I’ve spent 20+ years in alumni relations and I’ve seen the system fail both alumni and staff.
The pattern was clear:
Huge databases, little insight
Teams working hard, yet progress stayed small
Alumni who wanted real help, not more newsletters
Spark Plug was born to fix that gap.
Our Mission
Help alumni teams give graduates timely value and prove the impact with simple data.
Support is earned, not owed.
Clear action beats large plans stuck in drafts.
Technology should lighten staff workloads, not add layers.
What We Believe
A network of data, AI, and advancement partners who step in when needed.
Let’s Talk
Our Team
Erin Essak Kopp - Founder. Builder of alumni-first systems. 20 years of alumni engagement experience.
If you lead alumni engagement and crave a clearer path, email me:
erin@sparkplugllc.co
Or grab time on my calendar: https://calendly.com/sparkplugllc/30min