The Utica Children’s Museum Board of Directors is proud to announce Meghan Fraser McGrogan’s appointment as their Executive Director, effective immediately. Meghan has been intimately involved with the museum since 2021, when she joined the Board of Directors. She served as Board President for two years, Board Liaison for 4 months, and most recently held the role of Interim Director for the past 6 months. Her official appointment is a testament to her commitment, leadership capabilities, and vision for the museum’s future.
Meghan is a proven professional with deep roots in the Utica community. She brings a wealth of experience and a track record of significant contributions to the role. As a native of Utica, her journey reflects a profound dedication to our region.
She graduated from SUNY Oswego with a bachelor’s degree in English. Her career began at the F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Marketing and Public Relations. She made her mark on the brewery family by passionately promoting Saranac products both locally and nationally. Her accomplishments include contributing to the rebranding of Saranac, developing innovative marketing strategies, and spreading the news about new products, events, and brewery initiatives.
In November 2014, Meghan joined the team at the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Membership and Events and was later promoted to Executive Director in August 2015. Under her leadership, the Chamber experienced transformative growth—relocating its offices, unveiling a new logo and brand identity, achieving a 3-star accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and revamping its membership structure to better serve the community and its businesses.
Meghan’s expertise doesn’t stop there. With a rich background in public speaking, project management, government relations, marketing, and more, in 2020, she ventured into entrepreneurship with her husband Ryan to open Commonworker, a shared office space for small businesses. In 2021, she also joined Ryan at his boutique design and marketing firm, McGrogan Design, and then later in 2022 founded MFM Consulting, focusing on public relations consulting and various other special projects.
Her commitment to community service and promoting the region’s growth and prosperity shines through her volunteer work with the Boilermaker Road Race as their Media Coordinator. She also previously served on committees for many community organizations, most recently on the Local Planning Committee for Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and most personally, with the March of Dimes which began in 2017 as she navigated the journey of motherhood with her son Peter, who was born prematurely. Serving as the March for Babies Chair in 2019, Meghan helped advocate for the health of all mothers and babies, drawing from her own experiences to contribute meaningfully.
As the Executive Director of the Utica Children’s Museum, Meghan aims to foster an environment of learning, curiosity, and fun for children and families in the Mohawk Valley. She is very focused on offering visitors the best and most comfortable experience possible. Her visionary leadership is poised to take the museum to new heights, ensuring it remains a vital part of Utica’s cultural and educational landscape.
“We’re all ecstatic about Meghan stepping into the role of Executive Director!” shared Adam Pawlick, president of the museum’s Board of Directors. “It’s not every day you get to work with such a dynamic and seasoned professional, especially on a transformative project such as this. I am beyond excited about what lies ahead and believe we will achieve extraordinary things with her vision and direction.”
Looking ahead, Meghan is responsible for overseeing the opening of the new Utica Children’s Museum this December, including the fabrication and installation of six galleries and 60 interactive exhibits. She is leading onboarding and growth of the museum team, building operational systems, and has an active role in donor relations, marketing and public relations. She will also be a regional and national voice for the museum and its unique offerings. This past spring, she presented at the Association of Children’s Museums national conference in Madison, WI, on Universal Design (UD). Utica Children’s Museum is the first-of-its-kind in the country to integrate UD principles from concept through construction of the project.
Meghan and her husband Ryan reside locally with their son, Peter, and dog, Lucy.
