ABOUT US
The Arizona Stitch Lab is a public and private partnership formed to address the skills gap in the industrial sewing trades. Four partners including the City of Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Moonshot and the Sonoran Stitch Factory have collaborated to bring this work force training program to fruition. Our aim is to train approximately 100 students in basic industrial training skills over the course of a 12-month period. The team at the Arizona Stitch Lab  is comprised of a group of dedicated professionals committed to growing Tucson as a vibrant and thriving sewing hub. 

MEET THE TEAM

Erica Yngve, Founder, Owner, Sonoran Stitch Factory
Erica Yngve is the owner and President of Sonoran Stich Factory. As a serial entrepreneur, Erica has two other companies based in Tucson, AZ including:
  • Bralessly – a fashion brand featuring products for women who want to live comfortably and modest. This start-up won Tucson’s 2019 IdeaFunding competition.
  • Postcraft Products – a 90-year old company featuring industrial sewn products for housing, healthcare, hotels & resorts, and cruise ships.
Originally from Tucson, Erica started her career in manufacturing and operations, and later worked as a partner at an import company. She has served on the advisory boards for the National Small Business Association and the Pima Community College Fashion Design Program. Erica received her MBA in operations management from DePaul University, and her undergraduate degrees in business management and German studies from the University of Arizona. Erica lives in Tucson with her husband and three sons.
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​Taimar Escamilla, Program Coordinator
As the Program Coordinator for the Stitch Lab, Taimar wears a variety of hats including marketing and communications, administration, student recruitment, community outreach and event management. Prior to moving to Tucson and joining Arizona Stitch Lab, Taimar has held various positions in administration, management, public relations, and directing for non-profit organizations. 
Maggie Salcedo, Production Supervisor
​Maggie is the Production Supervisor for Sonoran Stitch factory, specializing in pre-production for the Apparel division of Sonoran Stitch Factory. Maggie took her schooling in design at Pima Community College and applied it immediately to her work here: working directly with designers, guiding the Production Assistants in their weekly tasks, and keeping track of inventory.  In addition to her responsibilities as Production Supervisor, Maggie works closely with the AZ Stitch Lab students and instructors to develop lesson plans, engage in demonstrations and monitor course objectives and relevancy to the employment marketplace.  
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Marie Teemant, Instructor
Marie Teemant is a sewist, photographer, maker, and teacher. While she has lived throughout the west, Marie grew up in Henderson, Nevada and has been in Tucson since 2014, when she moved to Arizona for graduate studies. Marie learned sewing growing up, gaining the basic skills through her jobs pinning, clipping, cutting out patterns, and cleaning up threads on the various projects her mother worked on. Marie has expanded these skills, designing, drafting, and sewing her own projects from start to finish. It is a privilege to now work with new, industrial sewists on gaining the skills they need to have long term success in their own sewing journey. 
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Dennis Phillips, Instructor
With 32 years experience in the industrial sewing field, Dennis has worked with apparel, upholstery, automobile trimming, commercial tent fabrication, awning construction and more.  In addition to his work with the Stitch Lab, he is employed full-time as Lead Designer and Fabricator for a local tactical and body armor manufacturer.  Dennis spends much of his spare time sewing side projects and caring for his dog, Boo. ​
Scott Hathcock, President & CEO, Moonshot
Scott is the President & CEO of Moonshot, a 21-year-old 501 c3 nonprofit.  The mission of Moonshot is to assist entrepreneurs in building and scaling start-ups as well as developing entrepreneur ecosystems for economic development purposes across Arizona.  Learn more at www.moonshotaz.com