Matt Schwabauer

based on the Team Culturing/Template-short

WHY am I here?
I fully endorse open source culture. If the world is to become a more just and abundant place, people must have access to the information and tools necessary for autonomous existence. I want this empowerment for myself and all others who seek it. The GVCS lends itself to the creation of an alternative culture, a culture in which a "New Normal" can thrive.

I can become more involved in the project most effectively by moving to Factor e Farm and developing the construction program. I believe this project could benefit immensely from a construction-oriented bootstrapping effort in addition to the value added by the farm and manufacturing programs. I have been involved with my local transition towns effort and our best-yet attended workshop was a rocket mass heater demo. Green building is fascinating ecologically and economically to many people. I believe there are opportunities to put lifetracs and liberators to work immediately. A travelling crew of builders could refine the microhouse design by building microhouses in major cities in the U.S. These crews could add value and generate revenue by producing a home, teaching people how to create homes, and selling lifetracs and liberators.

WHAT are your skills?
Communications - I have extensive teamwork experience, ranging from managing a restaurant crew in High School to collaborating on hundred million dollar construction projects. These experiences have given me the ability to communicate through various media with any type of audience or team. I was also a computer support technician in college, helping people solve computer problems over the phone. This job helped teach me patience, listening, and how to communicate simply and effectively.

Organizational - While an engineer for Kiewit, I was responsible for many simultaneous assignments. Some examples include completing a safety tour of the job, ordering hardware to bolt pipes together, coordinating a sign-off with an inspector, acquiring new batteries for an air quality monitor, inspecting the site and verifying conformance with the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, and so on. I have experience managing many tasks simultaneously and effectively.

Computer Support - I worked as a computer support technician during college. I co-organized a computer club in High School. I am a competent windows user, average mac user, and interested in using Linux. I'm familiar with common, and some unusual software.

Finances - I have no particular skills in this area aside from effectively managing my personal finances.

Design - I'm a Engineer in Training with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. I have limited experience in machine design, but have experience in designing temporary construction systems such as Crane Pads, Water Catchments, and Access Roads. I was also responsible for coordinating the dimensional design of the cooling water system at the San Vicente Pumping Facilities. I interned for the design team at a seat manufacturer in Chicago. Daily duties included participating in destructive testing, assembling prototypes, and modifying existing designs as necessary.

Natural Building - I have helped assemble and raise a timber frame structure. I am very interested in natural building and have done research but have limited real experience in this area. I hosted a workshop with my local transition initiative in which 30 people attended and learned about Rocket Mass Heaters.

Electronics - I have computer programming experience and have circuitry classroom and lab experience in college.

Automation - I Collaborated with a group to program a robot to follow a course in college.

Metallurgy - I led an online training on weld testing and the various types of arc welding. I've been responsible for assembling and submitting various certifications related to welders, welds, and base metals. I have a handful of hours actually welding.

Engineering - I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. I have almost 4 years construction engineering experience with Kiewit. I interned with a mid-sized general contractor and a seat manufacturer in Chicago. My teammates and I received commendation successful completion of two team-design projects in University.

Fabrication - I am comfortable with most hand tools and simple shop tools such as band saws or a drill press. I have used milling machines and a lathe in a supervised setting. I interned at a seat manufacturer in Chicago. I observed and collected proper documentation related to fabrication and testing of various steel pipe for the San Vicente Pumping Facilities. I recently constructed a lumber rack out of 100% on site salvaged materials which greatly enhanced the storage capacity and efficiency of a local co-op housing project.

Agriculture - I'm currently overseeing approximately 2,000 SF of garden and have a share in a few bulk storage crops with some like-minded farmers. I've worked on homesteading and market gardening projects. I helped transplant hundreds of bare-root trees for a living fence this spring. I've helped a friend convert his lawn into an edible garden. I've received an introductory lesson in grafting. I am currently keeping one colony of bees. I've participated in the slaughter of a pig and a chicken.

Energy - I've researched Solar PV, solar cookers, rocket stoves and mass heaters, greenhouses, windmills, and micro-hydro projects to varying degrees. I've become particularly attached to the idea of "a kWhr saved is a kWhr earned". I use my cargo bicycle for 95% of my personal and material transport. I'm very keen on hand powered tools such as the scythe and the shovel as opposed to the lawnmower and the tiller.

Architecture - I've researched and thought about building aesthetically pleasing yet functional structures. I assisted in the construction of a timber frame garage. My hand and computer drafting skills are adequate for concepts but need honing to produce high quality drawings.

Video/Graphics/Art - I created numerous movies using Adobe Premiere in High School. I'm very interested in conveying information through video. I'm familiar with non-linear editors and believe I can produce respectable videos and graphics on the computer. I can draw a building or a site plan to scale.

PR/Marketing - I've done outreach for my local transition initiative.

Education - I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. I was a valedictorian of my high school class. I facilitated and co-led a workshop on Rocket Mass Heaters. I led an online presentation on Welding and Weld Testing Methods.

Construction - I have 4 years experience with a civil contractor. I'm very familiar with the basic abilities of common equipment including bulldozers, excavators, and trucks. I've been involved in over a billion dollars worth of estimates seen through to varying degrees of completion. I worked for over a year on the San Vicente Pumping Facilities, a $60 Million pipeline, pump station, and surge tank. I worked for nine months on the Port Mann Highway One project, a $2.5 Billion bridge and highway project. I've also built various 2x4 structures and helped in the assembling and raising of a timber frame garage.

Industry - I've observed high production operations in pipe fabrication and interned at a seat manufacturer. I am well acquainted with heavy civil construction operations.

CNC - Minor exposure in college.

Chemistry - College-level coursework.

Product Design - I teamed to design a reading easel for individuals with restricted motor skills and a treadmill control panel for the visually impaired. I took numerous design courses in college.

Other - I make a delicious gooseberry cream pie.

How do I Contribute?
Since discovering that Open Source Ecology exists at the end of 2011(while googling "Inflatable Greenhouses") I've regularly monitored the progress via youtube and the web site. I've shared the concept and information with anyone who will listen. It's really the most exciting project in the world to me. I want to contribute to the GVCS most notably and initially through my construction expertise. I have a skill set which I can use to improve the documentation and planning of construction projects at Factor e Farm and elsewhere. I am also greatly interested in cross training and developing distributive enterprise. Open Source Ecology aligns with my life goals and I want this project to succeed. I am interested in working from Factor e Farm to develop the micro house and document the work which has been done on the hablab and the shop. I want to dogfood the lifetrac and liberator. I'm very interested in the permaculture site plan and combining construction with farming. I am interested in volunteer and paid positions. I do have costs associated with living including food, insurance, medical checkups, bike parts, etc. I try to live inexpensively but would prefer to not be constantly dipping into my savings. I am not a true fan as I'm living off savings with no new income in site. Individual donations will work better for me and I am contemplating that. I can see myself being involved in Open Source Ecology full time for decades to come. I am very interested in the model community.