We had the good fortune of connecting with Corinne Leroux and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Corinne, how does your business help the community?
In an increasingly expensive city, where people have limited access to space, MakerLabs provides the tools, space, and skills to make almost anything.

We’ve brought together a community of makers that collaborate together, share skills, and help each other grow.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I originally started with a background in Graphic Design & Interaction design. After taking a course in stained glass while attending university, I got hooked on it as a hobby and over time found myself working on it more and more. I started a business selling my work and ended up getting a little studio space in a heritage house. There were some politics within that studio that forced me to leave, and I ended up at MakerLabs.

After having a studio at MakerLabs for 4 years, a job posting came up that I thought I would be a good fit for. There are a lot of moving parts to the space, and I also managed another company for 10 years, so I thought I could help contribute to making it run more efficiently.

I think one thing I’m most proud of here is building out our class offerings and residency programs. When I first started, MakerLabs only had 11 classes that they were running on a regular basis. Currently we have 31 different classes running, and two residencies programs; our Tools for Change residency, which focuses on empowering marginalized genders and teaching them to use the tools, and our Woodworking residency, which is an in-depth dive into woodworking.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Running along the seawall, eating tapas at Bodega in east van, and checking out all the shops and restaurants along main street.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thanks to Tierney Milnefor referring us. She’s a past resident from the Tools for Change residency program.

Website: www.makerlabs.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/makerlabs

Twitter: makerlabs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakerLabs/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.