WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:21.691 --> 00:00:24.251 Ryan: We really think that the next generation manufacturing is the 00:00:24.251 --> 00:00:26.584 foundation of our work here at Humanmade. 00:00:26.894 --> 00:00:30.434 It's really allowed for us to continue operating a Makerspace in the Bay Area. 00:00:30.964 --> 00:00:37.120 Dale: I'm here with Ryan Spurlock, who is the head of Humanmade in San Francisco. 00:00:37.180 --> 00:00:38.950 And Ryan, just tell us about yourself. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:41.410 Ryan: Hi, my name is Ryan Spurlock. 00:00:41.440 --> 00:00:45.440 I'm the founder and executive director of Humanmade here in San Francisco. 00:00:45.440 --> 00:00:49.445 And we are very proud to be on the show today with you, Dale. 00:00:49.510 --> 00:00:53.391 So for those who don't know Humanmade is a San Francisco based non-profit. 00:00:53.396 --> 00:00:57.777 That is essentially part Makerspace, part advanced manufacturing trainer center and 00:00:57.777 --> 00:00:59.907 part career exposure program for youth. 00:01:00.097 --> 00:01:04.717 Dale: How did you get into making personally and tell us about the 00:01:04.717 --> 00:01:07.067 connections that got you into this? 00:01:07.097 --> 00:01:09.745 Ryan: I was always a creative kid, liked art, liked drawing. 00:01:09.781 --> 00:01:12.354 Wasn't your example student. 00:01:12.474 --> 00:01:15.864 Got a lot of D's, got a lot of non passing grades. 00:01:15.947 --> 00:01:19.357 But oddly, all of the things that, I was shunned for as a child are all 00:01:19.357 --> 00:01:22.130 the qualities that have allowed me to be successful and as a founder. 00:01:22.143 --> 00:01:25.500 With that said I like to joke that I had the first laser cutter when I was a kid. 00:01:25.505 --> 00:01:30.046 When I was 13, I asked for a wood burning kit, which my parents at 00:01:30.046 --> 00:01:31.346 the time thought was quite weird. 00:01:31.376 --> 00:01:34.721 Or a rock Tumblr things that I could do to be creative and make things 00:01:34.784 --> 00:01:38.271 always drawing to a fault, one would say, or at least my teachers would say. 00:01:38.321 --> 00:01:41.591 I guess I was around in my twenties, late twenties, when I heard of this 00:01:41.591 --> 00:01:45.619 place called TechShop that a couple friends worked at, and I was asked 00:01:45.619 --> 00:01:46.929 if I was interested in applying. 00:01:47.139 --> 00:01:48.974 I actually got the original offer and laughed. 00:01:48.974 --> 00:01:50.750 And I was like I thought this was a tech company. 00:01:50.850 --> 00:01:54.888 But with that said, my goal to work at TechShop was, I 00:01:54.888 --> 00:01:55.908 wanted to be part of community. 00:01:55.938 --> 00:01:59.584 I wanted to take the skillset that I learned as an industrial design student at 00:01:59.584 --> 00:02:03.914 San Francisco State and really foster them and grow them and allow me to have the 00:02:03.914 --> 00:02:05.804 experience to get a job in the industry. 00:02:05.897 --> 00:02:08.715 As a result of taking the job there, I fell in love with the maker 00:02:08.715 --> 00:02:10.075 movement and the model as a whole. 00:02:10.075 --> 00:02:14.388 When I started, I'll never forget, I show up to work that first day and I see a bike 00:02:14.393 --> 00:02:16.312 get chucked over the side of the building. 00:02:16.356 --> 00:02:18.813 And three guys look over the side and go, yeah, it made it. 00:02:19.233 --> 00:02:23.043 And they were testing a bamboo bike and that was kind my, my 00:02:23.043 --> 00:02:24.933 indoctrination into the community. 00:02:24.975 --> 00:02:26.595 What is this place that I'm going to? 00:02:26.955 --> 00:02:30.915 And then slowly but surely I started out at a pretty low- level, front- desk 00:02:30.915 --> 00:02:35.007 position, just hoping to get access, to use the tools, to run my own business 00:02:35.007 --> 00:02:37.147 and make some money off of the ShopBot. 00:02:37.167 --> 00:02:39.417 At the time I was making science for some folks that I knew. 00:02:40.744 --> 00:02:41.944 I saw some low hanging fruit. 00:02:42.034 --> 00:02:45.334 I saw that there was an opportunity to grow the education department. 00:02:45.357 --> 00:02:49.927 I always saw the maker movement as an education center and that offered 00:02:49.927 --> 00:02:53.073 membership versus kind of a TechShop model that we were a membership based 00:02:53.073 --> 00:02:54.283 organization that offered training. 00:02:54.331 --> 00:02:58.919 Dale: It was an early lesson of TechShop, I think that, I forget the ratio, but 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.699 let's just say a third of the people that came in TechShop had some project, 00:03:02.704 --> 00:03:07.178 they knew what they wanted to do, but the other two thirds showed up, wanted 00:03:07.183 --> 00:03:10.808 to be part of the community, wanted to do something, but they didn't really have 00:03:10.808 --> 00:03:13.958 the skills or the background to do it. 00:03:13.958 --> 00:03:17.932 And so education, if it was gonna be effective would make that 00:03:17.932 --> 00:03:19.332 membership worthwhile to them. 00:03:19.952 --> 00:03:20.840 Ryan: Yeah that's true. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:24.093 And, we try to really take that mindset and push that forth on 00:03:24.093 --> 00:03:25.313 our goals here at Humanmade. 00:03:25.362 --> 00:03:28.833 I truly believe that if you can get somebody trained up to not just, get 00:03:28.838 --> 00:03:31.593 checked off to use the equipment, but actually have some foundational 00:03:31.593 --> 00:03:35.133 understanding of what can be done with that equipment and then follow up sessions 00:03:35.133 --> 00:03:36.913 to help them actually better themselves. 00:03:36.913 --> 00:03:39.443 You're investing the person in the community that way. 00:03:39.443 --> 00:03:43.273 If you talk to 10 people, maybe half or shy about something they 00:03:43.273 --> 00:03:46.183 want to make, but everyone has an idea of something they wanna make. 00:03:46.183 --> 00:03:48.353 Everyone has something they've always wanted to build. 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:51.824 Allowing for that to come to light through education is really the 00:03:51.829 --> 00:03:53.294 foundation of our goals here. 00:03:53.981 --> 00:03:58.015 Dale: The example of TechShop was, you probably personally, that 00:03:58.015 --> 00:04:02.436 organization got, nobody really knew if there was a demand for this. 00:04:02.436 --> 00:04:06.486 Or there was a lot of people that would use something like this, it 00:04:06.486 --> 00:04:10.090 was speculative, but when you see the different kinds of people it 00:04:10.090 --> 00:04:13.720 attracted and what their different goals were, where they were coming 00:04:13.720 --> 00:04:19.278 from, what their background was , it did make you believe that this is 00:04:19.278 --> 00:04:23.228 something that could be available or should be available to lots of people. 00:04:23.318 --> 00:04:24.008 Not just a few. 00:04:24.438 --> 00:04:24.898 Ryan: Yeah. 00:04:24.913 --> 00:04:29.353 We often say that if Makerspaces were as accessible as libraries, 00:04:29.743 --> 00:04:32.773 what would the impact be on the American society as a whole? 00:04:32.773 --> 00:04:34.213 How would it affect manufacturing? 00:04:34.453 --> 00:04:37.003 How would it further promote entrepreneurship and the startup 00:04:37.003 --> 00:04:39.749 culture that we're famous for here in Silicon valley? 00:04:39.766 --> 00:04:43.229 Dale: But one of the products of Silicon valley culture is failure. 00:04:43.236 --> 00:04:48.210 I don't really want to dwell on that here and now because it gave you an opportunity 00:04:48.210 --> 00:04:50.790 to do something after TechShop, didn't it? 00:04:52.275 --> 00:04:52.575 Ryan: Yeah. 00:04:52.658 --> 00:04:55.298 When TechShop closed, we wanted to take all of the great things that we 00:04:55.298 --> 00:04:57.938 learned through TechShop and really some of the things that we learned 00:04:57.938 --> 00:05:00.469 that weren't so great and try to address them in this future model. 00:05:00.469 --> 00:05:03.769 So really from our inception, our mission was to really distinguish 00:05:03.769 --> 00:05:07.725 Humanmade from the traditional Makerspace or even workforce development 00:05:07.845 --> 00:05:09.345 models we've seen in the past. 00:05:09.427 --> 00:05:13.342 My goal was really to create a really diverse ecosystem that supported 00:05:13.402 --> 00:05:16.942 manufacturing, where companies can come and create a startup 00:05:16.942 --> 00:05:18.662 or create hardware affordably. 00:05:18.662 --> 00:05:21.704 But also come back to really hire a well trained and qualified 00:05:21.704 --> 00:05:23.174 employee to fill these roles. 00:05:24.224 --> 00:05:26.761 Dale: So how did you create the structure of Humanmade? 00:05:26.838 --> 00:05:31.055 Ryan: When TechShop closed in 2017, I think it was November 15th or 16th. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:35.294 There was a kind of a shock to all of us and very quickly despite not having 00:05:35.294 --> 00:05:40.214 anything to do with kind of the corporate decisions that led to it, I was the face 00:05:40.219 --> 00:05:43.593 here regionally of the organization, and I had a lot of folks reaching out. 00:05:43.623 --> 00:05:46.533 They weren't happy, they lost their place to run their business 00:05:46.533 --> 00:05:47.853 or to find a creative outlet. 00:05:48.213 --> 00:05:52.649 While I had never had any intention of being a founder or a CEO, I always 00:05:52.649 --> 00:05:55.469 felt comfortable kind of in the logistics backend, managerial side 00:05:55.474 --> 00:05:58.379 of things, making the organization run well in San Francisco. 00:05:58.394 --> 00:06:01.146 I felt a responsibility because of the quick closure. 00:06:01.177 --> 00:06:04.374 So I quickly started to create conversations with individuals in the 00:06:04.374 --> 00:06:08.991 community who were interested in spinning something up and, or supporting us here. 00:06:08.991 --> 00:06:13.923 Around that time, I had the opportunity to meet a group of individuals from SKS 00:06:13.928 --> 00:06:18.153 Partners who are developers here in San Francisco who were working on launching 00:06:18.153 --> 00:06:21.403 a project at One De Haro, which is right across the street from us here. 00:06:21.466 --> 00:06:25.876 And as part of that entitlement that they're trying to get, they had to 00:06:25.876 --> 00:06:27.637 fulfill a community benefit with the city. 00:06:27.653 --> 00:06:31.738 These are legislations put in place so that developers can provide 00:06:31.738 --> 00:06:34.984 something back in spaces and communities where they're taking up 00:06:34.984 --> 00:06:36.664 space and building out their projects. 00:06:36.724 --> 00:06:38.704 So that is the Cohen legislation. 00:06:39.644 --> 00:06:42.584 The Cohen legislation required them to create something 00:06:42.584 --> 00:06:43.574 that was community benefit. 00:06:43.574 --> 00:06:47.058 So for several years they tried to come up with some ideas and 00:06:47.058 --> 00:06:48.198 pitch them through planning. 00:06:48.298 --> 00:06:52.528 And I think the feedback was we need something a little more thought out, 00:06:52.578 --> 00:06:53.838 something a little more well baked. 00:06:54.228 --> 00:06:57.858 And so at the same time, I was trying to spin up a Humanmade and it was not a 00:06:57.858 --> 00:06:59.868 Humanmade was not the name at that time. 00:06:59.909 --> 00:07:00.953 I don't think we had one. 00:07:00.953 --> 00:07:06.746 I was introduced to the gentleman over at SKS Partners who worked with me to, help 00:07:06.746 --> 00:07:11.203 support me, putting together a really cohesive and impactful business plan and 00:07:11.203 --> 00:07:15.104 which we presented to the City of San Francisco's planning and the city then 00:07:15.104 --> 00:07:19.696 approved the project with the intent for Humanmade to build the first facility in 00:07:19.701 --> 00:07:21.196 the design district here in San Francisco. 00:07:21.466 --> 00:07:22.957 Dale: And what was the timeframe on that? 00:07:23.267 --> 00:07:25.673 Ryan: I guess we started working on the business plan pretty 00:07:25.673 --> 00:07:27.283 much almost instantaneously. 00:07:27.583 --> 00:07:30.973 I think I was linked up with SKS developers around January. 00:07:31.603 --> 00:07:35.572 So 2018 we pitched the idea, got approved through planning, 00:07:35.653 --> 00:07:39.433 started to do the incorporation and fundraising component of the project. 00:07:39.514 --> 00:07:43.946 And we were, obviously, given some initial capital from SKS Partners as well. 00:07:43.949 --> 00:07:48.719 And I guess it took all and all from idea to launch. 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:55.529 I think we launched in June/July of 2019, so a little over a year and a half, I 00:07:55.529 --> 00:07:57.299 would say to actually make it happen. 00:07:57.366 --> 00:07:57.940 And it's funny. 00:07:57.940 --> 00:08:01.429 I was so green when I first started, I thought, it was gonna happen much faster. 00:08:01.609 --> 00:08:04.159 I thought fundraising would happen much quicker. 00:08:04.170 --> 00:08:07.801 So some of our early successes created this idea in my head 00:08:07.801 --> 00:08:10.171 that it was gonna be much easier than it actually was in the end. 00:08:10.741 --> 00:08:11.491 Dale: It was hard. 00:08:11.736 --> 00:08:12.336 Ryan: Very hard. 00:08:12.433 --> 00:08:17.253 Dale: And so you opened this placeabout nine months before the pandemic. 00:08:17.275 --> 00:08:18.205 Is that about right? 00:08:18.445 --> 00:08:20.095 Ryan: Yeah, exactly nine months. 00:08:20.162 --> 00:08:21.806 And it was, it was tough. 00:08:21.904 --> 00:08:25.414 We had created this model that we were gonna rely heavily on the earned income 00:08:25.414 --> 00:08:26.984 models that we knew how to run and manage. 00:08:27.999 --> 00:08:32.062 We also were gonna take two to three years to really learn what it meant to 00:08:32.062 --> 00:08:34.462 be a nonprofit and run as a nonprofit. 00:08:34.852 --> 00:08:38.180 And that means grant writing development, contract management, 00:08:38.180 --> 00:08:41.370 and all of that stuff is something that we did not have experience in. 00:08:41.370 --> 00:08:46.137 So the pandemic essentially forced me to overnight start to pursue that model. 00:08:46.149 --> 00:08:49.762 So we had five ways in which we generated income prior to the pandemic: 00:08:49.767 --> 00:08:53.641 membership, training, team building, managed services and then also some 00:08:53.646 --> 00:08:56.231 of the fabrication work that we do laser cutting, things like that. 00:08:56.241 --> 00:08:57.441 And then that was gone overnight. 00:08:57.441 --> 00:09:00.718 And my board at the time said what an incredible opportunity for a young 00:09:00.718 --> 00:09:03.688 founder to learn how to navigate the challenges of launching a new business. 00:09:03.988 --> 00:09:04.948 Dale: That was kind of them. 00:09:06.028 --> 00:09:06.298 Ryan: Yeah. 00:09:07.168 --> 00:09:09.331 And they weren't wrong, it was harsh feedback. 00:09:09.401 --> 00:09:12.658 A lot of folks would've assumed we would've just shuttered and closed doors. 00:09:12.658 --> 00:09:14.960 And there was times that I thought, how are we gonna do this? 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:19.160 And much what we mentored many of the makers who came through the movement in 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:23.180 the past, getting up every day, trying, working your ass off to make it happen. 00:09:23.245 --> 00:09:27.200 Going and talking to everyone who may be interested and really, leaning on 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:30.720 the resources that were already in place to launch a program like this. 00:09:31.635 --> 00:09:35.475 Dale: To be clear, you were able to get the money together to do the build out. 00:09:35.537 --> 00:09:35.847 Ryan: Yeah. 00:09:35.847 --> 00:09:39.837 Dale: I recall visiting right around the time you were just starting to get 00:09:39.837 --> 00:09:41.337 some of those rooms up and running. 00:09:41.847 --> 00:09:48.242 And, you shift from that to a budget where you're expecting revenue 00:09:48.242 --> 00:09:51.222 to come in to help finish spaces. 00:09:51.266 --> 00:09:55.327 And, I dunno if it's complete the build out, but, partly the build out is 00:09:55.327 --> 00:09:58.097 dependent on the use cases in the space. 00:09:58.147 --> 00:10:01.987 The pandemic kind of hits at a really critical time for you. 00:10:02.707 --> 00:10:03.097 Ryan: Yeah. 00:10:03.097 --> 00:10:07.498 And so we were lucky enough to not just have the facility already paid for at 00:10:07.498 --> 00:10:13.145 launch, but we also worked with a local community bank here cVCC to provide 00:10:13.145 --> 00:10:15.519 us with some state secured funds. 00:10:15.524 --> 00:10:17.390 So we also got a $1. 00:10:17.409 --> 00:10:21.815 3 million loan in addition to the build out that allowed us to secure the 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:26.707 equipment, hire the staff and really launch the business prior to the pandemic. 00:10:27.517 --> 00:10:30.029 Dale: And so how did you ride through the pandemic then? 00:10:31.588 --> 00:10:31.918 Ryan: Whew. 00:10:31.976 --> 00:10:33.373 Dale: Cause you weren't open, were you? 00:10:33.563 --> 00:10:35.153 Ryan: So we closed for around three months. 00:10:35.223 --> 00:10:40.040 And we were very lucky that we were able to reopen for essential workers. 00:10:40.045 --> 00:10:42.785 We shifted to doing what a lot of the Makerspace did helping 00:10:42.785 --> 00:10:46.335 create PPE for local hospitals and face masks and stuff like that. 00:10:46.363 --> 00:10:48.793 The City allowed us to continue running our training program 00:10:48.793 --> 00:10:52.226 because we had pre-arranged hiring opportunities with the partners that 00:10:52.226 --> 00:10:53.636 we work with throughout the Bay Area. 00:10:53.936 --> 00:10:57.769 So if we were just a regular standard training program and we did not 00:10:57.769 --> 00:11:01.842 have the workforce or job placement component, we would've probably, closed 00:11:01.842 --> 00:11:02.982 down like many of the other schools. 00:11:02.982 --> 00:11:04.392 So we were close for around three months. 00:11:04.392 --> 00:11:05.082 We relaunched. 00:11:05.352 --> 00:11:08.198 We resumed our next generation manufacturing training program 00:11:08.223 --> 00:11:10.053 which we should jump in and talk about that as well. 00:11:10.097 --> 00:11:13.778 But yeah, it was jumping straight into grant writing, obviously applying for 00:11:14.278 --> 00:11:17.791 PPP which is quite interesting because, I think, throughout the rest of the 00:11:17.791 --> 00:11:21.536 country, that was a resource that really kept people going for several months. 00:11:21.541 --> 00:11:25.135 But here the cost of doing anything is so high, that it was less than a 00:11:25.135 --> 00:11:27.123 month of overhead for an organization. 00:11:27.173 --> 00:11:31.114 Dale: So let's talk about the specific programs that you developed, the training 00:11:31.114 --> 00:11:32.944 programs, and this is really unique. 00:11:32.973 --> 00:11:36.463 Ryan: Humanmade launched the next generation manufacturing training program. 00:11:36.472 --> 00:11:41.336 And that program is a 12-week program with two distinct offerings. 00:11:41.336 --> 00:11:44.406 At the moment we offer additive manufacturing or 3d printing 00:11:44.406 --> 00:11:49.153 technician training or CNC operator or 2.5 D milling training. 00:11:49.160 --> 00:11:53.600 We really wanted to eliminate traditional barriers like financial resources or 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:57.914 that you find through formal education or that individuals often face when 00:11:57.914 --> 00:12:00.794 trying to gain entering into the manufacturing technology sector. 00:12:01.094 --> 00:12:04.329 And I think it's important to say that is that, I think there's this preconceived 00:12:04.334 --> 00:12:08.317 notion of what a manufacturing facility is, and that is long gone. 00:12:08.372 --> 00:12:12.895 If you look at your standard kind of small job shop manufacturing, fab shop here 00:12:12.895 --> 00:12:18.031 in the City, contract manufacturer, it is a very high end tech-driven facility. 00:12:18.075 --> 00:12:23.650 And we wanted to not only get folks the foundational skills to apply for entry 00:12:23.650 --> 00:12:27.528 level careers in those organizations, but also build the mindset for them to 00:12:27.528 --> 00:12:30.966 be successful with what will be required for all of us here in the future. 00:12:30.966 --> 00:12:34.920 And as that is really the future of learning, constantly kind of reassessing, 00:12:34.920 --> 00:12:38.451 reevaluating and growing one skillset to meet the needs of the industry. 00:12:39.756 --> 00:12:41.605 Dale: So it's a 12 week program, you said? 00:12:42.145 --> 00:12:42.295 Yeah. 00:12:42.295 --> 00:12:42.625 12 00:12:42.625 --> 00:12:43.006 Ryan: weeks. 00:12:43.033 --> 00:12:44.383 Which doesn't seem like a long time. 00:12:44.383 --> 00:12:46.303 Dale: Yeah, I was gonna say, how do you do all that in 12 weeks? 00:12:46.333 --> 00:12:49.980 Ryan: Think about your traditional college experience, you go for the first two 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:54.727 years for your foundational math, English, all the stuff you have to knock out 00:12:54.727 --> 00:12:56.257 before you start to focus on your major. 00:12:56.647 --> 00:13:00.547 In that major, you have two years to do, let's say an industrial design program. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:03.388 Through my experience, which I had a really good experience at 00:13:03.388 --> 00:13:06.208 San Francisco State University's industrial design program with 00:13:06.208 --> 00:13:08.158 Martin Linder, who was my mentor. 00:13:08.203 --> 00:13:12.100 But with that said, it was often quite hard to get in the shops. 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:15.244 There was one shop --it was actually supported and fundraised by the 00:13:15.244 --> 00:13:19.219 instructors, by the professors themselves, which is quite interesting. 00:13:19.272 --> 00:13:23.787 We allow individuals to have hands-on in-shop time from the 00:13:23.787 --> 00:13:24.987 moment they come into the course. 00:13:25.287 --> 00:13:28.614 So they're actually getting more hands on-the-job style training than one 00:13:28.614 --> 00:13:30.630 would get in a formal two-year program. 00:13:30.683 --> 00:13:33.238 Dale: And what age range are your applicants? 00:13:33.254 --> 00:13:36.057 Ryan: So it's been from 18 to I think I think 70 was 00:13:36.114 --> 00:13:36.354 Dale: wow. 00:13:37.314 --> 00:13:39.174 Ryan: the individuals who's coming to the program. 00:13:39.244 --> 00:13:42.106 Dale: So career Sometimes called vocational rehabilitation and 00:13:42.106 --> 00:13:46.217 other things as well as first job kind of prospects as well. 00:13:46.672 --> 00:13:47.441 Ryan: Yeah, that's correct. 00:13:47.441 --> 00:13:51.521 So upskilling is our focus these days and individuals that come through our 00:13:51.521 --> 00:13:56.171 program, 70% to 80%, and these statistics change throughout the year with different 00:13:56.176 --> 00:14:00.491 cohorts coming in and out, are what one would consider traditionally underserved, 00:14:00.581 --> 00:14:03.639 which means they make less in the median income here in the Bay Area. 00:14:03.653 --> 00:14:05.843 30% to 50% have been women. 00:14:05.849 --> 00:14:09.147 We have between seven and 30% of the individuals in the program 00:14:09.147 --> 00:14:10.719 considered themselves LGBTQ. 00:14:11.169 --> 00:14:13.836 We have roughly 80% people of color or BiPOC. 00:14:13.950 --> 00:14:17.706 So through this work that we're doing here in the Bay Area, we're slowly not only 00:14:17.711 --> 00:14:21.792 providing entry level or a foot in the door to these kind of sectors, but we're 00:14:21.792 --> 00:14:25.422 slowly shaping the face of manufacturing here, at least in, in the Bay Area. 00:14:25.422 --> 00:14:30.827 Dale: How are you working with some of these places that offer jobs? 00:14:30.831 --> 00:14:34.131 The sort of manufacturing, tech jobs that you're talking about? 00:14:35.423 --> 00:14:38.694 Ryan: We have direct relationship with over a hundred employers 00:14:38.694 --> 00:14:39.624 throughout the Bay Area. 00:14:39.668 --> 00:14:43.562 Not only are we working with them for successful placement and, obviously 00:14:43.567 --> 00:14:46.680 interview opportunities for our participants, but really understanding 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:50.290 from them what we need to focus on as far as skill sets for our community.. 00:14:50.290 --> 00:14:54.085 So when we originally launched the two first cohorts, we looked at what people 00:14:54.085 --> 00:14:55.855 were hiring for throughout the Bay Area. 00:14:56.035 --> 00:14:59.283 We had direct conversations with folks throughout the Bay Area. 00:14:59.283 --> 00:15:01.983 We ultimately chose CNC and 3D printing now. 00:15:01.983 --> 00:15:06.412 The tool is important, obviously, but it comes secondary to the CAD 00:15:06.412 --> 00:15:09.897 and the cam and the vocabulary that one would learn in a space like a 00:15:09.897 --> 00:15:11.588 Makerspace or a manufacturing shop. 00:15:11.609 --> 00:15:16.469 So while someone does leave with a skillset to run a CNC machine, they 00:15:16.469 --> 00:15:20.932 may go into a job doing CAD drawing, or they may go into a quality control 00:15:20.932 --> 00:15:22.472 job or an assembly technician. 00:15:22.481 --> 00:15:26.901 But they have the skillset to understand what the company is doing, how they 00:15:26.906 --> 00:15:28.820 can grow into that role as they start. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:30.350 Dale: So you mentioned two cohorts. 00:15:30.364 --> 00:15:32.254 What's the size of those cohorts roughly? 00:15:32.254 --> 00:15:35.212 Ryan: So we have around 15 individuals per cohort. 00:15:35.272 --> 00:15:38.182 We run one in the morning here and one in the evening here. 00:15:38.219 --> 00:15:41.614 We need to make sure that our cohorts are accessible to those who are working during 00:15:41.614 --> 00:15:42.974 the day or working during the evening. 00:15:42.974 --> 00:15:46.715 While hard skills are the focus of what we promote in our next 00:15:46.715 --> 00:15:48.135 generation manufacturing training. 00:15:48.161 --> 00:15:51.881 I've learned very quickly in the last two or three years, that soft skills, 00:15:51.886 --> 00:15:55.928 barrier mitigation, are the true key to our success here in the program. 00:15:55.928 --> 00:16:00.538 Over the course of the last few years, we actually have in class case managers 00:16:00.567 --> 00:16:04.448 with psychology backgrounds to help actually build out individual smart 00:16:04.448 --> 00:16:08.118 goals for folks that directly address the challenges that have either led them here 00:16:08.118 --> 00:16:11.291 or will lead them to being unsuccessful after we complete the program. 00:16:11.741 --> 00:16:17.231 Dale: There's certainly the need for a lot more people to have this kind of training. 00:16:17.591 --> 00:16:21.766 And you are also open to the community as well to come in and use the space? 00:16:21.816 --> 00:16:22.416 Ryan: That is correct. 00:16:22.416 --> 00:16:25.297 So if are an individual who would like to access just training or 00:16:25.297 --> 00:16:28.367 classes or workshops, or just come to the facility as a member. 00:16:28.383 --> 00:16:30.873 Jump on our website, you could pay a monthly membership fee. 00:16:30.873 --> 00:16:32.343 You could pay for an individual class. 00:16:32.583 --> 00:16:35.188 If you're interested in the workforce development training program, you 00:16:35.188 --> 00:16:37.798 can go to our website and go to our next generation manufacturing 00:16:37.798 --> 00:16:39.818 page, apply directly there. 00:16:39.818 --> 00:16:42.888 We really think that the next generation manufacturing is the foundation 00:16:42.888 --> 00:16:44.711 of our work here at Humanmade. 00:16:45.021 --> 00:16:48.561 It's really allowed for us to continue operating a Makerspace in the Bay Area. 00:16:48.831 --> 00:16:53.836 And we truly think that our really our next untapped bubble is really bringing 00:16:53.836 --> 00:16:57.856 these kind of programs to community colleges throughout California and beyond. 00:16:57.856 --> 00:17:01.697 And that is really the goal that I have this year and next year is how do we 00:17:01.697 --> 00:17:03.137 make these programs more accessible? 00:17:03.142 --> 00:17:06.906 How do we make what works for Humanmade here work throughout the Bay Area and 00:17:06.906 --> 00:17:08.346 different communities who really need it. 00:17:09.086 --> 00:17:09.626 Dale: That's great.