Kelly Garrett is the Visitors Services Manager at the Children’s Creativity Museum, and she is excited for a lot of aspects of the museums future. We sat down with Kelly to ask her a few questions about her role and her wants for the future. Read through her interview to learn more about her and the work that she does.
What is your favorite exhibit in the Museum?
My favorite exhibit is innovation lab where the mystery box challenges are. I always make sure to mention this in my tours. It’s very uniquely CCM. Having to see past the challenge in front of you and making it into the solution is one of the best life lessons were teaching. They then have to present and explain it.
What is the most fulfilling part of working for the Children’s Creativity Museum?
I would say, the interactions. Seeing them grow and have the opportunities to grow further is what I find fulfilling. Seeing them make connections with other members, other teams and other departments. Seeing those inter-departmental moments happen. I find that very fulfilling. Feeling the support of my team in general is also very nice.
What is your role?
I am the visitor services manager. I am responsible for the visitor services team at the front desk. I am responsible for the birthday parties. I am also a liaison for MGM property management in regards to janitorial needs, security needs, and some facility upkeep.
How long have you worked in that role?
I’ve been in the role for three years as of August
What were your main goals for your the position that you are in?
My main focus was to improve the levels of visitor engagement at the front desk. Visitor engagement was definitely something that was always on the mind of the directors. It was always an area in which we would strive to improve on. There were hurdles we had to overcome when I got here. To change around the tone and the atmosphere; that was my main mission.
Have you accomplished those goals so far?
My team are all on the same page as the front line to the front desk. We periodically need to readjust our approach, but we are all making efforts to get there.
How do you envision the role going forward?
Now, my focus is to be welcoming, inclusive and fully support access to all. I want to make sure we are fully supporting access to all. One of our missions is to foster creativity and collaboration within all families and children. My department is the department that focuses on making sure all families that walk through those doors are getting that experience right from the start.
What was your favorite toy as a child?
My Pound Puppy. I still have it. His name is Thomas. He’s a little stuffed animal that looks like a basset hound. It was my favorite.
How often will visitors see you on the floor of the museum?
My team and I have been trained to step in on the floor when necessary. In the beginning, I was far more on the floor than I am now because of it was all on hands on deck every now and then. As my role has grown, I might need to break away. Sadly, I am not as involved in as many of the activities. I do really like doing outreach. I do think we are doing something special and I like to tell people about it.
What are three words you would use to describe the museum?
I would say, welcoming, fun and safe. Yup, welcoming, fun and safe. There is certainly opportunities to have fun. Everyone is welcome, and it is a safe space. It is a place to express yourself and to just be for a few hours.
What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
I would say friendly. I can be funny. Friendly, funny, and genuine.
What are you looking forward to most for the future of the museum?
I’m really looking forward to us taking things far more in stride and planning more for the future. I’m looking forward to providing opportunities where we are allowing more space in the museum for social justice and To create that environment for people to use our museum as a platform to speak on social issues that are relevant to them. I’m looking forward to partnering with other organizations that are aligned with us and really serving populations that are harder for us to reach.
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