Meet our 2022 Maker Team. These 9 people are daring greatly to make projects that they couldn't find anywhere else. From mountain high adventures to remote landscapes, from train stations to classrooms - our maker team is doing it all.Â
Ben Leoni
Pronouns: Â Â Â he/him
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colorado, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Backcountry Skiing Pack
Instagram:Â Â Â @thatskiinglawyerguy
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â During the week, I'm a federal lands environmental lawyer with the U.S. Department of the Interior and on the weekends, I'm a semi-professional backcountry skier. I'm also a new dad and learning so many new things about being a parent. I initially got into sewing when I worked for a sailmaker in Maine in the late spring during college in the mid-2000s. I used scrap material during my lunch hour to sew my own duffel bags and computer sling bags out of all kinds of sail material - from carbon fiber to simple dacron.
Courtney Coston
Pronouns: Â Â Â she/her
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â British Columbia, Canada
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Travel-to-Trail Backpack
Instagram:Â Â Â @driftingmaple
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hi, I'm Courtney - a remote travel nurse and partner acrobat! I split my time between traveling to small communities (<1000) to provide health care, and teaching amateur partner acrobatics to adults. When I'm not doing either of those things, I am mostly found outside in the mountains (when possible) or trying out some new sport.
Ezra Schofield
Pronouns: Â Â Â he/him
From: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah, USA
Making: Â Â Â Â Â Â Integrated Rafting Tent
Instagram:Â Â Â @ezraschofield
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I'm 25 years old living in Salt Lake City, UT where I was born and raised. I currently work at an ad agency doing graphic design and video production and spend my summers as a commercial whitewater rafting guide with Holiday River Expeditions. I find myself outside enjoying all Salt Lake and nearby parts of Utah have to offer whether than be skiing, biking, hiking, or camping.
Hans Van Housen
Pronouns: Â Â Â he/him
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â California, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Bikepacking Bags
Instagram:Â Â Â @leadlinedmind
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Professionally I am a dental hygienist, but I like to focus on my free time with my dog Randy, riding bikes, or snowboarding. I like to do a lot of art; film photography, jewelry, or metal work. I am a mega nerd. I have two singer sewing machines. My main machine is one my grandmother got after she was married in 1949.
John Palmasano
Pronouns: Â Â Â he/him
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jeju, South Korea
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Backpack
Instagram:Â Â Â @johnnythunder.makes
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I have always been an absolute gear addict. As a teenager, I imagined that the best possible job a person could have would involve piles of free gear and time spent in the outdoors. While I never found that perfect gig I sure spent a lot of my own cash on gear from companies large and small.
Laurianne Bernard
Pronouns: Â Â Â she/her
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Scotland, United Kingdom
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Tailored Rain Gear
Instagram:Â Â Â @lorienknits
Bio: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hi ! I'm Lauriane, I sew and knit my own clothes for daily wear and I make my own patterns. I own a domestic sewing machine (Elna) and all the tools needed but I've never sewn outdoor gear. I'm a french girl but currently living in Scotland and therefore I have to wear windproof and rainproof gear almost every time I'm leaving home.
Mason Strehl
Pronouns:Â Â Â Â he/him
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oregon, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â UL Camera Gear + Dog Items
Instagram:Â Â Â Â @mason.strehl
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â My name is Mason Strehl. I'm from Fairbanks, Alaska, but I'm currently living in Portland, Oregon, as a temporary home base after traveling in my truck around the western US for the past three years. I'm a photographer by trade, shooting studio and lifestyle photos for outdoor gear companies. All of that is an excuse to get outdoors and travel, hike, ski, surf, bike or climb anytime I can.
Michelle Kim
Pronouns:Â Â Â Â she/her
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Washington DC, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Custom Backpack
Instagram:Â Â Â Â @stitchbackstories
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Howdy! I'm Michelle, and Hyewon is my Korean name. My sewing journey began in middle school when I discovered a cute bunny plushie on the internet that looked simple enough to make myself. I would take apart my stuffed animals and clothing to deconstruct how they were made and eventually took those problem-solving skills to pursue a degree in design.
Tanner Gerrard
Pronouns:Â Â Â Â he/him
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alpine Climbing Pack
Instagram:Â Â Â Â @gerrard.tanner
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I'm Tanner Gerrard, a design student here at Utah State University. I love outdoor endurance sports. I enjoy rock climbing, ski touring, triathlon, and trail running. Along with my passion for the outdoors, I spend much of my time designing. My focus is on technical outerwear and soft goods.
Wen Zeng
Pronouns:Â Â Â Â she/her
From:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â California, USA
Making:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Day Pack, Brompton Pack, Lumbar Pack
Instagram:Â Â Â Â @weennnz
Bio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I'm a software Product Manager by day and an insatiably curious person always. I enjoy working on projects of all kinds, from building my own keyboard and working on bicycles to making my own gear! Other than making things, I also enjoy film photography, playing piano, hand-tool woodworking, cooking, stargazing, reading microhistory books, and gardening.
