Iowans of Things Mission
In support of Central Iowa’s embedded product development community:
- Enable industry professionals to share knowledge and experience across organizational boundaries.
- Support efforts to train, attract, and retain industry professionals to the region.
- Partner with the wider business community to advocate for a strong local embedded ecosystem.
Hardware Hangout
Hosts
Bailey Steinfadt

Bailey is the owner of Stone Path Engineering and has a degree in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University. She has worked in a wide mix of roles in automation, electronics, and engineering over the last 14 years. Her career’s theme and overall mission has been to make other people’s jobs easier, safer, and more personally fulfilling using technology and systems design.
Attending Hackaday Supercon, Bailey realized she was craving the energy and community that event brought and wanted to have that at home in Des Moines. She knew many people working in and around the industry, but there wasn’t an existing local group or event for them to get together. Becoming a member at Maple Studios was her catalyst to start creating that community by launching the first Hardware Hangout.
William Griffin

William has a Professional Science Master’s degree in Applied Physics from the University of Northern Iowa. Over a nearly two-decade career in engineering services, he has held a variety of roles including test engineer, model-based system design (MBSD) engineer, and leader of multiple teams and programs. He is now the owner of Spark Embedded, a consultancy focused on collaborative engineering.
As a newcomer to Des Moines, he has felt very welcomed into the technical community here and saw an opportunity to give back while further enriching it by facilitating the formation of an inclusive organization focused on a shared interest in the embedded domain.
Sponsoring
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to showcase your company and support the Hardware Hangout events? Consider becoming a sponsor for the next Hardware Hangout!
By becoming a sponsor, you’ll also demonstrate your commitment to supporting events that bring people together. Networking opportunities and community engagement are great reasons to get involved!
Event Sponsors
This tier is for those who want to help sponsor a specific and/or single Hardware Hangout.
How to become an event sponsor:
- host an event at your location
- supply drinks
- supply food
Benefits:
- Highlighted in a dedicated social media post before the event
- Logo on all event materials including on website and presentation
- Opportunity to share what you do at the event
- A thank you in the recap email with a chosen “call to action” to all attendees
Reach out to the team with any questions or to sign up to sponsor the next event!
Presenting Sponsors
This tier is for companies who sponsor every Hardware Hangout and organize the efforts that are needed when creating these awesome events! The presenting sponsors are not exclusive, but do require an ongoing commitment above and beyond supplying a single event.
Current Presenting Sponsors: Stone Path Engineering, DISTek Integration, and 3E.
Reach out to the team to discuss becoming a presenting sponsor!