Keith La Plain is a familiar face around BARN. On any given day, you might find him building garden furniture in the Woodworking Studio or working on projects in Metal Fabrication. But you’re likeliest to find him in the Tech Lab, where he serves as a studio monitor.

This month, he’s taken over as the studio’s Programming Coordinator, leading the development of the class roster, scheduling Open Studios, and wrangling volunteers. 

You might remember Keith as the host of last year’s First Tuesday Show & Tell mixers, where BARN makers shared projects and ideas while enjoying snacks and social time. Those popular events evolved from the show-and-tell gatherings he first established in the Tech Lab.

As Programming Coordinator, Keith wants to continue facilitating the cross-studio exploration and collaboration he fostered through those events. “It’s about creating connections,” he explains, “between people, different making techniques, different ideas.”

Keith’s vision for the Tech Lab is a bustling hub where makers from all studios can come to solve problems and share ideas. He plans to expand popular class offerings and Open Studio time while introducing new classes that bridge the gap between traditional crafting and modern technology. But more than anything, he’s focused on creating an environment where people with shared interests can come together, learn from each other, and bring their ideas to life.

Keith and his wife moved to Bainbridge Island a few years ago when he retired from a career developing leading-edge software and hardware products in the medical device marketplace. Almost immediately, he became a member of BARN.

His message for anyone thinking about dipping their toes into the tech world is clear: “There’s no reason to feel scared,” Keith says. The Tech Lab’s doors are wide open, and you don’t need any prior experience – just curiosity and a willingness to learn.