Garage Beginnings
Gorilla CNC was born in a garage in 2005 – specifically, my next-door neighbour Ron Baker’s garage.
Ron, affectionately known as The Mad Scientist, and I had no formal training or roadmap, but we had grit. We had curiosity. And we had a shared vision: to create “CNC for Dummies” (lovingly named after my own level of expertise): a machine that made CNC accessible to hobbyists and shops who didn’t have the big budget that the big shops had.
That spark lit a fire, and off we went. And thus, the birth of Gorilla CNC here in London, Ontario.
Le Voyage Continue
Enter Jeremy – my son, my partner, and my greatest collaborator.
As Ron retired and the Gorilla CNC chapter closed, Jeremy and I stepped into something new. I joined the team at General International, and together we built the General CNC brand from the ground up. For several years, we were the entire CNC division. And when General closed its doors in 2015, that chapter ended too.
But what we gained during that time was priceless.
We worked with incredible distributors and helped thousands of schools bring CNC into their classrooms. That experience embedded us deeply in the education space, and changed the trajectory of our lives.
Our Iconic Moment
Fun fact: take the vowels out of the word Iconic and what do you get? CNC. (Credit goes to my brilliant wife for that one.)
Launching ICONIC CNC was a leap of faith. Jeremy and I left the comfort and convenience of our corporate jobs. We put every ounce of time, sweat, blood, and money we had into building our own brand and products. We hit the road, attending every TechEd and woodworking trade show that we could find in North America. We built our warehouse space in Canada and the U.S., partnered with trusted distributors, and continued our mission of supporting educators and small shops.
We stopped trying to sell CNC machines, and started selling CNC solutions. We were helping teachers bring CAD/CAM + CNC into the classroom. We were helping students gain skills that would lead to careers in digital manufacturing.
And we loved every minute of it.
Detours, Roadblocks, and a Global Pandemic
They say experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted. The next five years were exactly that.
We faced COVID-19, economic uncertainty, supplier instability, and eventually the discontinuation of the ICONIC line as our manufacturer could no longer support it.
We pivoted, partnering with Axiom Precision and even selling them the Iconic brand. Under the name Simply CNC, Jeremy and I found new joy working with Todd Damon and his fantastic team. But in 2021, when Axiom was acquired by JPW Industries, we recognized that our values no longer aligned. And once again, we were at a crossroads.
The Phoenix Rises
Now it’s 2025, and this chapter is the one I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Jeremy and I have rebranded as Simply Technologies Group Inc. to reflect the growth of our team and the expansion of our vision. We’ve partnered with Laneton International, one of the most respected CNC manufacturers in the world.
This is not just a relaunch – it is a rebirth.
We are building the CNC line we always envisioned. We are reconnecting with long-time distribution partners. And we’re doing it on our terms—with integrity, diligence, purpose, and passion.
Some Things Never Change
This journey has been far from linear. We’ve faced detours, made mistakes, and had to start over more than once.
But I wouldn’t trade it for anything, because I get to work with people I genuinely care about:
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My son Jeremy, who’s been beside me nearly every step of the way
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David Logan, who has become family
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A growing team of technical advisors helping us expand across Canada, the U.S., and beyond
And through it all, our core values have never changed:
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We believe that we can make a difference.
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We’ve helped thousands start their CNC journey, from luthiers to high school students.
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We prioritize the experience: It is not just about selling a machine, it is about helping people build something that matters.
(According to ChatGPT, this is what my CNC journey has looked like.)
What Comes Next
I turn 67 this year. By all accounts, I should be retired.
But I am not done. Not even close.
Every day I get to work alongside my son. I have a wife who has been my biggest supporter since day one. And I’m surrounded by a team that feels more like family than a company. We have even welcomed a 3rd generation Stevenson (my grandson Kylar) into the family business.
Lord willing, there is much more to come.
To Our Future Customers:
We will do EVERYTHING in our power to make your CNC journey a success. We will make mistakes, but we will never quit on you.
To Our Distribution Partners:
We are small. No venture capital. No boardroom politics. Our entire team could probably fit in a minivan (mind you, a very loud minivan.), but we will work harder than anyone to help you succeed with our products.
It has been a wild and wonderful ride.
And I cannot wait for the next chapter.
Come join us.
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Steve Stevenson
Co-Founder of Simply Technologies