Mentors

John Bailey
Originally from Kentucky, I enjoy hunting, fishing, flying, and diving in addition to working with students in the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics program.  I've been a part of Voltage since 2005 and it is an outstanding program.  Two of my children have been on the team.  They both had a great experience, and have gone on to succeed at college.  I usually work with Playfield construction, but also sometimes help with human player training or on a robot sub-team.  I also like to cook, and occasionally put together a pot of varmint chili or BBQ during the season as well.  CHARGE UP!

Okie Baughman
 I grew up in rural Oklahoma, hence the name, and got into electronics for the first time in the Navy. My degree is from Oklahoma State University and I am retired from Harris Corporation after 22 years as a Reliability Engineer. This year is my 12th FIRST robot. Juan and I got started on Scorp Squad robot back in '98 when robots were simple and had one on one competition. I feel this program is very important and gives high school students an opportunity to work with engineers. They get experience in technology and can visualize what a job in this field is really like.

Debbie Bernier
I am a software engineer for Rockwell Collins. I have been involved in Robotics since 2002. I am the Website Mentor and have been volunteering for FIRST events for the past few years.
Joe Bernier
I am an Engineering Manager for United Space Alliance, working on the shuttle's solid rocket boosters at the Kennedy Space Center. I've been with Team Voltage since 2002, trying to provide electronics, sensors and controls for the robots. By far the best part of FIRST is seeing the students grow and learn in their understanding and their capabilities. The future is indeed bright if this group of students is representative of what our education system can produce!
Juan Davila
I am a Mechanical Engineer at Harris Corporation. I hold a BS and MS from Florida Tech. I have been part of Team Voltage 386 since the beginning with Okie. The aspect that I like the most from FIRST is that it presents students with a real world challenge, and is never the same game twice.
don Don Davis
As a retired engineer I have the time to obtain the materials to build our robot. My build efforts in the early build are with the playing field. I usually join in the robot build efforts as the deadline approaches.
Andrew Falendysz Andrew Falendysz

I am a software engineer at Harris with a BS in electrical engineering from Clemson University and an MS in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech. I was born in Racine, Wisconsin but lived most of my life in Seneca, South Carolina. My FIRST experience began as a student of team 343, Metal In Motion. There, I was student team leader in 2002 and 2003, and was robot driver in 2002. I have also worked briefly with team 1829 in Oak Hall, Virgina.

In my spare time, I enjoy tinkering with electronics and driving. I also volunteer for my church. I help with the youth program and run lights and sound.
Jim Fisher
I'm a native Floridian, and an Aero-engineering grad from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After retiring from the Air Force many moons ago, I got into teaching. I initially got into FIRST as I helped crank up Team 233 in 1999. When I moved to Palm Bay High the next year, I was lucky to be in on the formation of Team Voltage. Robots are fun!
Tom Gabeler
I have taught Engineering Technology at Melbourne High since 2001 and still look forward to class everyday. I have been a FIRST Mentor since 2002. I love Robotics.
CHARGE UP : VOLTAGE ! !
Pete Pete Griessler
I am a Network Engineer at Harris Corporation and hold a BS in Computer Science and MS in System Engineering. I have been involved with FIRST, prior to joining Voltage, participating with the FLL teams in NJ and FL (2001-2004 and 2009 seasons) and am currently the coach for Robo Sharks FLL team at Ocean Breeze Elementary. This is my second season with Voltage. I assisted Lynn with the Software Team last year and after Lynn’s well deserved retirement from mentorship, the baton was passed to me. I have enjoyed the time spent with the students last year and hope to help the Software Team as well as my predecessor. CHARGE UP!
Rico Rico Pischiera
I worked for Intersil who provided our first donation/seed money of $15K which allowed us to start Team 386. The students called the team Voltage, I suggested that the motto be "resistance is futile" which remained. Our pneumatics group over the years have won several awards for innovative designs and were also featured in the robotics book that was published!
Rico Lynnette Rivera

“The Translator”
I’m a Bilingual Instructional Assistant at Riviera Elementary School and I’m proud to have been part of Team Voltage since 2007. My contribution as a mentor to the team has been as an official Spanish translator at the FRC Regional in Florida and the Championships in Atlanta for both FRC and FLL.  In 2011 I received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Inspiracion y Reconocimiento en Ciencia y Tecnologia.  Sobre todo la pasamos bien compartiendo con otros equipos sin importar de donde vienen. Asi de facil!
Kyle Shay Kyle Shay
I was born and raised in St.Petersburg, FL and have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida. I enjoy football, hockey and formula 1 racing. If I were to mail a letter without postage, it would still get there.  I own 4 sports cars, and rent 5. My charm is so contagious, vaccines were created for it. I live vicariously through myself. Every time I go for a swim, dolphins appear. I don't always build robots, but when I do, I always choose Team Voltage.
DeAnn Davila
I have been working with FIRST for many years. I have been a FIRST Technical advisor, a Lead Robotic Inspector and Referee for both Regionals and Championships.
I have a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester, and work as a Manufacturing Engineering for Harris Corporation.
I am also a member of SWE and ASME. I enjoy working with the students and seeing what they can come up with to meet a new and challenging game every year.
chris Chris Struttmann


Hello, Hello! I'm at a place called vertigo! Actually, no, I'm just at Mel High. My name's Chris and I like, and occasionally others like, to refer to me as Mr. Awesome. Why? Because I AM AWESOME! TJ can vouch.

I was a student on the team from Fall of 2004 until I graduated highschool in 2008. While I was on the team, I held some of the following positions: 2004-2007 Software Subteam Lead to include the year that we won the Rockwell Automation Innovation in Controls award. I was also the Team Lead in 2008.

Outside of Voltage, I love to work on my cars. I have a 2001 Eclipse Spyder GT, a 1972 VW Dune Buggy, a 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 and I'm looking to acquire something else that's awesome really soon. So cars are good. Also I own my own software company and manage a multi-million dollar producing website.

That's about it for me! If you want to know anything else, you can see my website at http://bluearray.net
Diana Touchston
I gladly have served as Team Mom for 4 years. I love making cookies, and feeding the Team Voltage troops. I also love teaching preschool Sunday School, and attending small group bible studies.

Voltage M.I.T.s (Mentor in Training)

A MIT is a first or second year college student who wishes to be an active participant in Team Voltage. Our team guidelines do not allow these young adults to be a full mentor due to the challenges of learning time management in the early years of college. The M.I.T. program is a way for these students to be a part of the team and still be held accountable for their college grades. A MIT shadows a mentor during the year and can support the team and the students in a variety of ways. In return their mentor will give the guidance and training necessary to become a full mentor after their second year college is complete.

   
 
 
Shannon Shannon R.
My name is Shannon and this is my fourth year on the team; second year as a MIT. I joined the team in 2009 and had the pleasure of being on the drive team for two years; that experience is unlike any other.
Being on Voltage has helped me grow as a person and guided me towards a career that I would like to pursue. I am currently working towards getting my degree in Mechanical Engineering at Brevard Community College and then transfering over to the University of Central Florida to be in the their engineering program.
I am forever grateful to Team Voltage and returning as a MIT is my way of thanking them and helping the current students get excited about science and engineering. CHARGE UP!
Brandon Brandon Y.
I'm Brandon. This is my 4th year with Team Voltage, first year as a MIT. I was a part of the drive team for 2 years and loved every second of it. I currently attend BCC and I'm going for my general AA. I want to continue on to FSU to study engineering.