Mentors
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Jerry Alba |
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I work at Baker Building as a construction superintendent. Here at Team Voltage I assist the team with the construction of the field and I support the team with all construction tasks. |
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John Bailey |
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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. This is my fifth year with Voltage 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!
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Okie Baughman |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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Juan Davila |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Jim Fisher |
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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 |
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Tom Gabeler |
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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. |
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Pete Griessler |
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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! |
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Rico Pischiera |
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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! |
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Lynnette Rivera-Montanez |
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My name is Lynnette Rivera I'm part of the Great Mentors of this team. I'm a Bilingual Instructional Assistant at Riviera Elementary School and I also coach a Lego Team. I serve as a Spanish Translator in Regional and Championship Competitions representing "Team Voltage 386" CHARGE UP! |
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Kyle Shay |
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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. |
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DeAnn Sperber |
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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. |
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Chris Struttmann |
Hi, I'm Chris, I was a proud
Team Voltage student from Fall of 2004 until Spring of 2008. During
my stay on the team I served as Software Sub-Team Lead for all four
years, Assistant Student Team Lead in 2007 and Student Team Lead in
2008. Currently, as a M.I.T., I work with Debbie and Greg to keep our website awesome! |
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Diana Touchston |
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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)
For a first and second year college student
who wishes to have an active part in Team Voltage. Due to the written guide
lines of the team, a beginning college student is unable to become a team
mentor. The reason for this ruling is that many first and second year college
students have difficulties due to rigor of the classes and schedule. 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 M.I.T. is simply a first and second
year student who shadows a mentor. In exchange, the mentor will give guidance,
training and knowledge necessary to become a mentor after their second year
college is complete.
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Josh G. |
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I'm Josh. I like Stargate, robotics, driving my Mini Cooper, computers, and other stuff. |
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Sam O. |
| Sup, I'm Sam. I hate pictures, dancing, red lights, and writing this...but I love Wednesdays and Robotics! =] |
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Janielle Z. |
| Hey yall, I'm Janielle. I love to go mudding, eat lots of food, and hang out. I do all of the hair styles for the team aka our blue and yellow mohawks.
Before joining robotics I wanted to be a pharmacist. Now after learning about engineering I have changed my career path and would like to be a physical therapist for people with robotic prosthetics. |