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: 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.
Made at theCO: Magnetic Calendar
For a few years now, we’ve been using three magnetic boards in theCO’s hallway to display photos of our members and more information about what each of them has to offer our community. While we love sharing about our folks, we decided it was time for a hallway makeover so that we can better keep CO:members and visitors in the loop about upcoming events. After seeing the finished piece, we realized this would be the perfect project for anyone to put in their own homes or offices to plan their schedules in a fun and reusable way. Here’s how we did it and how you can use theCO’s tools to do the same.
Made at theCO: How to Make a Giant Lite Brite
It didn’t start with a plan, but with a 55-inch TV hitting the ground.
About two years ago, Ben Ferguson, one of theCO’s CO:founders, helped his dad pick out a new television at Best Buy. They brought it to his house, set it up on the mantle, and were celebrating in the kitchen when they heard the sound of something heavy falling with a resounding smash.
The television had toppled over and shattered on the ground.
Best Buy couldn’t take the broken TV back, so Ferguson brought the monitor, which still glowed when turned on, to theCO.
A couple months ago, Lisa Garner, executive director, had the idea to turn the TV into a giant Lite Brite.
School Makerspaces Matter
Liberty Tech students were peacefully assembled together, awaiting their latest creation around a laser engraver in the school’s makerspace. Written on a sheet of paper next to the laser were the dimensions for a pegboard with a purpose.
“We're working on pegboards for therapists to help kids with disabilities ,” Liberty manufacturing science student Austin Vande Zande explained, “[to] strengthen their hands and have them be more hands-on. ”
These teens were using their resources for good.
2016: A New Year for Opportunity
Well, folks, it’s going to be a new year soon, but will there be a new you? Time to cue the healthy lifestyle resolutions, organizational goals, and fancy gym memberships because 2016 is going to be full of accomplishments! However, here at theCO we might have slightly different resolutions in mind. We want to see those business ideas and dreams you’ve had since childhood come to life this year! Santa gave you all the tools necessary to get them started, so all you need is time, right? News flash—the time is now! Some call us the North Pole of Entrepreneurship; others just call us theCO.