Morgan grew up moving all over the world, gaining a unique perspective on life. Always an entrepreneur, he started his first business at 9 years old, which was a lawncare business. He worked in industries from automotive, major distribution, medical and more, learning the ins and outs of business firsthand. From the automotive industry, he gained mechanical and engineering knowledge, as well as an understanding of the importance of education and workforce development. While managing a motorcycle dealership, he learned about sales, marketing, and inventory and product management. From working in medical sales, he gained further managerial and sales experience. Working in major distribution gave him experience with large scale inventory management and distribution. He says that “failing is never the problem, learning to fail successfully is most important. The only way to grow is to learn from your mistakes and use that experience for the next thing you do!” When he met Dara, he learned about an entirely new industry to him: art. 

Dara began learning glassblowing at age 15, under mentor Ed Francis, and knew it was her passion. After high school, she obtained her BFA with a concentration in glass from Kent State. After graduation, she spent time in Murano, Italy learning glassmaking techniques from true masters of the artform. Dara began to notice that there was an extreme lack of access to glass education worldwide, and it was causing the art form to be lost forever. Artists aged, and had no one to pass their skills on to. Meanwhile, people who wanted to learn glass could only do so through highly expensive classes. In 2020, Dara was struggling to support herself by selling her art (galleries took a high commission, and markets were unreliable), so was relying on bartending to pay the bills. During 2020, when COVID restrictions shut down the glass studio she was creating out of, she decided to return to school and obtain her welding certificate. She was hired as a welder in North Carolina, and while she could now pay her bills, she missed being surrounded by glass. Dara continued to think about the lack of glass and glass education, and began to wonder if there was anything she could do to change it. Eventually, this led to her meeting Morgan…and the beginning of Molten.

Although Morgan Mattern and Dara Alper are the official founders, they have never been the only ones building Molten. There is a third, very important family member: Sophia.

Sophia Mattern was less than a year old when Molten began. Since then, she has grown up surrounded by creativity and entrepreneurship. She has made laser-engraved projects, worked with glass, poured candles, and explored countless other creative mediums. She's even learned how to operate the register and enthusiastically upsell customers. Today, Sophia is working toward launching her own candle brand to sell at Molten, becoming the youngest entrepreneur!

From the very beginning, four-legged family members have been part of Molten's story. 

Rutabaga is a tortoiseshell cat. As a kitten, she was rescued after being thrown from a moving vehicle. She spent her first year growing up in a school bus and exploring the world on a leash before being adopted by Dara. Now, Rutabaga is a silly cat with a crooked head who calls Molten home. Equal parts sweet and sassy, she's a beloved member of the family who enjoys greeting visitors with headbutts and nuzzles (as long as she's in the mood). 

Lofn is a Great Pyrenees. Morgan rescued Lofn, who was a puppy being kept in an outdoor crate. Since then, the two have been inseparable. Lofn is a giant, lovable dog who now spends most of her days greeting customers. Many regulars stop by just to see her, and she's become one of the unofficial ambassadors of Molten Makerspace! Lofn is trained as a service dog. On leash, she acts as a service dog - but in the store she is everyone's companion and emotional support animal! You know you have arrived at Molten when you hear Lofn greet you.