ABOUT US
Our Mission
The Foundry was established as a place to allow people to come and realize their creative and making dreams, in a supportive, safe, and inclusive environment.
Members have use of a spectacular 10,000 sq. ft. shop, professional level tools, and access to professional expertise. Members may also also try new things out, learn new skills, experiment, collaborate, invent, or continue a lifelong practice. The widely varied community of makers result in a space that bring multitudes of different lived experiences and skills together.
The Foundry is also committed to helping our communities grow stronger and connect with educational, technological, and economic opportunities that our activities support. Young and old have used the Foundry to learn new skills and expand horizons.
Local entrepreneurs have utilized the Foundry as a skill builder, idea incubator, and small business accelerator. Artists use the Foundry to make innovative art. The Foundry supports local businesses, entrepreneurs, the creative sector and individuals by offering access to facilities and capabilities that might otherwise be out of reach.Unique is its approach, the Foundry offers an atmosphere of imaginative invention and creativity, combined with ample making expertise and problem solving savvy. The result is a growing, dynamic resource building stronger connections and communities.
Grants
The Foundry has been supported by grants from:
- USDA Rural Business Development
- Vermont Community Fund
- Vermont Arts Council
- Microsoft Non-Profit
Our Goals
Support
Nurture and support local businesses, entrepreneurs, the creative sector and individuals in the Northeast Kingdom by providing access to tools, skills and knowledge.
Education
Work with schools to attract youth to the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math, using a hands-on approach.
Community
Build a community where the arts and the sciences can work together and freely share ideas.
Stewardship
Have a long-term positive social and economic impact on the Northeast Kingdom.
Our History
The Foundry began as an idea conceived by several early members including Tom Bishop, Sean Breen, Greg Shoppe and Jim Schenck in 2014. The group held meetings and dialogues as other community members expressed interest and ideas were developed. In 2016 the group approached Lyndon Institute, an Independent High School, After discussions, L.I. agreed to rent the schools shop space to the group and the Foundry was born.
Over the last seven years we’ve welcomed people who wanted to “build something” and sponsored many “Skill Builder” events. Regrettably COVID 19 forced the Foundry to close at times during 2020-2, but now the Foundry is fully open, and has resumed the popular Skill Builder events and classes.
Our Expertise
In addition to welcoming makers of all stripes, the Foundry offers professional expertise in manufacturing, machining, engineering, inventing, and programming, gained from decades of professional experience.
Many of our staff members have been instructors and teachers in industrial settings, high schools and colleges. Technical training based on this expertise are critical requirements for a workforce needed to grow Vermont’s economy. The Foundry hopes to increase outreach to younger Vermonters through new S.T.E.A.M programs and to work with local industry to provide much needed advanced job training programs.
The Team
Jim Schenck
Founder and President
Mr. Schenck is a serial inventor. He has worked for many of the local Northeastern manufacturers over a career of 40+ years. He’s designed products and manufacturing methods. He’s provided consulting services, including design, build and project management; some with international reach. He’s taught technical subjects including mathematics and statistics in a variety of adult education and college settings. He graduated from the University of Michigan
Justin Hannington
Communications Director
Justin is a business owner and artist specializing in- but certainly not limited to- hand-crafted metal and gemstone jewelry. He is also an avid community participant, having served as an EMT for many years, helping to develop the Community Seed Exchange hosted at the Barton Public Library, and has been active in community development projects related to food security.
His interests include metal casting, woodworking, gardening, cooking, and stained glass.
Tom Bishop
Founder and former President
Mr. Bishop is a versatile consultant with wide industrial experience. He has worked in process development for 35 years. He has wide experience in CNC and PLC programming to achieve process automation and control. He designs computer automated machinery, tools, dies and fixtures for multi-axis operations. He teaches machining, programming, and blueprint reading on any level. Mr. Bishop is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
Paul Wade
Treasurer
Paul Wade has had a distinguished career in high performance radio communications. He still uses those skills in retirement in HAM radio competitions. Paul also developed CNC programming skills to enhance his communication hobby.
Alex Garvin
Vice President
Alex is a musician and painter. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts(Certificate of Fine Arts), and was a student of the renown drawing instructor, Robert Beverly Hale. Alex has a B.A. from Empire State College, SUNY.
Alex enjoys being at the Foundry, getting inspired by the other makers, learning new skills, and making guitars. Lately Alex has been imagining new ways of integrating his newfound skills with his life-long artistic practice.
John Heuser
Proctor
John Heuser had early educational and industry experience in manual machine tool operation, woodworking, art, sculpture, and building. In later years, he developed a dual career that continued making things, along with clinical psychology. His alma maters include the University of Northern Vermont and California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. After some years of clinical work, John continues his passion for the mastery of making by hand, and for helping others get in touch with their own ingenuity.
