find new ways forward through conversations with museum art. For more than 25 years, she's worked as a coach, leadership trainer, and facilitator, guiding individuals and teams through periods of change. Her background as an award-winning artist informs her creative, perspective-shifting approach to leadership and change. Her programs have been offered at museums nationwide and for organizations including Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, Target Corporation, and the American Alliance of Museums. She's a contributing author to An Empathy-Building Toolkit for Museums (2026).

Laurie@MuseumSage.com

KAREN OLSON
Museum Sage Trainer and Guide

Karen is a coach, workshop leader, writer and editor who helps people create more elemental, artful lives and a more peaceful, healthy world. Since she was in a flood, a tornado, an explosion in a cave, and lost at sea, Karen has been fascinated with elemental and energetic balance and has studied permaculture, holistic health, and leadership development. Karen is the managing editor of Experience Life magazine. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing and a B.A. in art history and literature. She also coaches people who want to live freely as their most natural, powerful selves, develop resilience, and turn their big ideas into real-world impact.

JADAH GREEN
Museum Sage Trainer and Guide

Jadah, owner of Epiphany House, is an alternative health care practitioner. She is dedicated to deep listening, seeking beauty and understanding, and being a respectful witness to those she journeys with. She loves the Museum Sage experience as it magically combines her love for museums, art history, and the ancient practice of making meaning through pictures and symbols. Jadah has a BFA in photography and is a certified Spiritual Healer through the Arvigo Institute, a Reiki Master of the Usui/Holy Fire method, and a certified spiritual guide through Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality.

JOY YOSHIKAWA
Museum Sage Trainer and Guide

Joy is an honorary docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where she has shared her passion for art with visitors for many years. A co-owner of a communications design firm for over four decades, she also serves on the board of Art from the Inside, an organization that gives incarcerated artists a visual voice through powerful, community-centered exhibitions. As a Museum Sage Trainer and Guide, Joy combines her deep knowledge of art (and her knack for navigating Mia’s maze-like layout!) with a warm, compassionate presence and keen insight.

MICHAEL NELSON
Museum Sage Guide

Combining her background in museum education, art history, and executive coaching, Michael helps people explore life’s questions through the unexpected lens of art. She guides clients in reflective conversations with artworks to uncover fresh perspectives, gain clarity, and navigate challenges with confidence. Certified through the ICF-accredited Center for Coaching in Organizations, Michael creates a supportive space for deep exploration, meaningful goal setting, and strategic next steps. Her approach invites curiosity, creativity, and insight—making personal and professional growth feel both inspiring and doable. It’s coaching, reimagined through the power of art.

TODD FONSECA
Museum Sage Guide

Todd Fonseca is a leadership coach with a storyteller’s mind. With 30+ years of MedTech leadership experience, he understands the pressure of leading teams, managing complex organizations, and navigating change. A Certified Co-Active Coach (PCC) and body language trainer, Todd helps leaders communicate with clarity, build trust, and lead with authenticity. As a Museum Sage Guide, he brings his curiosity and expertise in human behavior to help people slow down, look differently, and discover new perspectives through art.

HEATHER OLSON
Museum Sage Guide

Heather Olson is a connector, a creative, and a curious listener. As a talent recruiter and seasoned marketer, she has spent her career connecting people with opportunities—from employers with talent to entrepreneurs with prospective clients. A former graphic designer and lifelong creative, Heather also brings journalism training and love of inquiry to her work. She previously volunteered with Mia’s Art Adventure program, guiding K–6 students through the museum’s collection. As a Museum Sage Guide, Heather uses curiosity, creative thinking, and thoughtful questions to help people see art—and their own questions—in new ways.

PAUL BOEHNKE
Museum Sage Guide

Paul Boehnke, PCC, sought after speaker, author and certified personal and business coach helps solo entrepreneurs overcome the negative self-talk that hinders their business growth. His clients find greater impact, make more money, and have more fun. As a classical musician, Paul Boehnke stumbled onto a unique process that not only helped his performances but could easily be applied to taming the negative thoughts of his own inner critic. Then he realized this process not only works for him but works for everyone, musician or not. In his book, "Thoughts On Demand: Turn Negative Self-Talk into Unstoppable Confidence" he shares the process that he uses to help clients transform that little voice in their heads that argues for their limitations into a champion of their potential instead.

MICKEY MOORE
Museum Sage Guide

Mickey, MBC, MAHD, is an energetic and purpose-driven executive dedicated to unlocking human potential and fostering organizational transformation. With extensive experience in strategic leadership, sales, marketing, and organizational development across media, non-profit, higher education, and consulting sectors, she is a courageous and persuasive communicator known for inspiring commitment and driving measurable success. Mickey works with Museum Sage via The Bailey Group.

VICTOR THOMPSON
Museum Sage Guide

Victor Thompson, MBA, is a Certified Executive Coach with 25+ years of experience in HR, change management, and DEIB. A former HR leader, he now helps organizations build high-performing teams and navigate transformation. Known for his expertise in leadership coaching and organizational development, Victor guides leaders to embrace inclusive strategies, address blind spots, and lead with confidence. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Rochester, and completed doctoral coursework at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Arizona. Victor works with Museum Sage via The Bailey Group.

CATHY BARR
Museum Sage Guide

Cathy Barr is an executive coach and consultant with over 30 years of experience driving leadership transformation in healthcare. Beginning as a bedside nurse, her early work in underserved communities fueled her passion for systemic change. Cathy now advises major organizations on mergers, board governance, and care delivery improvements. She empowers leaders to refine their executive presence, clarify goals, and build lasting legacies. Cathy serves on several boards, including Nurses on Board Coalition and CLUES. She holds a BSN from Niagara University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business. Cathy works with Museum Sage via The Bailey Group.

MARY STIEBER REYNHOUT
Museum Sage Guide

Mary is an executive coach with deep expertise in leadership development, career growth, women’s leadership, and life transitions. With a background in corporate, nonprofit, and higher education, she designs customized talent and development strategies. Mary has led global DEIB efforts and national mentoring programs for diverse women leaders. Her coaching empowers clients to pursue goals, face challenges, and prioritize well-being. She holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and a B.S. in Sociology & Music, with additional certifications in coaching, assessments, and trauma-informed care. Mary is also a dedicated volunteer, board member, and musician in her local community. Mary works with Museum Sage via The Bailey Group.

KAREN MUELLER
Museum Sage Guide

Karen feels lucky to have worked in the arts for over 25 years in a variety of positions.  Karen began her career in arts education at the Minnesota Museum of Art in St. Paul. She directed the general operating support program at the Minnesota State Arts Board for ten years, and is recently retired as managing director from History Theatre.

DUFFY PEARCE
Senior Account Executive

Having developed collateral for the launch of the Leadership Architect Suite — and then writing case studies for leadership development professionals who used those tools — Duffy is familiar with the challenges of team building. She’s also no stranger to event planning. In the 12 years she worked as a contractor and Interim Communications Director at Public Radio International, the events she planned for industry conferences were so successful that Current Magazine noted, “PRI always throws the best parties.” Once she experienced the Museum Sage process, she was immediately struck by what a powerful tool it could be for organizational development professionals. She’s excited that Museum Sage gives her an opportunity to do what she loves doing best – helping ensure that every event is purpose-driven, inspiring, and fun.  
Duffy@MuseumSage.com

DAN JENSEN
Account Executive

Dan is a versatile, skilled executive with more than 30 years experience managing marketing and sales initiatives, event and conference planning, and communications and promotional strategies for a variety of audience-focused businesses and organizations such as Minneapolis Institute of Art, NPR, BBC, MPR/APM, National Geographic, XM Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Ira Glass, Bob Edwards, Garrison Keillor, Tavis Smiley, Keb Mo, Peter Schickele, Yanni, Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, and Brian Setzer.
Dan@MuseumSage.com

RACHAEL O’BRIEN
Account Executive

Rachael is an experienced business account manager with a background in the computer hardware industry. She’s skilled in negotiation, communication, sales management, B2B2C, and international sales. Rachael is a strong research professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications and Mandarin Chinese language from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Rachael@MuseumSage.com

RACHEL ROPEIK
Museum Sage Consultant

Rachel is a museum educator and museum adventurer who brings thoughtful, playful, and progressive approaches to catalyzing change in arts and culture. She believes that art can be the spark for deep personal and communal realizations, and she loves coming to Museum Sage sessions with her coaching/facilitation hat on and her art historian hat off. Professionally, she has been the Learning Director at the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado, the Senior Manager of Public Engagement at New York City's Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and other museum roles at the Brooklyn Museum, MoMA, and the Met in NYC; and Dulwich Picture Gallery and The Courtauld Gallery in London. Personally, she's a dancer, a baker, a veteran of many different hair colors, and forever fascinated by pirates. In all of her life and work, she embraces experimentation, creativity, and equity.

JON SPAYDE
Co-Founder and Director of Publications and Curiosity

Jon came up with the basic idea of Museum Sage® while visiting the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis with Laurie Phillips. In addition to writing fiction and poetry and performing one-person stage shows, he’s a journalist with 35 years of experience writing about art, spirituality, psychology, and personal growth for many publications and organizations, including Art in America, ID Design, Utne Reader, Public Art Review, Experience Life, American Craft, the Whitney Museum, and ArtPlace America. His book How to Believe was published by Random House. He studied East Asian languages at Harvard and, briefly, comparative literature at Stanford, before flunking out and embracing journalism and creative writing.