FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winona Area Makers
March 17, 2025
Nonprofit Winona Creators Collective Formed, Hosting Community Meeting for Upcoming Winona Makerspace
Winona, MN, March 17, 2025 –
After hearing an outpouring of support for a makerspace in Winona, a group of volunteers have formed a new nonprofit in town to provide a community workshop and education opportunities around art & STEM. The nonprofit, dubbed the Winona Creators Collective, recently elected a board of directors and will soon submit for 501c3 charity status with the IRS. Their goal is to build a shared workshop with table saws, 3d printers, embroidery machines and more for working with wood, metal, fabric, glass, ceramics, and electronics.
Elected board members are:
- Mark Zocher, President/Chair with 20+ years of technology experience, most recently serving as a CTO in a legal technology startup.
- Dr. Carl Ferkinhoff, Vice-Chair who teaches astronomy and chairs the Teachers Education Assembly at Winona State.
- Suzanne Redepenning, Treasurer is the Director of Grants & Fundraising at the Winona Family YMCA.
- Sunny Nahrgang, board member is a Team Lead at Willet Studios with a background in studio art and ceramics.
- Calla Bilhorn, board member trained at the Vermont Woodworking School in furniture design and woodworking before moving to Winona for a career at Willet Studios.
- Garrick Holey, board member serves as Vice President of Production at Willet Studios with over twenty years of experience in art and business.
“Our board reflects the wide range of audiences that will someday use our makerspace. From artists and crafters, to scientists and educators, to business professionals, we all see the value a makerspace will have for our communities,” said Mark Zocher.
On Monday, March 31st from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, the board is hosting a community meeting for all makers and artists to join. Attendees will get to connect with other makers, share projects they’re working on, and provide feedback on what tools and resources the makerspace needs to have. The community meeting will be held at 119 East Third Street in downtown Winona. While this meeting is being held at Engage Winona’s office, it is organized by Winona Area Makers and is not a program of Engage Winona.
Businesses, congregations, and social clubs can also reach out to Winona Creators Collective to have a board member join your next meeting to hear ideas for the makerspace. Talks can be between five and thirty minutes, with audience questions and brainstorming as time allows.
For more information, please contact President/Chair Mark Zocher.
About Winona Creators Collective
The Winona Creators Collective is an upcoming collaborative multidisciplinary space for artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in creating, regardless of background. We serve the needs of the greater Winona community by providing access to specialized tools, arts & STEM education, and mentorship opportunities, to uplift the local economy and foster the joy of making.