Three years ago I started to hear about this fab lab project with Muskegon Community College. I was working at General Motors at the time and it peaked my interest but in my mind I was an engineer. What would it be like to not take an engineering job? I went out on a limb and reached out to the individual that had shared the information, Casey Dubois. Casey had helped me start the Mi3D group and was the reason I was involved in the maker movement in West Michigan due to his time at GR Makers (RIP). He thought I’d be perfect for it! So I applied. I heard back right away and went through several interviews.
Here I am now, 3 years later and my job is to manage the Lakeshore Fab Lab. This entails a lot of things! I am the primary point of contact for members, volunteers and organizations, work on event planning, machine maintenance and training, curriculum and class development, inventory management, website development and upkeep, social media and marketing outreach, and much more.
I am glad that I took the leap and left my traditional engineering job and started on this adventure. I have met so many great people that have helped me along the way with the fab lab and I’ve learned many skills that I would have never dreamed about.
The Lakeshore Fab Lab is located in downtown Muskegon, MI and we are a community makerspace that works on a membership basis. We have equipment and software that would be difficult for someone starting out on a business adventure to be able to have. We teach people in the community that they have the power to change their lives through knowledge and skills that we offer.
Check out the Lakeshore Fab Lab’s website for more information.
chris kaminsky 