biography

Joel Gordon

Joel Gordon’s experiences over a lifetime are diverse and have shaped his philosophy on education and our desire to Make.

His training in electronics, coding, sculpture, and mechanics has led to an exciting career that has taken him around the world and back again.

Joel has been an artist, designer, and fabricator. He was Scenic Lead and Engineer at the world-renowned Chicago Scenic Studios. He has created special effects and properties for theatre, television, and film, and designed and created exhibits for world-class museums of art and science. As an entrepreneur and business owner, Joel consults and assists in diverse product development, prototyping, and testing. He has worked with cities around the nation on issues of placemaking, talent retention, and innovative economic development.

Following an invitation to attend a Maker focused reception at the White House, Joel was chosen to participate in the White House Science and Technology Cabinet's efforts to create the “Nation of Makers.” The Nation of Makers (or NOM) is a 501c3 created to support the Maker Movement in the U.S. He is the delegate to NOM for the State of Arkansas. This experience shaped his unique approach to workforce development and his passion for distributed-micromanufacturing.

An Arkansas native, he was the Co-founder and Executive Director of Arkansas’ first Makerspace, The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, and is the founder of Steam Rocket Engine where his title is “Creator”.

Joel has always worked with three essential tools: his heart, his mind, and his hands.

achievments

Co-founder/Executive Director- Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Designer and Developer- The University of Central Arkansas-Conductor Maker and Innovation Space
Special Advisor- the University of Arkansas at Little Rock-Makerspace
Designer and Developer- City of Fayetteville, AR- Fab Lab
Designer and Developer- City of Pine Bluff, AR- The Generator Innovation Space
Economic Development Consultant- City of Wilson, AR
Economic Development Consultant- City of Paducah, KY
Special Adviser for Maker Programming- The Delta School
Special Adviser for Maker Programming- Thaden School
Special Adviser for Maker Programming- the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
SpecialAdviser and Program Development- Arkansas STEM Coalition
Adviser for Curriculum Development- Arkansas Computer Science Curriculum Board
Industry Advisor- Arkansas Computer Science and Cyber Security Task Force
Committee Member- White House Initiative on Making
Committee Member/State Delegate- Nation of Makers
Founder/Producer- North Little Rock Mini Maker Faire
CoCreator/Founder- Tinkerfest

“Humans are tool users and we are gratified by what we create. An idea isn’t realized until you make it. We are all Makers”.

-Joel Gordon