When Corey Zuccaro teaches the Robotics Club at Stayton High School, he looks at his students and sees potential.
The Army veteran and former SpaceX engineer has no trouble believing any of the teens in his program – or anyone from rural Marion County for that matter – could be the next innovator to shape the world.
“Maybe somebody that we teach right here in Stayton will go on and be the next Elon Musk or Bill Gates,” he said. “Why not? Why can’t anybody here dream that big?”
And just like any good electrical engineer, Zuccaro didn’t just ruminate on the idea, he did something to make it happen.
Last month, Zuccaro opened Cyber Nerdz in Stayton Plaza (147 Washington St.), offering repair and customization of mobile devices, computers and gaming consoles. But that just scratches the surface of his plans for the business.
Zuccaro will offer classes for the curious-minded to learn the finer points of robotics, 3D printing, CAD design, computer programming, gaming and other technology-related skills his customers feel passionate about.
“I would find out what they’re into and I’d start out with that,” he said, “and help them evolve it into something more and more and more.”
Zuccaro said his passion for technology and learning began as a kid when he would take apart his toys and study how the components worked.
“If I got it back together again, that was another question,” he said. “But I usually did.”
That curiosity led to service as an Army engineer, and later with SpaceX where he designed a hydrodynamic control system to protect the launch pad during liftoff, as well as the life support system for the prototype of their Mars habitat.
But even after taking part in large-scale innovations, Zuccaro said he finds working in his community and being his own boss more fulfilling.
“I’m way happier to be doing this,” he said.
Zuccaro said he chose to open his store in Stayon not only for his work at the high school and the city’s proximity to his home in Lyons, but because local students would otherwise have to leave the area to find a solid introduction to electronics.
“The idea of ‘why Stayton?’ is specifically because there’s nothing from here to Salem,” he said. “There’s a lot of kids in this area who are unable to go that far.”
High on his list of skills to teach is the science of robotics. Not just because it keeps students engaged, but because Zuccaro sees automation playing a larger role in industries from fast food to trucking in the coming years.
“The jobs out there that are going to be the highest, best, most rewarding jobs are going to be people who build and design robots,” he said.
Another focus will be video game tutoring. Though gaming is often thought of as merely personal entertainment, it has grown in popularity to the level of a competitive sport, with sponsors and even colleges offering lucrative incentives to top players.
“They’re setting up e-sports arenas and are giving full scholarships for colleges like a star quarterback,” said Zuccaro. “It’s pretty mind-blowing, but that’s where we’re going.”
And the computer skills developed through gaming translate well to positions within the Army and Department of Defense, which have begun actively recruiting gamers, said Zuccaro.
To help gamers hone their skills, or just hang out with friends, Cyber Nerdz will turn their classroom into a gaming venue on weekends, and can even accommodate private events of 20-or-so people.
Outside of electronics repair and classes, Zuccaro said he hopes to meet the needs of local business. If a company depends heavily on computers to do their work, he plans to offer an insurance-type program where members would pay a regular rate and receive repair work as needed. He also said, if a business still runs on an older system such as Microsoft DOS, he’s able to fabricate circuit boards that are no longer manufactured for obsolete computers.
“Those things are ancient and you’re not going to find parts for them, so you’ll need to do board rebuilds,” he said.
Lovers of retro toys and games can also find something to appreciate, with shelves of old action figures, gaming hardware and comic books on display. Employee Seth Darr, who considers himself a “dedicated super-nerd,” said this world of sci-fi and fantasy dovetails with the practical science being taught at the store, because both allow people to envision a new reality.
“With imagination, possibilities are endless,” said Darr. “If you can imagine whatever you want, there is some way to design and make it happen.”
Employee Christian Dottridge agreed that science can be used to make the impossible possible, with a personal connection to the skills taught at the store. Dottridge was born without his lower legs as a result of amniotic band syndrome, and as a young child learned he could use material around his home to build his own prosthetics. He said, just like Zuccaro, he had an inclination to take things apart and see how they worked, and used this natural ingenuity to move beyond his physical limitations.
“My thing was, if someone thought I couldn’t do something, I was going to prove them wrong,” he said. “My whole life was always figuring out ways to do things everybody else could do.”
Both men said they are glad to be working for a shop that helps them share their personal passions for learning and finding new possibilities.
Though Cyber Nerdz will focus on Stayton and nearby rural communities, Zuccaro said he hopes to eventually attract customers from Salem and beyond. Between the wide range of classes and their ability to work out creative solutions, he said the store should be able to meet almost any electronics need.
“If there’s anything that breaks and it’s on something that’s important, on something electronic, we can fix it,” he said.
Cyber Nerdz is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit their website at
cyber-nerdz.com, or call 503-482-2922.
