Published March 18, 2021 at 1:17 pm.
Story by Mary Martin. Photos by Jack Helms.
After graduating from Texas A&M back in 2001, Cody started teaching CTE classes for Brenham ISD and then Garland ISD, including technology, engineering, woodshop, and metal shop. He then transitioned to running his own construction company and cabinet shop, and then came back to the school community as a CTE coordinator for Dallas ISD. It was during that time he met TBK Bank CEO, Aaron Graft, and the two talked about the need for a student-geared maker-space in Dallas. As a company, TBK Bank was looking for ways to invest in the community, and they were also looking for warehouse space for other needs. They found a building near Dallas Love Field airport could solve both problems.
Less than three years later, Cody has joined the TBK Bank team and The Workshop is open for business, with dedicated spaces for different professional craft and technology areas. The metalshop features a CNC plasma table, multi-process welders, a cut-off saw, bandsaws, a drill press, a 55-ton Ironworker, induction forge, and metal lathe. The woodshop includes a 5′ x 8′ CAMaster CNC router table, a SawStop cabinet saw, wood lathes, and bandsaws, along with hand tools and workbenches. The innovation lab is all about creativity with a laser cutter, dye-sublimation printer, vinyl cutter, as well as heat presses, embroidery and sewing machines, computer labs, and multiple 3D printers.
While COVID-19 certainly slowed things down at first, Cody and his team are now looking forward to the rest of the year, and starting to make plans for classes and camps starting this summer. “I could not ask for a better dream job,” Cody says. “It’s our goal to show kids these tools and career options before they get to high school, so we are targeting students 6th grade and up.” But of course there is also plenty of space at The Workshop for grownups too, with classes on construction safety and even how to create your own etched charcuterie board, as well as co-working space for serious makers.
If you are interested in learning more, or taking a tour of the makerspace, visit tbkworkshop.com.
Featured
Featured
More Good Stories
Featured
