There are a lot of amazing people who make an event like Gulf Coast MakerCon not only possible, but fun and rewarding to create. We want to take a moment here, before we head into the Maker Maelstrom this weekend, to thank some of them, starting with our friends at Studio 7 Communications, who created our fantastic Maker Skull and Cross-Tools logo!
Studio 7, which typically likes to keep a low profile despite all the fantastic good they do, is also a big supporter of FIRST Tech Challenge Team Duct Tape, and helped craft their awesome logo, too. We’re very grateful to Studio 7 Communications for the gift of their talent and expertise.
We also want to thank Maker of All Trades Chuck Stephens, for the gifts of his amazing
artwork. Chuck, a local artist and a volunteer with sponsor Learning is for Everyone, created our first Maker Faire poster in 2012, still one of our favorite pieces.
His custom designs for this year’s Gulf Coast MakerCon event are equally fantastic, capturing the playful and somewhat rebellious spirit of our next generation DIY Celebration of the Inventive Spirit.
We also want to thank Wayne Rasanen of the Tampa Bay Inventors Council, for his energetic networking and nudging to help populate our Inventors Showcase with the amazing people who are joining us this weekend.
Many thanks, too, to Dominick Transcritti of Suncoast Skirmishers, who has been coordinating our Tabletop Day event, which has generated some of our most enthusiastic traffic and interest, with a lot of people looking forward to a day of tabletop game play on Saturday, and more opportunities to play on Sunday.
Sam McAmis, of the University of South Florida Robotics Interest Group (USF-RIG) has been busy organizing B.A.M. (Battles at MakerCon) just for Gulf Coast MakerCon. With 30 students from area high schools competing with 15 lb. class fighting robots, MakerCon guests will be treated to high energy battlebots competition all day Saturday. And on Sunday, look for some creative destruction of old electronics with larger robots. It’s been no small task organizing the competition and exhibitions, especially while trying to get through Engineering studies, so Sam has our deepest appreciation for his creative multitasking in the service of Gulf Coast MakerCon and celebratory robotics!
And we can’t end our Makers Hymn of Praise and Thanks without a great big shout out to the Florida State Fairgrounds Authority!
Your Gulf Coast MakerCon organizers have put together a lot of different events in Tampa Bay – TEDxYouth, ROBOCON Tampa Bay, previous Maker festivals – and we’ve never encountered such amazingly warm, patient, collaborative, cooperative, and helpful venue representatives. The Florida Fairgrounds staff has gone out of their way to make event planning smooth, helped us through logistical bumps, and generally exuded Florida Sunshine and hospitality with abundant generosity.
So if you happen to see anyone from the Fairgrounds at Gulf Coast MakerCon this weekend, or a quiet lady with FTC Team Duct Tape at the FIRST exhibit area, or a fellow with a cap and coveralls and some funky electronic musical devices, or a pleasant looking gentleman with glasses at the Tabletop game tables, or a somewhat wild haired guy officiating over the battle bots, stop and tell them thanks!
They’re some of the signature Makers of Gulf Coast MakerCon, and at the heart of everything that makes our Maker Community so excellent!