Good question. I'm Garrett Broadnax. I'm an independent consultant and GABSPACE is the sole proprietorship that houses my work.
I've found that companies biggest pressure point is growth - having the right people at the right time is difficult, and it's easy to miss opportunities or let things fall through the cracks. I have a broad skillset, so I created GABSPACE to help fill in those gaps.
Most accurately, digital ⥊ physical translation - I help move things between computers and the real world, however necessary. More practically, I’m a mechanical engineer and designer. I have a BSME from Rose-Hulman, and have designed all sorts of things. My typical work is for mechanical systems in BIM, and consumer products in CAD, generally specializing in parametric 3D design.
If you’re interested in my help, it’s a 3 step process.
Reach out. Call or email, and tell me what you’d like help with.
Get a quote. Once I know specifically what you want, we’ll decide what type of contract makes sense, and I’ll send you a quote for those services.
Sign & Start. We’ll talk through any contractual concerns and amend as needed. Once we agree and sign, it’s onto work.
Formally, when you hire an "independent consultant", you’re hiring what the IRS considers a 1099 independent contractor. Although there are different flavors, the government generally considers them to be a 1-person business, which brings with it some boundaries.
Statutes vary by state, but generally speaking, you can’t offer engineering services unless you’re a professional engineer. My work doesn't require licensure, therefore I am not a professional engineer; I am what states call either an Engineer in Training (EIT) or an Engineering Intern (EI). For most engineering applications, this is more than enough. But here’s what it disallows:
I can not stamp any drawings for the purposes of permitting or construction of a building.
I can not perform engineering calculations for permitting or construction of a building without the review of a professional engineer.
There are some implications within that, but to make it simple, I don’t offer engineering services - I offer engineering design services.
The lines between a W-2 and 1099 contractor can get blurry without setting expectations. Aside from the contractor paying for their own benefits, what and how to work is up to the terms of the agreement. To keep the boundaries clear, here are some practices I keep:
I work remotely. With the exception of site visits on an as-needed basis for things like training, site walks, laser scanning, etc, I work where I work, and you work where you work.
I cover my costs. I cover all hardware and software costs for a typical design project. This is outlined further in the contract, but I use Autodesk products that can output pretty much any filetype you’d need. If you need something beyond that, we'll figure out how to make it work.
I choose my hours. My lines of communication are always open, but my production hours change by the day. My promise is to get you what you need on or before time.
I’m not a stand-in PM. My commitment is to you. Occasionally, sitting in on an owner’s meeting is more effective than hearing second hand information, but any directives about scope need to come from you, not your client.
AEC Collection for BIM, Fusion 360 for CAD.
In the MEP space: 2D/3D parametric equipment and system design, and laser scanning. In the consumer product space: 2D/3D parametric component and assembly modeling and surfacing. In either, I offer teaching/training services as well.
I handle the entire scan process from cradle to grave with no oversight. Please note that I rent the scanner, so while there are rarely conflicts, availability is at the mercy of the distributor.
I’m well equipped in the music and photography space, and dabble in web design, data analytics, videography, and journalism, among other things. I’m advanced in the power programs from all office suites (Excel, Word, Visio, their competitors) and many other web and desktop apps. I also have a long manufacturing history; woodworking, additive manufacturing, prototyping, etc. If you need something made, there’s a good chance I can make it.
Neither can I. I don’t do any formal advertising, so if you’re reading this, chances are you heard about me from someone you trust. If that's not enough, you can check out my projects page highlighting previous work, or you can always reach out.
It depends on the week. I offer availability on a first come, first served basis. If you’re the only client, I can usually offer around 30.
Good try. It depends on what you need, but hourly contracts will always yield the highest cost/hour.
I'll invoice you. In the invoice there will be ACH details if you want to go direct, but if that doesn't suit you, I take a long list of other options: company check, autopay, 3rd party services, maybe even crypto if you’re feeling risky - as long as it leaves a paper trail it should be fine.
I’m no tax consultant, but all the work is on my end, all you have to do is pay the invoice. Please note that if you pay anyone more than $600 in a year, you are required to report that on your taxes and issue a 1099-NEC.