Since its founding in 2011, Ann Arbor’s Maker Works has offered a maker space where anyone can pay a membership fee to access a wide variety of tools, machinery, and programs. Many local hobbyists, entrepreneurs, and artists have embraced Maker Works’ vision of accessible equipment and shared learning.
But the space itself is only one part of Maker Works’ larger mission.
In 2014, Maker Works founders and co-owners Tom Root and Dale Grover started teaching the “Makerspace Operations Bootcamp,” where those interested in starting their own maker spaces could learn about Maker Works’ approach and systems. Root says inspiring and aiding other maker spaces was a key goal since he and Grover first started discussing the idea of opening one together.
“I like to say that the time I knew that Dale was going to be my perfect partner was when he said, ‘You know, Tom, all of this is great, and I…
