Makers of the USA has partnered up with Skowhegan Savings Bank on a mini-series called Becoming A Maker. To kick off the series Kristan Vermeulen interviews Alternative Manufacturing Inc., one of New England’s best resources for electronic contract manufacturing, that is based in Winthrop, Maine. AMI serves a wide range of clients throughout the USA, Canada & Europe in markets such as; Medical, Industrial, Green Technologies, Robotics, and Mil/Aero. Kristan interviews Kim Vandermeulen and Jim Barry about how they help start-up companies with their tech needs. A great example of how AMI assisted someone in bringing their dream to life was with a woman who lives in Winthrop who wanted to find a technological solution for seniors to remember their walkers when navigating throughout the day. They have also assisted start-ups with indoor vertical farming and ropeless lobster traps. Tune in to learn more about AMI's history, how they have helped not only start-ups but international companies with their tech needs, and how Kim is not only a maker focused on tech but of delicious beverages.
Annie Mahle, a maker of all things that surround the dinner table from table linens to the delicious meals, was not only the culinary force behind the fabulous meals prepared and relished by guests sailing on the Maine Windjammer the J&E Riggin for 23 years. She cooks in small spaces outside of the schooner environment and has written various cookbooks including her recent, The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook. Annie gravitates to meals comprised of fresh, local ingredients from her garden, local farmers, and food artisans. In addition to her own boat captain credentials (she holds a 100-ton captains license), Annie has over 25 years of experience in the food industry, is a graduate of the University of Michigan, has studied baking at the Culinary Institute of America, and spent three years under the tutelage of Swiss Chef Hans Bucher. After working for several years as a personal chef in the private yachting industry, Anne settled in Maine with her husband Captain Jon Finger and their two daughters and ran the Maine Windjammer, Schooner J. & E. Riggin. Tune in to learn more about Annie's culinary career, her experiences cooking out of tiny spaces, and what it means to be a maker connected to the Maine community. Also, stay until the end to hear Becca Bigg's new track Genie.
Deanna Bogart traveled around the country as a young girl, partaking in talent shows at the various schools she attended and seeing her family members express themselves through music which she soon learned she shared the same passion. At age 17 she picked up her guitar and traveled to Los Angeles to give her music career a go in the Hollywood area but then traveled back to the east coast to join a friend's band. While she loved vocals and performing at various shows in the Baltimore area, she found that her true calling was the saxophone. Others in the music industry would mention to her "Girls play the clarinet, not the saxophone". Well, Deanna has proven to be one of the best saxophone players and female musicians in the world. She has played with other renowned artists such as Jimmy Buffet, B.B. King, and much more. Tune in to learn more about Deanna's music career, her experiences performing with other renowned musicians, and what it means to be a maker connected to the Maryland community.
Kendal Brown, owner, founder, maker of 228 Grant Street Candle Co., was born and raised in Danville, Virginia, and during his childhood, his hometown offered little to no structure for an artsy kind of kid. He always thought he needed to do something with his hands before getting his hands into a craft. He studied religion and took on a career in ministry in DC. He then took on a different career path after coming out as a gay man and ventured to San Francisco to study theological education. But the word craft was still lingering in his head. It's his true calling. He dabbled in writing and art but the only craft that truly hit home with him that was a part of his creative process, the light of a candle, the scent the mood, it filled his creative soul. So candle making became his craft candles will be lit during his creative thinking time and to build on that craft and make it his own. He did some research and has now created a collection of his own in Baltimore. Tune in to learn more about Kendal Brown's career journey and stay till the end to hear more music from Deanna Bogart.
Erin Little is a wonderful woman who is not only a highly skilled interior and architectural photographer but is also quite the maker herself as she was a musician and craftswoman prior to her photography work. Her images reflect a deep understanding of her subjects and she specializes in storytelling, which Kristan can certainly relate to, but Erin does it in a much more visual way. Kristan discovered Erin when she was working on the Mainers project, which shares stories and visuals of extraordinary people here in Maine. Erin joined Kristan in shooting Nick Rossi earlier this year, and she was so happy to see Erin's eyes light up as they walked through his space. Tune in to learn more about Erin's journey and where she is today.
Séan Alonzo Harris began his photographic education during his childhood. He studied at the Art Institute of Boston and abroad in Italy and closer to home at Maine Media Workshops. He established his career in commercial, fine art, and editorial photography in Maine, Boston, and New York. He has worked with a broad range of editorial, educational and corporate clients including Mother Jones, Yankee Magazine, USA Today, LL Bean, Harvard Radcliffe Magazine, Atlantic Rethink, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Cathay Pacific Airline. Séan shares his journey through his professional practice, collaborative, community-driven projects with nonprofit organizations, and where he is today with Kristan. He works with Kristan to capture Kazeem Lawal from Portland Trading Company and Séan does a fabulous job in capturing the visual components of Kazeem's craft and storefront space.
When you venture out into Fells Point which is located in the heart of Baltimore you will most likely stumble upon this maker's spot. Ron Furman built Max's on Broadway which is now Max's Taphouse from the ground up from the building renovations to the actual business and operations. He did it all and he certainly had fun along the way. Kristan got the grand tour of the facility which is quite the maze and she learned about Ron's journey from what the building was before it became Max's, how Max's went from a renowned concert venue to a tap house, and what he had to do to pivot operations during COVID. Stay until the end of the episode to listen to Freddie Long's single Blanket.
Many people may not know this about Maine but located along the coast of Rockland and Camden harbors are nine historic vessels, the largest fleet of Windjammers that offer all-inclusive, overnight cruises in the world. Each of these captains and their families works hard to preserve Windjammers that are hundreds of years old. Many of these vessels would have been turned into bars or left in a junkyard to rot but this amazing community, the Maine Windjammer Association, is keeping these historic vessels alive and bringing guests onboard to experience not just the history, but also introducing them to real sailing and life on the Maine coast. Kristan speaks with Sam Sikkema, the Captain of the Victory Chimes. He had recently purchased the Victory Chimes from former owner Kipp Files and his ship is the largest one in the fleet and the United States. Kristan has a huge heart for Victory Chimes as it has a history sailing in the Chesapeake Bay, where she grew up sailing. Tune in to hear about Captain Sam's life on the water, how he got up to Maine, how he became captain of the Victory Chimes, and what his craft is all about.
Pete Ross is a banjo maker, researcher, and musician who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Pete is one of the earliest contemporary makers of gourd banjos, ranging from those of his own design to exact replicas of historic instruments. His reconstructions of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century banjos have been featured internationally in museums, art galleries, movies, documentaries, and live performances. Tune in to learn more about Pete’s mentors, musicians he crafted banjos for, his time growing up in Maryland, the step-by-step process on how he crafts his banjos, and much more.
Kristan thinks many would perceive this Baltimore maker as a jazz musician. But what Kristan found interesting while she was talking to this musician is that he doesn't define his music as jazz. He actually doesn't put a definition towards his musical craft. It is Brandon Woody's music, his craft, his passion, his story, his life. He grew up in the streets of Baltimore and grew a love for one of Kristan's favorite instruments, the trumpet, He has performed brass with local legends of the genre like Eric Kennedy and Jeff Reed, as well as DIY rappers with Abdu Ali and Al Rogers Jr. Lead open mic nights at the Motor House. He is an alum of Peabody Preparatory’s Tuned-In Program and the Brubeck Institute in California. He is a highly talented, expressive instrumentalist who brings a fiery flair to every set, he shares with Kristan the struggles he went through to get to where he is today.