Beth Ann Balalaos is the Access and Inclusion Program Director at the Long Island Children’s Museum. Beth Ann joined the Education Department in 2014 as an intern and began managing the LICM’s IMLS funded LICM4all accessibility program in 2016. In this role she oversees all aspects of accessibility and inclusivity within LICM such as, Friendly Hours, Sensory Friendly Performances, the LICM4all App, staff sensitivity training, adapting and creating programming, ADA Compliance, and exhibit modifications. Additionally, Beth Ann is part of LICM’s Cultural Competence Learning Institute Committee. She has developed and facilitated LICM’s first programming that focuses on the LGBTQIA Community and established its Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion Team. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and Gender Studies and a M.A. in Education with an Advanced Certification in Elementary & Special Education from Adelphi University. Beth Ann has presented at numerous museum conferences across the United States and has been the recipient of Diversity Fellowship Programs within the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Children’s Museums. Additionally, Beth Ann has published articles with the Association of Children's Museums and the American Alliance of Museums. 

Nick Martinez is Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York. Nick is responsible for curating public programs and K-12 learning, driving visitorship, activating galleries, and extending the reach of the Museum’s exhibitions and collections to tell authentic and diverse stories of New York City. Martinez oversees The Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center, which serves roughly 30,000 students, educators, and caregivers annually, and the Public Programs department, which engages over 10,000 people each year.

Nick has over 15 years of experience at the intersection of museum education, youth and workforce development, and science. His previous role was as Assistant Director of Youth Initiatives at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), where he led strategic planning, design, and expansion of science programs, and managed significant budgets and grant projects. His innovative approach and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion have been key to his success. Martinez holds a Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York - Baruch College and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Stony Brook University. He is also an accomplished author and speaker, with numerous publications and presentations focused on increasing museum capacities to serve non-white audiences and engaging youth in science and technology. He is an adjunct professor in Museum Administration at St Johns’ University and was the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Museum Association of New York.