One of the best things about covering GCMC is having the opportunity to see all of the new ideas that these wonderfully creative artists/crafters/entrepreneurs come up with. There are new and exciting ideas every single year. Kyle Nurminen from #SeedRegion1 not only recognizes how inspiring this creativity can be, but has come up with a way take it to the next level by involving the local community and businesses and then to attract larger companies to invest and potentially even come to the area.
He noticed that more and more people were becoming intrigued by the idea of these maker spaces and wanted to explore what they have to offer, but did not know where to find them. So, they started off by developing a web site to map out all of the maker spaces in the area and highlighting the unique vibes with each space. But they didn't stop there.
Their concept is meant to showcase talent and demonstrate to larger companies that we indeed have a community that not only supports their business, but also has the ability to strengthen it. Building upon the Maker Space atmosphere, SeedRegion1 is creating a platform for makers to connect with the resources they need to turn their visions into reality.
Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.
Daniele is a student at Florida Polytechnic University who is studying Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security. In High School, she was introduced to the science and technology world through the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), a robotics foundation where students of varying ages can compete through tasks that their robots perform. With help from mentors she met through FIRST, she became interested in programming and developing. Today, Daniele is a special events host for F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and PLuGHiTz Live Special Events and a co-host for both The New Product Launchpad and FIRST Looks.