The Makers

Kaye Brinson

Kaye Brinson is a Technology Specialist at Woodward Academy North. Kaye loves making 3d objects and trying out different tools as a hobby. Kaye is most excited to learn about how to use tools effectively in the classroom. Fun fact: She loves to bowl.

Danny Carlson

Danny Carlson leads innovation in the Lower School at Ravenscroft School. He enjoys creating practical solutions to everyday problems . He specializes in woodworking, welding, 3D printing, and laser cutting. Danny values connecting with like-minded makers to share ideas and learn new techniques that can enhance his teaching. Fun fact: He went to 9 different schools as a child.

Xander Carlson

Xander Carlson is an educator from Ravenscroft school with a passion for digital content creation, 3D printing woodworking and using tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and programming languages such as JavaScript and Python. He is eager to collaborate with like-minded individuals and explore how AI can enhance creativity in the classroom. Fun fact: He is interested in EV cars and the potential they have in our world. Connect: Linked In: Alexander Carlson

Connect:

LinkedIn Alexander Carlson

Willie Dominguez

Kara Gehring is a maker from Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio who loves to get creative—especially with epoxy and laser cutting. She specializes in tools like the laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, Cricut, and basic woodworking, and is excited to connect with others who share a passion for making. Fun fact: Kara loves photography, traveling, and being adventurous.

Connect:

IG @Domingytech

Kara Gehring

From Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio, Kara loves to get creative—especially with epoxy and laser cutting. She specializes in tools like the laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, Cricut, and basic woodworking, and is excited to connect with others who share a passion for making. Fun fact: Kara loves photography, traveling, and being adventurous.

Connect:

Leah Hartmann

Leah Hartmann is an incredible maker who works for Total Boat in Cleveland, Ohio and specializes in epoxy. She enjoys making large scale things: a deck, a treehouse, a skating rink in her backyard in the winter. She’s a great resource for human centered design, creating makerspaces from the ground up, collaborating with peers in other disciplines, and for discount codes on TotalBoat products!

Connect:

IG @Leah.learning
LinkedIn Leah Konopka Hartmann

Mush Hughes

From Cannon School in Charlotte, NC, Mush loves to create projects that blend digital design, coding, and physical builds. He specializes in laser, CNC, and microcontrollers, and is excited to share his work with the Maker Summit community while getting to nerd out with makers who love to teach. Fun fact: lived in the Virgin Islands for a year.

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Nick Leonard

Nick Leonard is a maker from Statedwoods Co, LLC in West End, NC, who loves challenges. He enjoys projects like furniture and cabinetry, They specialize in woodworking, CNC, and laser, and are excited to share their work with the Maker Summit community. Teaching, meeting new people, and challenging my own assumptions. Fun fact: I was a drummer.

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Leigh Northrup

Leigh Northrup, a one-of-a-kind maker from Cannon School in Concord, NC, loves crafting anything out of wood—from unique lathe-turned pieces to power carving and epoxy creations that push creative limits. He specializes in woodturning and power carving, often blending traditional craftsmanship with modern tools like CNCs and lasers. Leigh is most excited about the powerful energy that comes from bringing passionate makers together and believes what we learn together can ripple out into classrooms and communities. Fun fact: He’s named after Everest pioneer George Leigh Mallory—and that spirit of adventure definitely stuck.

Connect:

IG @thetinkerteacher

Lisa Nussbaumer

Lisa Nussbaumer is the newest maker on the Cannon School team in Concord, NC. She loves using her laser cutter to make personalized gifts and is beginning to explore other areas of making. She has experience with laser cutting, 3D printing, epoxy, and basic CNC, and is excited to connect with other makers and learn new skills. Fun fact: She used to be a Spanish teacher.

Connect:

IG @lisa.m.18

Dr. Deborah Posner

Dr. Deborah Posner leads the Innovation lab at Ravenscroft School where she is passionate about using project-based learning to enhance student experiences across the curriculum. As a maker she enjoys 3D modeling, printing & robotics. She has successfully launched an Innovation Lab Collab initiative at her school and hopes to expand it to more schools across North Carolina and beyond. Fun fact: She used to ride motorcycles

Michael Welter

Michael Welter is a maker from Greensboro Day School. He loves making 2D Illustration, Wood-Burn Art, and Stained Glass Ornaments and specializes in portrait drawing and painting. He also enjoys weaving “build” events into his work as a science olympiad coach. He looks forward to learning policies and procedures we use to manage our spaces. Fun Fact: In college he led a team that engineered a self-driving golf cart. Our team was advised by the co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak

Stone Willingham

Stone Willingham is a maker from Onefinity CNC in Dallas, Texas, loves to create projects like prototype parts and tools. They specialize in digital design, CNC routers and lasers, and are excited to share their work with the Maker Summit community. Meeting the people who are teaching the next generation of makers. Fun fact: I'm mixed-handed! (I don't have a dominant hand.)

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Tim Zavacki

Tim Zavacki is a woodshop, technology education, and engineering teacher in Warren Hills, New Jersey, who enjoys woodworking. He has taught a wide range of subjects including small engines, graphic arts, drafting, and web design, and is looking forward to connecting with other makers. Fun fact: he coached baseball, leading his team state title and later earning induction into the school’s hall of fame.

Connect: