(Photo above: Brandon Packman, Vice President MM, Charlotte Van Valkenburg, robotics coach, Scot Brees, President MM | Photo by Krystal Marie Collins)
During its member opening, the High Desert Makers Mill hummed with creativity. President Scot Brees said, “The Makers Mill was excited to open its doors to the community and show Central Oregon why community enables everything.”
As a nonprofit corporation, the High Desert Makers Mill serves as a community resource leading projects, activities and events supporting the interests of Makers, Maker Culture and the Maker Movement throughout Central Oregon. Their direction is primarily focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).
During the opening, tools, technologies and workspaces were showcased. 3D body scans in the Artec 3D’s Shapify Booth were a smash hit. Digital Scan 3D and Shapify My Life made scans available via a unique link which was sharable on social media. For an additional cost, many participants were able to purchase action figures of their scans. Because the scanner produces such detailed models, folks showed up in unique apparel in the hopes of getting a scan specific to their lifestyle habits.
Throughout the evening Vice President Brandon Packman gave informal tours to patrons. He became involved with the Makers Mill through a shared interest with the organization in democratizing invention.
Packman is passionate about, “equal opportunity in investment, leveling the playing field with access to early stage company opportunities and helping people connect. I saw the makers space as a concept and place where creative individuals could come and collaborate. It is a meeting space for invention and technology. I am proud to help put together this project because it’s an invaluable part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Central Oregon.”
During a tour of the robotics facilities, Charlotte Van Valkenburg expressed the Makers Mill might be an asset to her son’s robotics team, which she coaches.
Although, to date, the Maker Mill in Central Oregon has tended toward supporting hardware, electronics and manufacturing, they are eager to welcome other trades which have traditionally been included in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movements across the STEAM spectrum. Because the Makers Mill believes community enables everything, they look forward to reaching out to artisans throughout Central Oregon in the hopes of connecting with the broader maker movement.
For more information contact Scot Brees at scot@makermill.org, or 541-241-8825
