Talent Was Never the Problem…
After years of engineering products where talent and skill were everywhere, I began to notice something missing, diverse representation. The capability in those rooms was undeniable. The creativity was real. But the mix of voices too often wasn’t. Too often, the people shaping the products that fill our homes and cities don’t reflect the full range of communities those products are meant to serve: Women; People of color; Immigrants; Families shaped by economic struggle. The absence wasn’t loud, rather it was subtle, persistent, and telling. And over time, it became clear that when certain perspectives aren’t present in STEAM spaces, certain ideas never surface. Certain possibilities never get built. That loss isn’t theoretical. It shapes what innovation looks like, and who gets to see themselves inside it.
We’re Bringing Access Here
There is a troubling and quiet expectation that exists: if you don’t grow up in the “right” zip code, it's your responsibility to go searching for something that is possibly unfamiliar - STEAM exposure. Somehow know what to look for before you even know what that is or looks like.
Brightworks exists to reverse that model. Instead of asking individuals to search for access, we bring tools, structured STEAM education, and visible representation directly into Ridgewood and surrounding neighborhoods - so students and adults alike can learn, experiment, create, and grow where they live.
Access to technical education shouldn’t require relocation. It should live in the community.
Brightworks is building a hands-on learning and creative space where exploration leads to skill, and skill leads to opportunity. A place where someone can walk in curious and leave capable. Where building something tangible becomes a doorway into engineering, design, fabrication, and entrepreneurship.
The People Building This
Steven Hobbs
Founder & Exec Director
Steven Hobbs is a product development and engineering leader with more than thirty years of experience designing and launching consumer and industrial products. His career spans global manufacturing, cross-functional team leadership, and deep expertise in electro-mechanical systems, bringing complex ideas to life through disciplined engineering and hands-on problem solving.
Brightworks was founded at the intersection of that experience and a simple conviction: access to technical learning should not depend on zip code. Steven believes that when people are given real tools, real responsibility, and space to solve meaningful problems, they don’t just build projects - they build identity, confidence, and possibility. Brightworks is his commitment to bringing that kind of access directly into the community.
Stefan Sens
Founding Board Member
Stefan brings deep technical expertise in engineering and consumer product development, with years of experience moving ideas from concept to production. He has worked across multidisciplinary teams, understands manufacturing realities, and brings practical knowledge of how products are designed, engineered, and built in the real world.
At Brightworks, Stefan contributes hands-on expertise in digital fabrication tools - including 3D printers, laser cutters and engravers, and modern prototyping equipment - helping shape a space that is both technically rigorous and accessible. He plays an active role in program development, ensuring workshops and build pathways reflect real-world engineering practices while remaining welcoming and achievable. As an artist, he also brings creative insight and a strong belief in experimentation, ensuring that the technical side of Brightworks is always paired with imagination and creative expression.
Cynthia Gasaway
Founding Board Member
Cindy brings many years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, along with a doctorate in business focused on organizational strategy and community impact. Throughout her career, she has worked to strengthen educational programs, support institutional growth, and ensure mission-driven organizations operate with both clarity and sustainability.
At Brightworks, Cindy helps shape the educational framework and governance structure, ensuring programming is thoughtful, accessible, and aligned with long-term community impact. Her experience bridges learning environments and organizational strategy, helping Brightworks remain both mission-centered and operationally sound as it grows.