About Our Leadership
Executive Advisory Board
EAB members represent industry and academia that actively support and advocate FIRST programs. The EAB provides constructive advice and strategies to advance the mission of Florida FIRST Robotics Eduction Foundation (FFREF). The members of the Orlando Regional Executive Advisory Board, to whom we are very grateful, are:
Dr. Cammy Abernathy
Dean
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
University of Florida
Ms. Angela Alban
President & CEO
SIMETRI, Inc.
Mr. Ivan Aron
COO & CTO
SEMIX Tech&Consulting
Dr. Robert H. Bishop
Dean of Engineering, College of Engineering
University of South Florida
Dr. Jose Bohorquez
Founder/President
Bold Type
Ms. Elizabeth Burch
President/CEO
Dignitas Technologies
Ms. Lydia Chicles
CEO
Bold! Technologies
Mr. George Cheros
President and CEO
The National Simulation Center
Ms. Sheena Fowler
Vice President, Innovation
Orlando Economoic Partnership
Dr. Michael Georgiopoulos
Dean
College of Engineering & Computer Science
University of Central Florida
Mr. Greg Hale
VP Chief Safety Officer
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Mr. George Kaniamos
Director, Quality Operations
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control
Mr. Chester (Chet) Kennedy
CEO
CK Tec Solutions
Dr. Maj Mirmirani
Dean, College of Engineering
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Mr. Shawn Quinn
Director of Engineering
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Dr. Daniel P. Rini
President
RINI Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Erik Sander
Executive Director
Florida Engineering Experiment Station
University of Florida
Mr. Ed Schons
Former President
The Corridor
Ms. Beverly Seay
Chair, Board of Trustees
University of Central Florida
Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, (USN Ret)
CEO
Florida High Tech Corridor Council
Ms. Nicole Stott
Astronaut (NASA Ret)
Founder/Director, Space for Art Foundation
The Florida FIRST Robotics Education Foundation (FFREF)
The Florida FIRST Robotics Education Foundation (FFREF) is a 501(C)3, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the education of Florida’s youth by motivating and inspiring young people to have an appreciation of science, technology, robotics, mathematics and engineering and to pursue career opportunities in these fields, for the benefit of the technology and scientific community.
The Foundation supports Florida’s economic development by encouraging and promoting participation in science, technology, robotics, mathematics and engineering for the benefit of Florida’s technology and scientific community. Design accessible, innovative mentor-based programs to help young people build science, engineering, robotics and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.
DeAnn Davila,
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. - Chair
Jonell Radabaugh,
Walt Disney World - Vice Chair
Laurel Lichtenberger,
NASA (retired) - Treasurer
Jessie Poen,
The HOTH - Secretary
Michelle Hawley,
Collins Aerospace - X Team Chair
Sarah Plemmons,
Lockheed Martin - Competition Chair
Ryan Leitch,
Lockheed Martin - Fundraising Chair
Wayne Weinberg,
Rollins College - VIP Committee Chair
Wendy Austin
Central Florida FIRST Regional Director
Orlando Regional Planning Committee
The Orlando Regional Planning Committee works year round to plan the Orlando Regional. All committee members are volunteers with a passion for FIRST Robotics and the Orlando Regional. Interested in joining the committee? Fill out our interest form!
DeAnna Davila
Chair
Jonell Radabaugh
Vice Chair
Sarah Plemmons
Competition Chair
Robert Cobaich
Competition Co-Chair
David Volz and Brendan Radabaugh
Volunteer Coordinators
Jillian Bryant
Judge Advisor
Michelle Hawley
X-Team Chair
Barry Bonsack, Derek Haas,
and Mike Geldcort
Alumni Program
Bethany Petri and Courtney Roberts
Ambassador Program
Wayne Weinberg, Chris Fairey,
and Michelle Hawley
VIP Reception
Dan Swando
Thursday Workshops
Andrew Rudolph
RoboShow
Phu Nguyen and Amaldo Putelli
RoboVision
Wendy Austin
Internships
Jessie Poen
Communications Chair
Jonell Radabaugh and Jessie Poen
Social Media
Jessie Poen and Jonell Radabaugh
Website
Ryan Leitch
Fundraising Chair
Wendy Austin, Laurel Lichtenberger, Wayne Weinberg
Committee Members:
Laurel Lichtenberger
Merchandise
JoAnn Michalsky
RPC Database Mgr.
Contact
Please visit our Contact page to get in touch with any of the individuals in the
Planning Committee or Florida FIRST Robotics Education Foundation.
Thank you!