"My professional experience is in water treatment, utilities management, real estate, web design, non-profit, and education: the systems in these industries are designed by people, and those designs have impacts on the systems' function and the people who interact with them. I am passionate about the art of understanding systems and fine-tuning them into well-oiled machines - defining goals and achieving them with a well-rested, happy team is one of my favorite things. 

I've lived in Alaska, Pennsylvania, Idaho, New York, and now Arizona since I left my home state of California. In each of these areas, I've been involved in organizations both for-profit and non-profit that have had remarkably different cultural expectations and communication styles. The lifetime of experiences in these places and organizations has allowed me to pick up on patterns; uplifting and energizing, as well as draining and erosive forces, and everything in between. 

I've served on the board of several non-profits and I enjoy building connections and interactions that serve to create efficient, organized, and well-funded projects. I consider myself successful in my work when my teams feel capable, open, hopeful, heard and seen, and appreciated. When those things happen, everything is possible."

"I have been a contractor in Tucson for almost 40 years. I graduated from UArizona with a degree in engineering. I have been a member of Xerocraft since we moved into the space at Steinfeld. I have been on the Board of Directors for several years.

I am involved in Xerocraft because I want to see it succeed. There have been multiple Hackerspaces and Makerspaces in the Tucson area and Xerocraft is the “Last Man Standing”. I am able to spend about 5-6 hours per week to help it succeed. I would like to see more classes in all areas. I would also like to see more “kid or family friendly” activities. I feel that youngsters get a great benefit when they can learn “maker” things at a young age."

"I'm a retired Midwestern transplant to Tucson. As a kid, I was often drawing or disassembling something. I studied architectural design at Iowa State University a long time ago. I spent my career in various information technology roles and as a bridge in the space between business and technology. While building applications and databases is a great living, I came to appreciate the intrinsic value of creating things that are real and tangible. So I design and build custom furniture for my home and my family. I love creating in the shop and my kitchen, and I'm an avid bread baker.

I serve on the Xerocraft Board of Directors because I believe in the organization and our mission, and I want it to succeed. In the years since I began volunteering at Xerocraft, I have met a delightfully broad and diverse group of individuals who create and share their talents. Those experiences are rewarding and engaging. I continue to leverage my communications skills across our organization and continue to aid our social media and marketing efforts.

Xerocraft has many opportunities, but we can’t do everything at once. At the top of my list is working to make more classes available for our members, and also working toward improving communications between the various leaders, shops, managers, and members."

"I’m Ben Winkler. Running small businesses has been my job for over 20 years and a big part of that job has been bookkeeping and financial management. I’ve operated small water Utilities in Alaska, a beer distributor in Pennsylvania, and now I’m part of a Volkswagen restoration business here in Tucson. 

In my free time you’ll find me outdoors hiking, biking, and occasionally kayaking. Maybe just wandering Tucson!

Every business needs good financial data to make informed decisions with, as well as good bookkeeping for taxes and capital planning. I support Xerocraft through accurate and detailed bookkeeping and daily accounting. My goal is to have weekly, up-to-date financial information, readily available to the organization and its members. "

"Geoff Shafer was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and started his technical career during childhood, when he was fascinated by machines and barraged everyone with questions about how they worked. He started his career as a student researcher in Cleveland during college, continuing on as a research assistant in Neurosciences, a grad student in Physiology & Biophysics, and eventually a lab manager in a large multi-discipline research lab at UCI. He's lived in Ohio, North Carolina, New York, Southern California, and now, Tucson, Arizona. He needed to learn some basic machining skills while working as a lab manager to help colleagues with experiments and found it to be so fulfilling, he pursued advanced training. Even though he's still learning every day, he is capable using a metal lathe, knee mill, horizontal mill, vertical band saw, and enjoys (trying) to grind his own cutting tools. Geoff currently runs his own auction tool sales and repair company when he's not at Xerocraft"

"I am a retired ER physician who has lived in Tucson since 1977. Most of my career was spent at Tucson Medical Center where, in addition to staffing the ER, I served on the hospital bioethics committee for many years.

Thanks to my father I have been around woodworking and machine shops all of my life. My specialty has been woodturning. I turn on the lathe my father made me when he retired in 1988.

At Xerocraft I serve as assistant woodshop manager. I am familiar with the operations of the woodshop, machine shop and 3D printers, and try to keep informed about the laser shop. I have been a member since 2019."

"I’ve lived in Tucson for over 30 years. I graduated from the UA with a BA in filmmaking and a minor in computer programming. I’ve always loved making things and working with my hands to build both inventions and works of art. I have been a core member of Xerocraft since I first discovered it in August 2012.

Ever since I first heard of makerspaces in my twenties, I knew I wanted to be part of one. I love the idea that there is a resource that can provide a full tool shop to the community to build anything. I can continue to put in the same 20 to 25 hours per week of volunteer time to my position. I want to see Xerocraft become a more established and indelible part of the Tucson community and culture with a cleaner, more organized and functional space, and more classes and community outreach."

Jeremy is the former President and Board Member of Xerocraft, but now lends his talents as our General Manager, a paid position. He currently does not hold a voting position on the Board.