Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Wilmot.
Valerie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up around tools and construction taking every opportunity I got to go to job sites with my dad and learn various trades. With a love of art and a family that enjoyed making things together, creativity has always been deeply woven into the fiber of my being. Through a rather circuitous path, I found myself in leadership at Asmbly Makerspace (at the time ATX Hackerspace). The major catalyst was a gift membership from my husband because “this girl needed a table saw.” Suddenly, I had access to tools I would never have dreamed of exploring (or fitting in a garage) and a wealth of knowledge from community members from a wide range of backgrounds. I fell in love and wanted to do everything I could to make the space better and broaden the community.
After a few years serving on the board, my role expanded to include serving as a volunteer Executive Director for over 5 years. During that time, I helped transition the organization to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, grew membership and class offerings, brought on paid staff, and most importantly worked to cultivate a vibrant, collaborative community that shares a deep passion for creating. While I still love doing my own personal work, my biggest joy has been the space I’ve helped create and seeing what it has unlocked and made possible for countless others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been countless challenges along the way as is the very nature of life, especially when working with a large diverse community. At each step, taking the time to slow down and gather more information and perspectives has been essential in addition to returning to our mission and values. Staying grounded in that and being willing to recognize and respectfully voice when something isn’t working, even when it means parting ways with people, has been one of the harder but more important parts of the work.
When I came into leadership, the culture was very different from what we have today. Building something more collaborative and respectful meant being intentional about the kind of community we wanted to be, and sometimes that required difficult conversations and transitions. Not everyone has wanted to grow in the same direction, and that’s okay. What we have now is something I’m genuinely proud of — a community grounded in kindness, shared passion, and mutual respect.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Although I joined Asmbly for the woodshop, I stayed for the lasers. I love digital design and the lasers unlocked a world of possibilities for me that I never knew existed when I joined in 2018. Being able to take an idea to a fully refined finished product in 24 hours or less is an incredible super power.
My favorite project that fits that bill is the art piece I made with my dear friend and fellow Asmbly board member, Jordan Varat. She wanted to make something special for a very special family friend and when she told me who, I was ecstatic to oblige! I got to work making a cover art recreation of one of my favorite albums as a teenager using the lasers at Asmbly to cut acrylic, plywood, and wood veneers. The next day, I joined her backstage presenting it to Mike Einziger, founding member and lead guitarist of Incubus. Rapidly creating something I could be proud enough to present directly to a band I listened to constantly growing up is an experience I never dreamed I’d have.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Makerspaces like Asmbly are something truly special. They’re places where people from completely different walks of life come together around a shared love of making. A retired engineer, a young artist, a first-time tinkerer, and a seasoned professional can all be working side by side, learning from each other in ways that just don’t happen anywhere else. That exchange of knowledge and creativity is something I wish more people had access to, and it’s why this work matters so much to me.
If you’ve ever been curious about trying something new — whether it’s woodworking, laser cutting, ceramics, electronics, or just about anything in between — I’d love for you to come see what we’re about. You can learn more and get started at asmbly.org.
Pricing:
- Base membership is $95/month
- Ceramics membership starting at $175/month
- Classes range in price and are open to all, no membership required
- Free public events every week
Contact Info:
- Website: https://asmbly.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asmblyaustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asmblymakerspace
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asmbly-makerspace
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsmblyMakerspace
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@asmbly.austin
