A Little About Jason

From an early age, Jason LeBrasseur displayed a deep curiosity about how the world works — particularly through the lenses of light, sound, and electricity. Encouraged by his grandfather, who introduced him to electrical, mechanical, and even quantum theory, Jason developed an enduring fascination with experimentation and hands-on learning.

By the age of twelve, Jason was already designing and building his own equipment — including a helium-neon laser and related high-voltage power supply — which he used to replicate the double-slit experiment and construct a working interferometer. His projects earned multiple awards at the Flint Science Expo and Flint Science Fair, where he explored the invisibility of light and the nature of wave interference.

Jason’s passion for exploration extended into the early digital frontier. As a pre-teen, he participated in the formation of Genesee County’s first public Internet Service Provider — the Genesee Free Net, and created an interactive presentation for his middle school about how the Internet could revolutionize education. His presentation directly inspired the district to invest in technology, expanding computer access from a handful of terminals to entire classrooms. By high school, Jason was working summers for the district’s technology department — upgrading systems, wiring schools for Ethernet, and modernizing decades-old networks.

After high school, Jason’s interests broadened into photography and historic preservation. Volunteering nearly thirty hours per week at the Steam Railroading Institute, he helped maintain and operate historic railway equipment, including Pere Marquette 1225, the steam locomotive whose image and sounds inspired the film The Polar Express. This intersection of engineering and artistry would later define much of his professional life.

In 2008, Jason relocated to Grand Haven, Michigan, where his blend of technical expertise and creative vision led him to the Grand Haven Musical Fountain, one of the largest in the world. Initially a volunteer, his dedication prompted the City of Grand Haven to establish a full-time role for him. Over twelve years, Jason oversaw every aspect of the fountain’s evolution — from mechanical maintenance to complete system modernization. He directed upgrades to LED lighting, directed the design of a new digital control and playback system, and collaborated on the creation of both playback and choreography software. Under his guidance, the fountain’s audience grew from a few passersby to thousands of spectators nightly — with major themed shows drawing crowds of over 7,000.

Parallel to his civic work, Jason built a career as a railway signal maintainer, with more than a decade of experience. His work in railway safety systems reflects the same principles of precision, reliability, and attention to detail that define his creative projects.

Jason’s creative expression finds one of its purest forms in photography. Fascinated by the interplay of light, shadow, and composition, he approaches each image as both a scientific and artistic study. He taught himself to develop black-and-white and color film — mastering D-76 and C-41 processing — and built his own darkroom to create photographic prints using an enlarger and traditional chemical techniques. His understanding of exposure and light, rooted in both technical knowledge and aesthetic instinct, gives his work a timeless quality that bridges the analog and digital eras. His evolving portfolio, which showcases these works and ongoing projects, can be explored here.

Beyond his professional roles, Jason has remained an active developer, maker, and open-source contributor. His personal software projects — including FleetLog, TCReport, SignalLog, and AssetTicket — emphasize practical, data-driven problem solving to increase efficiency and cost reduction in the railway industry. On the hardware side, he has designed and built numerous custom electronics: from mmWave radar presence sensors and air-quality modules to centimeter-accurate GPS/RTK modules, addressable LED controllers and compact PLC-style automation boards. He also maintains a deeply integrated smart home environment powered by Home Assistant, bridging his interests in automation, design, and usability.

Diagnosed with ADD/ADHD as a child, Jason learned early that his mind works best when it’s engaged, challenged, and free to explore unconventional solutions. Rather than viewing ADHD as a barrier, he has embraced it as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. The same traits often misunderstood — hyperfocus, rapid idea generation, and relentless curiosity — have fueled his success across disciplines. From engineering complex control systems to designing software and capturing fleeting light through photography, Jason’s ADHD gives him an intuitive ability to connect patterns, dive deep into technical or artistic detail, and think far beyond conventional frameworks. He is passionate about raising awareness that ADHD is not a weakness, but a different — and often powerful — way of processing the world, capable of driving extraordinary focus, creativity, and problem-solving when properly understood and supported.

Self-taught in nearly every discipline he’s pursued, Jason embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and curiosity. Whether developing software, engineering custom hardware, composing music-synchronized light shows, or capturing light itself through the lens of his camera, his work reflects an unbroken thread of curiosity — the same fascination with light, sound, and structure that began in childhood and continues to drive his creativity today.