About this Workshop

Makerspaces, Product Development, and the Future of Innovation

PANEL DISCUSSION

Description:
Whether you’re designing your first prototype or refining a product for market, access to the right resources can accelerate your path from idea to impact. Representatives from four regional innovation spaces and the Longwood Small Business Development Center will share how makerspaces support product development, entrepreneurship, workforce skills, and manufacturing innovation—and how businesses can tap into these resources to create what’s next.

Panelists: Adam Reeves, SOVA Fab Lab; Amy Reed, P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center; Autumn Evans, The Spark Innovation Center; Dana Knott, Longwood SBDC; Evan Jones, SEED Innovation Hub

PANELISTS

About the Speakers

Adam Reeves

SOVA Fab Lab, SOVA Fab Lab Manager

Amy Reed

SOVA Fab Lab, SOVA Fab Lab Manager

Amy Reed is the Innovation Manager & Development Specialist at the P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center. For the past 17 years, she has worked at Patrick & Henry Community College in the Division of Workforce, Economic, and Community Development, where she has combined creativity and communication to develop marketing materials and promote community programs. Today, she enjoys fostering innovation, supporting makers and entrepreneurs, and helping bring new ideas to life.

Autumn Evans

Spark Innovation Center, Director

Autumn Evans is the Business and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Town of Altavista. In her pivotal role overseeing the Spark Innovation Center, Autumn, a seasoned business owner and expert in brand strategy and design, brings a unique blend of administrative acumen and entrepreneurial insight. Her firsthand experience navigating the challenges of business ownership allows her to tailor member support initiatives, offering nuanced guidance that goes beyond the ordinary.

Autumn’s multifaceted role is not just about managing operations; it’s about leveraging her expertise to empower and uplift the entrepreneurial community within Altavista. Through her strategic vision and personal commitment, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the Spark Innovation Center becomes a thriving hub where businesses not only survive but thrive under her guidance.

Dana Knott

Longwood Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Central Region Director

Dana Knott is the Central Region Director for the Longwood SBDC, bringing experience in management, education, and small-business consulting. A Longwood alum, she first encountered SBDC as an undergrad and later integrated RISE Collaborative’s CO.STARTERS Generator into her Amelia County High School curriculum—where her students won a 2022 pitch competition for the “Raider Relaxation Room.” She returned to Longwood in August 2023, combining her business and teaching background to support entrepreneurs and students alike.

Dana builds stakeholder relationships, connects communities to resources, and supports Farmville’s SEED Innovation Hub. Her experience spans retail, management, marketing, and workforce development. She holds a B.S. from Longwood University, a post-bacc certificate in public administration from VCU, and an MBA from Averett. She sees access to capital and market pressures as today’s key hurdles and advises founders to move methodically: research, test, and ask for help.

Evan Jones

SEED Innovation Hub, Director

Evan Jones serves as Director of the SEED Innovation Hub at Longwood University, where he leads a regional innovation hub and makerspace connecting students, educators, entrepreneurs, businesses, and community partners. His work focuses on helping people move from ideas to practical solutions through hands-on prototyping, technical training, collaborative problem-solving, and access to advanced manufacturing tools and expertise.

Before joining Longwood, Evan served as a GO TEC Training Coordinator with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, supporting the installation of advanced technology labs across GO Virginia Region 4, coordinating with vendors and school divisions, and training educators throughout Southside Virginia. He previously taught technology education in Cumberland County Public Schools and has extensive experience leading FIRST Robotics teams.