Our team is growing and we'd like to introduce you to our newest community outreach team member.
We met Ben Randell back in 2019 through Operation Breakthrough, when they submitted a team for Season 4. In his newest role at Make48, Ben is reaching out to local communities, developing ideas, and engaging with educational institutions to bring Make48 events to their cities.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I'm the husband of a strong professional woman and father of two independent, creative young ladies. I have worked many jobs in science education from science centers and zoos, to public middle school and an after-school program at a community education center.
I have travelled all over the world and enjoy meeting people along the way. I play ukulele, grow veggies in my front yard, walk my dogs and dabble in improv theater. I recently accepted my middle age status by signing up for a Pickleball league.
What is your role at Make48?
I do community outreach in the cities we are hosting events which requires a lot of calling, emailing and texting to explain what Make48 is.
How did you get involved with the company?
I was on a Make48 team in season 4 and had a great time. I asked one of the tool techs how I could get a Make48 Carhartt jacket and was told, "you gotta get involved." When the opportunity came around to help with Make48, I jumped at it. I'm hoping my jacket is at the embroiderers.
What is your favorite part about your role/Make48?
I get to meet a lot of people and explore the creative things they do. I'm fascinated with processes from electroplating to the most efficient way to load a passenger plane and like to get people talking about their passions. I am meeting so many talented, passionate people and am enjoying finding ways to get them involved.
What have you learned from working with this organization?
I have a background in teaching science and especially love hands-on learning. When I went through the 48 hours it took my team to make something from nothing, I realized what a great format to teach the process of innovation Make48 is.
By the end of it, the ten year old on my team was talking confidently about intellectual property, marketing, and manufacturing. It was a great opportunity for her to explore so many areas of expertise.
Since we work with makers, what’s something you’ve made that you’re proud of or the craziest thing?
I tore my bathroom down to the studs and redid everything myself from electrical, plumbing and tile. I also built a replica Magic Lantern and a bowling ball Newton's cradle for a series of large scale science shows.
If you weren’t working for Make48, what do you think you’d be doing?
Looking for a job and walking my dogs.
What inspires you?
People and ice cream. I would say the people I meet that are doing it despite the odds inspire me, and the possibility of Ice Cream motivates me.
Same, Ben. Same.
