Making Innovation
Angela & Randal Meraki
Angela &Randal Meraki, owners of The Worcshop
Episode #30 ‘Making Innovation Scott & Cam interview SMG’s new partners Angela and Randal Meraki, owners of The Worcshop. Recently this successful industrial makerspace acquired a new complex, helping them to begin their next phase of realizing new live/work and zero waste export vision while becoming the east coast’s largest makerspace and business incubator.
The Worcshop
Part of The Worcshop’s new Rochdale facility includes expanded industrial space for their forge and blacksmithing program. The facility offers ample space for a new machine shop and other metal fabrication equipment and services.
A Sense of place for Artists & Engineers
The sense of community created by The Worcshop is unique among makerspaces. Engineering faculty from WPI and the region’s top industrial artists collaborate on projects benefiting science, technology and consumer markets. People searching then find a place for themselves and their avocation or vocation. This is a place of possibilities where you’re amongst friends.
Worc-It Business Lab
SMGraves Associates is bringing its full roster of business education courses to The Worcshop, its Incubator program and expanding both to meet the challenges faced by current and future members of The Worcshop. 
Recently, our podcast parent company SMGraves Associates announced a partnership with The Worcshop.
Founded by Angela and Randal Meraki in 2016, The Worcshop is the largest industrial makerspace on the east coast. With a significant member base, a commitment to education and 52,000 square feet on which to build on, the Worcshop/SMG partnership is poised to play a significant role as a regional economic development driver.
Angela and Randal are deeply commited to the culture that has been cultivated at Worcshop. The region’s most progressive industrial artists work alongside faculty and students of New Englands top engineering schools.
Future plans for the Worcshop include developing a live/work environment, fully realizing the Worc-It Business Labs education programming and Business Triage and proving out solutions as part of an effort to create the Worcshop as a zero exporter of waste by 2025.
Welcome to the home of SMG’s ‘Are We Here Yet?’ Podcast. We seek to produce vibrant storytelling from the entrepreneurs, creative-class warriors and dynamic citizens that collectively tell the story of modern-day America.
Add to that special tidbits like our Essays, Millennial Music Challenge, our Town Hall Mastermind Sessions and more. We hope you find enlightenment and entertainment in each episode we present.
About our Hosts:
Scott M. Graves is the founder of SMGraves Creative Enterprises. Most recently he was executive director of the Wachusett Business Incubator where the SMG team experimented with various programming to overcome the meaningless ‘ribbon cutting’ experiences so synonymous with much of our nation’s well-intentioned economic development. He is known for a steadfast resolve for intellectual rigor and business strategy. Nothing makes Scott feel more fulfilled than to help other develop their own unique creativity which leads to fulfillment in work and life.
An entrepreneur in his own right, Scott previously operated the former Smash Music. Along with ImageIdentity’s David Lubelczyk their team developed Leadership Candidates Program for immersive support of new enterprise and Business Triage, a direct response to the issues now exacerbated for small businesses since the spread of Covid-19.
Cameron McLeod is the Producer of the ‘Are We Here Yet? Podcast. Since his high school days he has been behind the scenes of multiple productions ranging from directing live football games to filming short movies. Using his musical prowess and his technical skills gained from working as an IT professional, Cameron taught himself what it takes to mix and produce music of his own creation. To this day, he strives to better these skills whenever he can.
Underwriting the ‘Are We Here Yet?’ Podcast.
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