Made at theCO: Personalized Wine Box
There is something so mesmerizing about a computer-motorized machine like the CNC router or the Laser Cutter/Etcher we have in theCO’s makerspace. It might be the super smooth curves or the sheer precision of the cuts, but one thing is for sure: it allows you to make some cool custom pieces! This week we’re featuring a custom piece made by Random Pieces of Wood.
Board Member Spotlight: Ben Harris
There’s kind of an infamous group of five at theCO, a couple of which share the name Ben, but mostly they’re people who had a hand in the opening of theCO. We call them CO:founders.
Ben Harris, COO of theCO, is also a CO:founder, and has been an integral part of theCO’s function and operation since the beginning.
Made at theCO: Christmas Gifts
It’s the middle of the holiday season, and Christmas is just around the corner. If you are still looking for gifts for family and friends, start looking at theCO. You might be surprised to hear that many CO:members make items that could serve as a perfect gift. Here are a couple ideas for presents:
Board Member Spotlight: Austin Thompson
Austin Thompson is one of the four recently appointed board members at theCO, serving alongside Beth Wilson, Andre Gist, and Kevin Adelsberger. But Austin’s board membership is just the newest thing he has done at theCO. He is the CEO of Thompson Industries, which he conducts out of theCO, specializing in social media marketing and small business consulting. Austin’s side hustle turned business number 2, Random Pieces of Wood, is also run out of theCO, where he makes and sells laser engraved gifts. Austin has lead multiple Meetups; his newest one being “Vets in Business,” where he looks to develop a community for veterans and provide them with personal or entrepreneurial resources.
Vets in Business
Austin Thompson graduated from high school in 1995, joined the army, and became an M1A1 Abrams Systems Mechanic. Which he says “is just a really fancy name for tank mechanic.” After basic training in Fort Knox in Kentucky, he got married just before being stationed in Korea for a year away from his family and wife. He sustained a back injury during a training accident in Korea, and was sent to Fort Raleigh in Kansas, where he got medically discharged.
Board Member Spotlight: Kevin Adelsberger
theCO recently added four new board members in the beginning of August, to help provide fiscal and policy oversight, as well as helping to provide insight for long term planning. But one of the most important things about these new members, is that they are some of the first board members who are also CO:workers. Kevin Adelsberger is one of the four newest members, and he has run his business, Adelsberger Marketing out of theCO for the past four years.
Made at theCO: Mystery Block Lamp
Anyone who has walked into theCO the last couple of weeks may have experienced a flash of childhood nostalgia—memories of sitting on the living room couch, game controller in hand, leading an Italian plumber past a giant, turtle-like being to rescue a kidnapped princess.
To illuminate the new shop at the front of theCO, Austin Thompson, founder and owner of Random Pieces of Wood, has built and installed a light shaped like the Mystery Block in Super Mario games.
A #MadeattheCO Christmas
Our members have been busy in our makerspace getting ready for the holidays. Check out how you can support them by buying local this year!