The Impact of Shop Class

Learn more about our history and how we got started. We are passionate about empowering communities and making a difference in people's lives.

There are many ways to get involved with Shop Class. Attend one of our events, become a member, or volunteer your time. We'd love to have you on board!

From providing education to supporting health care initiatives, Shop Class offers a range of programs to support communities in need. Learn more about our work.

Your contribution can make a big difference in the lives of those we serve. Donate today to help support our mission of empowering communities.

Find out how Shop Class has made a difference in the community and the lives of those we serve. We are committed to creating lasting change.

Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Matt is a dedicated volunteer at Community Shop Class, bringing a rich background as a former Manufacturing Engineer. At Community Shop Class, Matt finds fulfillment in collaborating with students and supporting a creative, learning-filled environment. He’s seen firsthand how students with no prior experience can develop new skills and confidence, sometimes in just a few minutes, other times through sustained effort. It’s rewarding for him to see students succeed and take pride in the projects they design and build.

Hobbies: A lifelong maker, Matt has enjoyed working with his hands since childhood- whether in his father's garage, cutting wood with a hand saw, or piecing together bicycles from spare parts. His early education included classes in wood shop, metal shop, crafts, and electronics, which laid the foundation for his hands-on skills. 

Most likely to: Be found sharing his skills, inspiring students, and being part of a community dedicated to making and learning.

AJ proudly claims the title of Assistant Janitor (and means it), but they also brings serious skills as Shop Manager and Assistant Coordinator. With 4 years of experience in start-ups and nonprofit work, AJ helps keep Shop Class running smoothly - balancing creativity & logistics with plenty of elbow grease.

Hobbies: Includes art, design, making, organizing chaos into order, and making sure Shop Class stays a place where everyone belongs. At thier core, AJ is a helper of the people - believing that whether it’s janitorial work or big-picture leadership, the real job is creating a space where others can thrive.

Why Shop Class Matters to Me: 

Shop Class matters because it’s more than tools and trades - it’s a chance to change the trajectory of someone's life. I believe in the equality and love the Shop provides. Shop Class provides me with the opportunity to help my community, love on the individual, and be a part of something that shows people they matter.

Most likely to: Be found starting a break dance competition among a group of strangers.

Eli is the official Community Bike  Shop Mechanic. 

Eli values the culture of shared knowledge at Community Shop Class, where anyone can learn skills ranging from carpentry and 3D printing to laser cutting. He sees the shop as a vital stepping stone for both children and adults to explore various trades, build confidence, and even prepare for future job opportunities in their chosen fields.

Hobbies: He finds great satisfaction in working at the bike shop, often accompanied by a mix of reggae and plenty of Brutal Death Metal while repairing and tuning bikes.

With experience as a bike mechanic at Peak Adventures shop at Sac State, Eli’s journey brought him to Sac City, where chance connected him with Community Shop Class at just the right moment- the shop was looking for a mechanic, and he was the perfect fit.

Most likely to: Accidentally startle small children with brutal death metal at 9am on a Tuesday.

Stephanie has been a member of and an advocate for the Maker community for over 15 years. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of MakerUSA, a national non-profit organization which helps communities build stronger pathways for underserved students into making-related careers and entrepreneurship through talent and capacity. From 2014-2016, she served as the first Senior Advisor for Making at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where Stephanie worked with a team to develop President Obama’s Nation of Makers initiative, to broaden access to the Maker Movement. She was previously the Managing Director for Citizen Schools’ Makers + Mentors Network and has advised foundations on maker education, makerspaces and innovation. Stephanie has a Ph.D. in Information Science from Cornell University where her research focused on the social impact of democratizing 3D printing. In her spare time, Stephanie loves listening to jazz on her record player, biking along the American River Parkway and working on personal projects at Shop Class!

Why Shop Class matters to me:  One of my favorite memories  of the Shop is taking my son to Shop Class and seeing him in awe as he watched the laser cutter in action for the very first time!

Most likely to: be found actively encouraging others and making by trial by fire...

Mandy brings over 25 years of experience in Business Systems and Financial Analysis, leveraging her expertise to help organizations streamline operations and improve financial outcomes.  As a dedicated financial strategist, she has helped individuals and families achieve financial freedom by creating actionable strategies to get out of Chad Orcutt is the founder of Shop Class Learning Centers, a space he created out of a deep belief that every kid deserves to hear that they are good - especially those who don’t always fit the traditional learning. As a neurodivergent educator with ADHD, Chad understands firsthand what it means to learn and think differently. Rather than viewing that as a limitation, he has built Shop Class as a “theatre of education,” where curiosity, creativity, hands-on learning and storytelling take center stage.

For Chad, Shop Class isn’t just about teaching trades like woodworking, laser cutting, or 3D printing - it’s about creating a stage where kids and adults alike can discover confidence in themselves and their abilities. His mission is to make education less about conformity and more about expression, exploration, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to offer.

Hobbies: Everything Shop Class 

Nickname: “CHAD!”

Most likely to: Stand on structures not meant to be stood on.

Mandy brings over 25 years of experience in Business Systems and Financial Analysis, leveraging her expertise to help organizations streamline operations and improve financial outcomes.  As a dedicated financial strategist, she has helped individuals and families achieve financial freedom by creating actionable strategies to get out of debt quickly. Her combination of analytical insight and practical solution ensures that she contributes both strategic guidance and real-world impact to Shop Class’s mission and long-term goals.Why Shop Class Matters to Me: My first thought, the first time I walked into Shop Class was “THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!!”  My second thought was “I wish there had been something like this when I was growing up!” I believe that my generation faced an overemphasis on college education, while trade skills were often overlooked—or even undervalued. Yet these skills are essential; they’re what truly keep our communities and daily life running. A place like Shop Class, which teaches these skills to people of all ages and backgrounds, is invaluable—not just for maintaining the systems we rely on, but for equipping individuals and communities with the abilities to support themselves and thrive. I was hooked from the moment I walked into the shop and I am dedicated to helping in any way I can.Hobbies: When Mandy isn’t helping people achieve financial freedom, you’ll find her lost in a good book, whipping up something sweet in the kitchen, hitting the weights, or cracking codes in her latest escape room adventure.Nickname: “The Dough whisperer”Most likely to: Break out of a locked room armed only with a cupcake and a calculator.Favorite Quote: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"- George Santayana