The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by the College of Staten Island recently honored Scott Van Campen and DB Lampman at MakerSpace NYC as this year’s New York Small Business Development Center Family of the Year at a ceremony in their 6,000-square-foot industrial fabrication Stapleton facility.
“When people talk about the role of family, one of the things they talk about is the word support. And here at MakerSpace with Scott and DB, that’s one of the things that they have done at this Staten Island location since opening 13 years ago,” said Staten Island SBDC Regional Director Michael Anderson.
The Staten Island SBDC, has worked with Scott and DB from the very beginning of their journey. The organization worked with the duo on their business plan, financials, and other questions and needs to assist them with that initial Request for Proposal (RFP) for the MakerSpace idea. More than 13 years later, the Staten Island SBDC continues that relationship today, providing support, advice, and other no-fee services.
The SBDC highlighted the support MakerSpace has provided local tradespeople to hone their craft, artists who can highlight and showcase their work in neighboring Maker Park, youth who learn real-world applications through school tours and the STEAM wagon, and college students after opening a MakerSpace facility at the College of Staten Island.
“When you really look at it, nominating MakerSpace and then having them win Family of the Year, it makes sense because family is all about support and they have done that for our local community,” said Anderson. “When (Staten Island SBDC) Senior Certified Business Advisor Joe Bottega looked at the application for Family of the Year, we thought it was a no-brainer to nominate the husband-and-wife team of Scott and DB.”
The Stapleton facility was just the beginning of Scott and DB’s vision. In addition to creating Maker Park – a 27,000-square-foot outdoor space for public art, events, and workshop – in 2018, MakerSpace expanded into Brooklyn that same year with a 15,000-square-foot state-of-the-art indoor fabrication facility with emphasis on advanced manufacturing equipment, and a 20,000-square-foot studio space facility with its own woodshop and metalshop for studio members, and a 5,000-square-foot storage facility with rentable lockers and walk in storage units.
“Makerspace NYC is a wonderful example of what can happen when creativity, drive, and Community come together,” said CSI President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch, who attended the event, along with Robert Wallace (Executive Legal Counsel and Chief Administrator in Charge of Community Partnerships and Government Relationships) and Jasmine Cardona (Executive Director of Economic Development and Community Partnerships) from CSI. “At the College of Staten Island, we are especially proud that Makerspace is now part of our campus community. Since opening at CSI last year, it has been giving our students new opportunities to learn, experiment, create, and turn ideas into something tangible. That kind of Hands-On learning is at the heart of what a college should do – connect education to the real world and give people the tools, spaces, and relationships to imagine what comes next.”
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Scott and DB, specifically for our shielded metal arc welding program,” echoed Gabriella Quinones, Program Manager for the trades and unions program at CSI. “We have now been training our third cohort of students, and the feedback that we’ve received from them about the experience of training and welding, making connections, building community relationships, and learning this trade has been overwhelming. And it’s all thanks to these two wonderful people.”
In addition to receiving citations from State Senator Andrew Lanza, Councilman David Carr, and Assemblyman Michael Reilly, representatives from State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon were present to present their citations.
The ceremony was part of the New York SBDC’s 2026 Client Roadshow, a statewide celebration recognizing outstanding small businesses and entrepreneurs whose achievements reflect the resilience, innovation, and community impact of New York’s small business community.
After receiving the accolades, the duo thanked all for attending and for the recognition.
“When we initially started with the Staten Island SBDC we started with just an idea and really, a dream. The SBDC kept us grounded,” said Van Campen. “They allowed us to visualize and put together what sort of seemed like a simple idea into education with the K through 12 school groups that we work closely with the (New York City) DOE. We’ve also expanded into workforce training programs and working with the College of Staten Island, which has been a great relationship,” he added. “We work closely with (the NYC Department of) Small Business Services, getting people into careers, giving them the information to make their world better and give them that ability to make a career. That’s really where we are.”
“We had this idea that when we started this place, we were here when me, Scott, and our daughter at the time, thought it would be so cool if other people could do this and have the opportunity to do this,” said Lampman. “And that was sort of the gem, where it all started from. And the Staten Island SBDC has played a good role, and you continue to help not just us but our members.”
About the Staten Island Small Business Development Center
The Staten Island Small Business Development Center, hosted by the College of Staten Island, provides confidential business counseling, training, and resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Center assists clients with areas including market research, business planning, financing, business formation, and other aspects of starting, operating, and growing a successful business.
