I feel like bragging a bit
 

Some of y'all are heavy hitters, but I am taking my 15 seconds now.

We just finished a push at work to prepare for our grand opening. We've been putting in 9-10 hour days for several weeks now, then did a 12 day solid stretch through the holiday weekend, and ended with some 14-16 hour marathons.

Then we threw a party, and invited a few people. The mayor, some state and federal representatives, the usual.
Then people came, and then people talked about us, and now it feels like all of my team's effort is recognized, when we were afraid it wouldn't be.

And boy are they talking...
https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/06/04/east-end-maker-hub-funding-grand-opening.html
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/06/03/largest-innovation-maker-hub-in-texas-launches-in-east-end-houston/
https://houston.innovationmap.com/east-end-maker-hub-grand-opening-2653237020.html
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/The-state-s-largest-maker-hub-opens-in-East-16222885.php
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2021/06/04/399733/new-innovation-hub-opens-in-houstons-east-end/

and on and on.

We are going to be a part of bringing trades, talent and manufacturing BACK to America. Remember, when they say "Biggest in Texas" that also means "Biggest in the Universe" :)

Very cool, congrats to you and your team, Mike!

Well done!

Thanks. You came by the old shop, right? You would know how big of a step up this is from that rotting barn we used to be in.

Yep. Very cool.

Congratulations! It’s always best to be the biggest. ;)

wishing you success...

That’s awesome!!

My job is very reliant on US Manufacturing so bravo!

Very impressive. What was you and your company's role?

Nicely done!

You got way more than your fifteen minutes' worth. Wow! Some of my work peripherally involves building trades apprenticeships, which turn out a great many skilled craftsmen each year through the combined efforts of union and management. I am proud of what we do here, but can't take much credit for it. You Sir, have done something very special for your community. America has to take back its former leadership position in manufacturing, and your efforts go a long way toward paving that path for so many companies and workers. Take a bow.

Congratulations on your achievement! Bravo !!

That's in addition to your astro shop? Nice!

Very nice work!

Fantastic job!

I gotta make this clear, *I* did not put this together originally. I came along a year ago to be a project manager, something that they never had before. The heads of the non-profits might have put together the idea, and pulled some funding together, but it was my team (young, aggressive, intelligent scientists, engineers and artists) who did the back breaking work to make it actually work, and they will be the team that keeps us running from now on. THEY deserve the 14 minutes and 30 seconds in the limelight, I only want 30 seconds.
This was a place that I went to because I wanted to use their resources for my telescopes, and ended up working there because I believed in what they're trying to do and wanted to be a part of it.
Youth and adult education in the trades and manufacturing, classes on dozens of skillsets for people on the street, and full light fabrication/prototyping for local startups that have amazing ideas, but don't have a full blown manufacturing shop at their disposal.

It's also just kinda cool working in a building where we can and do build anything we want. It's like Willy Wonka for builders...including the occasional horrifying boat trip :)

Mike, you're part of that incubator? Fantastic!

nice one

Mike, your effort to shine the spotlight on others is duly noted and you get extra points for that, but I notice you work Herculean hours as a project manager which means you are leading an effort to do something which is a big accomplishment not only because of how hard it is but also how many people and businesses in your community will benefit. You are not fooling me, Sir. ;)