The Museum of Pop Culture is staffed by a team of passionate and committed individuals, breaking down siloes and bringing diverse communities together through the interconnected story of pop culture. We are fully committed to the experience of our guests and genuinely proud of the work that we do.
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Michele Y. Smith, currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP). Smith is a mission-focused leader with extensive experience in business development, operations, and finance in the nonprofit industry. Her people-centered leadership approach is the driving force behind her work at MOPOP which emphasizes a steadfast dedication to the democratization of philanthropy, the universal language of pop culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and mentorship of emerging leaders.
Prior to her role at MOPOP, Michele served as the Chief Business & Financial Officer at the award-winning cultural institution, the Woodland Park Zoo, where she played a pivotal role in navigating the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dynamic, mission-focused approach resulted in unprecedented growth across various facets of the institution, including revenue, events, guest services, admissions, automation, and finance.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Attending The Michael Jackson Victory Tour – it was the only tour with all six Jackson Brothers.
What led you to MOPOP?
I started at what would become MOPOP in the summer of 1994. Over the intervening three decades and across eight positions, I’m continually drawn to our exciting exhibitions and programs, deep collection, incredibly creative staff, engaged audience, and our mission to inspire creativity and celebrate the impact of global pop culture.
What is your first pop culture memory?
One of my first pop culture memories is my mother playing me the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road records and understanding that these records and that band were somehow very important. Music early on made a huge impact on me, something that continues to resonate to this day, and in my personal life as well as my career at MOPOP.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
I really enjoy our Massive: The Power of Pop Culture exhibition. It’s colorful and engaging, takes a look at pop culture as a global dialogue, dives into why and how we preserve and interpret pop culture materials, and provides a platform for our staff, audience, and community to reflect their perspectives on pop culture. It’s a perfect introduction to MOPOP.
What led you to MOPOP?
The opportunity to work in an iconic Frank Gehry building. At the time and still to this day, a cutting-edge museum that pushes the boundaries of what a museum could be.
What is your first pop culture memory?
MTV before MTV moved to cable tv. The fandom of the 80’s.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
All are my favorite but have to say Infinite Worlds and Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic.
What led you to MOPOP?
A desire to be around creativity and work with an organization that inspires people.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Sitting on the roof of the family van at the drive-in theatre watching the opening scene of Star Wars when the ship slowly flew overhead filling the screen.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
I love the feel of the Fantasy exhibit with its giant door, snoring dragon, and incredible tree but also really liked the beauty and creativity found in the Queen Within exhibition.
What led you to MOPOP?
I have been a sci-fi nerd since I was born, and the museum was at the top of my list when I first visited Seattle (back when it was EMP+SFM). When I was finally able to move here in 2015, a perfect opportunity opened and I jumped on the opportunity to share my pop culture passions with others. During my interview, they were talking about the Star Trek exhibit, and I had to fight the urge to either bounce out of my chair or burst into tears of joy!
What is your first pop culture memory?
I remember my father telling me that there were conventions for Star Trek where you could dress up in costumes and meet the actors. He took me to my very first one when I was in high school (with George Takei), and I just remember feeling like I was suddenly around a whole room full of people who understood me.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
I loved the Minecraft exhibit. It introduced me to the game which led to the opportunity to create some really amazing educational programs that connected students during the isolation of the pandemic.
What led you to MOPOP?
I was looking to transition my career out of financial services and into a company that was truly focused in DEI work. MoPOP posted a press release in early 2023 about their new CEO and their intent on DEIA. Coming to MoPOP was the opportunity to blend my marketing.
What is your first pop culture memory?
One of my core memories is going to Disneyland annually with my family as a child and watching the Mickey Mouse Club in our basement.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
The Hello Kitty Exhibition!
What led you to MOPOP?
Pop Culture art is a fascinating draw got me. It captivates me through music, art, and fashion…..it’s a natural fit with my intention to be expressive through those mediums. To personally give back to community through a museum that is purposeful in it’s position within community, fostering creative partnerships sings to me in commitment and my wish to work for a cause that means something to me.
What is your first pop culture memory?
BBC hooked me as a young person, watching Dr. Who and Red Dwarf thinking they were brilliant shows. Only now, do I understand the complex, diverse, progressive subject matter broached by these series.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
It’s a toss-up between LAIKA and Massive, such incredible bodies of work. From the tiniest to the most massive.
Jody Allen is the founding director of MOPOP, which she co-founded with brother Paul G. Allen in 2000 to inspire the innate creativity in everyone. She is also co-founder and chair of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Vulcan Inc., and the Allen Institute, which works to solve some of the biggest mysteries in bioscience. In addition, Jody serves as chair of the Seattle Seahawks NFL and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises, recognizing the role of both teams as powerful catalysts for civic pride.
What is your first pop culture memory?
When I was five, Terry, my babysitter from up the street, playing her “With the Beatles” LP in her bedroom for Paul and me. Terry was 14 years old and Paul was 12. I still remember it after all these years.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
I have always loved Sound Lab, the science fiction gallery, and exhibits showcasing costumes and fashion.
Shaunta Hyde is a business community relations leader and aviation professional with more than 20 years of responsibility for relationship and reputation/risk management, strategic community investments, and CSR program driving business growth and impact. She brings to the boardroom her deep expertise in crisis management, ESG, CSR, government affairs, local, state, and federal regulatory relationships, and public private partnerships. In addition to grassroots and strategy work and a proven track record in community-based strategies of engagement.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Dressing up with my family and going to a Star Trek convention in downtown Seattle I think in the late 70s.
Davina Inslee is a seasoned technology attorney with more than 20 years of experience focused on general commercial transactions, intellectual property, and licensing. Over the course of her professional career, she has handled a full spectrum of technology and intellectual property matters, including: the negotiation of complex product co-development agreements; collaborative research agreements; public-private partnerships with companies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions; tech-transfer; and patent licensing and commercialization.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Jimi Hendrix
Throughout her career Marjorie Thomas has led and supported businesses in all stages of maturity, from start-up and high growth, to reinventions of businesses. Marj is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Allen Institute where she is focused on bringing forward her experience with the impact of growth in size and complexity. She joined the Allen Institute in 2017 and leads all accounting and financial functions, including treasury, procurement, and grants administration. Her background before joining the Allen Institute was in public technology companies, working as CFO at RealNetworks, and a finance executive at Intuit, Sony and Hewlett Packard.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Going to a drive-in movie in my jammies with my cousins.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Pearl Jam: Home and Away.
Jeremy Beasley is a Senior Interaction Designer at Google, where he envisions how people use emerging technologies (Cloud Computing, AI) and brings that vision to life through refined product design. Simultaneously, Jeremy is the Chapter Organizer at CreativeMornings for Seattle where he's been involved since 2009. CreativeMornings is the world’s largest face-to-face creative community that promotes connection with like-minded individuals through monthly breakfast lectures.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Watching Enter the Dragon on VHS with my aunt when I was 5.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
It's a toss-up between Indie Game Revolution and Infinite Worlds.
Tim is an experienced manager with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment and label services industry. For more than 20 years he has been the General Manager of Pearl Jam Ten Club, heading up product and business development.
What is your first pop culture memory?
The Monkees TV show.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Pearl Jam: Home and Away. Duh!
Dana grew up in her family run real estate investment firm in Seattle, Frank Enterprises. Twenty-five years ago, she became the General Managing Partner of the company – now named The TD Frank Family Properties.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Jackson 5 concert circa early 1970s.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Prince from Minneapolis.
Michelle is a Partner at KPMG, leading the Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk consulting practice in Seattle. She guides the delivery of consulting services to pre-IPO to Fortune 50 companies.
What is your first pop culture memory?
I was obsessed with Hello Kitty.
Launching his career as an assistant to the Jonas Brothers, Benoni Tagoe quickly became a part of the band's day-to-day management team and, through that experience, developed a keen sense of entrepreneurship.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Nike + Jordan's release of the Jordan VIII and Jordan IX was the first time I understood fashion and what it meant to be the 'cool kid' on the playground!
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop.
Janie L. Hendrix is President/CEO of Seattle-based Experience Hendrix L.L.C., Authentic Hendrix LLC, and JMH Productions, the family companies of Jimi Hendrix.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Music culture has always been a part of my life. Ours was a family immersed in jazz, blues, soul, rock-n-roll, and just about every other genre.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
My favorite exhibit at MOPOP would naturally be the Hendrix Gallery.
Matthew Norman is a seasoned nonprofit banking professional with over 20 years of experience. He has spent time working for some of the region’s leading financial institutions.
What is your first pop culture memory?
Tim Burton’s Batman.
What is your favorite current or recent exhibition at MOPOP?
Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction.