A lifelong maker, entrepreneur, teacher, and inventor. From model-making as a child, to machinist/tool-maker at age 21. Gene's career included interacting with hundreds of advanced manufacturing companies, managing instructional labs at a university, and running his own robotics start-up. Gene knows first hand the value of people with real hands-on skills. Over the past decade, Gene has turned his focus towards giving others the opportunities to learn these skills and become more valuable to the world. He is the founder/CEO of Vocademy – The Makerspace. A unique education-focused facility that is part trade & tech school, part incubator, workforce development, and a dream workshop for all. Gene is working on duplicating this model all across the USA, creating more innovator/makers, promoting Made In The USA, and solve the advanced manufacturing Skills Gap.