Board of Directors, 2021-2022
The Bellingham Makerspace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides access to tools, classroom space, and community resources in Whatcom County and greater NW Washington.
Started in 2014 as The Foundry, we’ve been in a 7k+ square foot space at the Bellis Fair Mall since 2020. We serve as a collaboration and community point for several local organizations and groups, such as Gabriel’s Art Kids, TAG NW Robotics Club, the Mount Baker Amateur Radio Club, Bellingham Evening Toastmasters, and more.
Mary Elliot
Founder, Education Coordinator
Mary Elliot is the Washington State Chapter Leader for Makers Making Change. She has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist in hospitals, clinics, and schools creating adaptive equipment for individuals with developmental disabilities. She holds certifications in Sensory Integration, Neuro-developmental treatment and specializes working with clients on the Autism spectrum.
Jeff Copeland
President
Jeffrey Copeland is a retired software engineer, with four decades of experience writing software and managing software teams. He’s worked on typesetting software, internationalization, printer firmware, operating systems, medical devices, and web development at unknown startups and well-known enterprises such Zillow, IBM, and Microsoft. He is currently Publisher and Chief Technical Officer at Bywater Press in Bellingham. He’s a member of Toastmasters International (where he holds the Distinguished Toastmaster award), the Project Management Institute (where he is a Project Management Professional), the Scrum Alliance (Certified Scrum Master), as well as the TeX Users’ Group, and the Independent Book Publishers Association. Additionally, he has developed software for the World Science Fiction Society to administer the Hugo Awards.
Dan Marshall
Events Coordinator
Dan Marshall is a Technical Account Manager for a Mastercard subsidiary. He brings 20+ years of experience in IT, project management, cross-team collaboration, and creative problem-solving to bear as an active Board member.
Rupert Ayton
Finance Coordinator
Rupert Ayton recently retired after 10 years of service as Vice President of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. He has an extensive background in financial management in for- and nonprofits, along with fundraising over $10 million from private and public sources. When not engaged in community volunteer activities, Rupert can be found painting at his easel or paddling his board and generally enjoying Bellingham and Whatcom County. A maker and tinkerer at heart, he believes Bellingham Makerspace provides an essential service to the community and is honored to be a board member.
Garth Johnson
IT Coordinator – Volunteer Coordinator
Garth Johnson is a mentor with TAG NW, instructor at Bellingham Technical College, and one of the facilitators of LinuxFest NW. By day, Garth is a Senior Developer Operations Manager for a global technology company.
Rosa Caldwell
Phoebe Clark
Operations Manager
Phoebe is the nexus of all the things that happen with and through the makerspace.. as such, she is too busy to have posted a bio for us yet 😉 That’s ok though, we know she is doing far more important stuff for the community.
Administrative Members
Our administrative volunteers are an amazing bunch! These people are the shapers of our community and the glue that holds it all together. They set the goals and make things happen! Without these fine folk, the space would cease to function.
Owen Wills – Community Advocate
Alicia Allard – Volunteer Coordinator
Grant Dobbe – Internal Technology
Heidi O’Ferrall – Sewing and Textiles
Keith Matthews – Amateur and HAM Radio
Lisa Lang – Marketing and Events
Von Ochoa – Community Causes
Gary Bradley – Woodshop Manager
Jordan Smith – News Editor/Journalist
