I am a craftsman and I work in a variety of materials. I am a specialty bench electrician, a union certified scenic artist, welder, and master carpenter. I have over 30 years of experience in designing and fabricating sets, special effects, and practical properties for theatre, film, and television. I design in CAD and have worked with 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving, and CNC for decades. I have a small but extremely versatile studio space in Bella Vista.
I am a Maker. I have been involved in the Maker Movement for decades and I love teaching and sharing my skills with others. Besides my willingness to teach, I am always open to learn new techniques and make friends in the Maker Community. I am also the Senior Solutions Specialist at MatterHackers, the largest 3D printing retailer in the US.
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Maker
Joel Gordon
Business
Steam Rocket Engine
City
Bella Vista
Website
https://www.steamrocketengine.com/
Bio
Joel is a technician, an artist, designer, and fabricator. As an Air Force NCO he received advanced training in electronics and coding and later studied art, design, and mechanics. He was Scenic Lead and Production Engineer at the world-renowned Chicago Scenic Studios where he created special effects and properties for theatre, television, and film.
Joel was Co-founder and Executive Director of Arkansas’s first Makerspace, The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. While at the Hub, Joel was chosen to participate in the White House Science and Technology Cabinet’s efforts to create the “Nation of Makers”, a 501c3 that supports the Maker Movement in the U.S. Joel has worked with the Nation of Makers for the last 6 years and is currently the delegate to NoM for the State of Arkansas. He founded Steam Rocket Engine LLC, an innovation and makerspace consulting firm. He has worked with cities, universities and private industries around the nation on makerspace design and development as well as issues of placemaking, talent retention, and innovative economic development. Joel relocated to Bentonville and worked as Making and Tinkering Manager at the Scott Family Amazeum. During the Covid 19 crisis, he was asked to join a policy working group concerned with Maker efforts to develop PPE. He now works as an independent consultant.
Joel has been invited to speak and present at events around the nation. He has presented three times in Washington D.C. at the Capitol Hill Maker Faire and for the Congressional Maker Caucus concerning the new “Maker Economy”. He was a presenter for the FabLearn Conference at Columbia Teachers College, and at The Nation of Makers Conference in Chattanooga. He resides in Bella Vista, Arkansas.