Bruce Van Eyck Years With Team: 2001 - PresentI started working with Team 537 when my oldest son was a freshman in 2001, helping out with providing food for the students and mentors. The following year I became fully immersed in the team working on modifying our competition field for the Stack Attack game. Since that time I have branched out to help with electrical, coding, and occasionally (in my spare time) working in the metals shop with the robot. Throughout the years it has been very rewarding to watch the students grow from timid freshmen to confident seniors in both their technical proficiency and their personal skills. These past years have been exciting, therapeutic, exhausting and always intense. GO CHARGERS!! Helps with these CDTs: Course and Crate, Code |
Chris BurgerYears With Team: 2008 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Code |
Chris Paulik Years With Team: 2000 - Present"I am an alumnus of Sussex-Hamilton High School (Salutatorian for the class of 1994). I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1998. I was also a member of the UW Badgers Football team, which included going to the Rose Bowl in 1999. After our Rose Bowl victory against UCLA, I started working for GE Healthcare (then called GE Medical Systems) as a Design Engineer. In the fall of 2000, I decided to help create a FIRST Robotics Team at my former High School with other GE Healthcare engineers and thus was a founding member of Team 537. Since then, I have helped start other FIRST Robotics Teams around South-Eastern Wisconsin as well as volunteer at FIRST Lego League and FIRST Robotics competitions. My current role on Team 537 is Co-Team Lead and Mentor for the Mechanical team. I have also accepted the position as Lead Robot Inspector for the FIRST Robotics Wisconsin Regional." Chris was presented with the Woody Flowers Award at the 2009 Wisconsin Regional. Helps with these CDTs: Mechanical |
Dave WechterYears With Team: 2006 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Mechanical |
Don KerberYears With Team: 2008 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Course and Crate |
John BlockYears With Team: 2010 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Mechanical |
John ByrneYears With Team: 2001 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Electrical, Code |
Kari WoodsYears With Team: 2006 - PresentHer son, David, was on the FIRST Robotics team throughout high school and Kari found his involvement in it to be contagious. Her daughter, Taylor, is on the team and husband, Rick, helps as a mechanical mentor. Kari mentored a FIRST Lego League team for 2 years (where she was dubbed 'Motherwoods'), prior to becoming a FRC marketing mentor. "FIRST is one of the most thought provoking, exciting, challenging, exhausting, and fun programs available to schools today. Who knew being with so many geeks could be such a blast? Go Chargers!" Helps with these CDTs: Marketing |
Katie SpeckinYears With Team: 2009 - PresentAs a junior in high school, Katie joined the team in 2006, working with animation and marketing. After graduation she remained on the team, as a mentor, using her experiences and knowledge in assisting the current members. The skills she learned while on the team led her to pursue a career in radiologic technology. Helps with these CDTs: Marketing |
Loralee HallYears With Team: 2008 - PresentA marketing mentor, Lori participated in marketing on the team from her junior year, and was responsible for writing our team business plan. We feel this plan was instrumental in our winning six Kleiner, Perkins, Byers & Caufield Entreprenurship Awards. She is currently attending WCTC to further her education in this field. Helps with these CDTs: Marketing |
Lori Hinytz Years With Team: 2002 - PresentFIRST-year team adviser and fifth year with the team overall. She is the only High School Teacher on the team. "My involvement with team 537 began nearly five years ago. I was approached to teach our HHS Summer School program as well as become a co-lead for Team 537 with John Budish. My initial reaction was "are you joking, I teach Social Studies"? I was assured by one and all that it didn't matter and to give it a chance. I've been hooked ever since and have continued to head our Summer Opportunities program, work with marketing students and provided guidance, organization and sparkling wit to our team. Recently I've assumed the lead role of Advisor of Charger Robotics. In the past five years I have watched brilliant, talented students take on complex challenges and succeed. I've watched them come together and embody everything a team is supposed to be and more. I've shared their struggles and success, their laughter and tears, worked countless hours along side them, and helped one another through the demands of build season and beyond. I am honored to be their Advisor, mentor, teacher and blessed to have them as friends. They are my "Geeks". I\'ve watched them grow into amazing young men and women and watched them "charge into the future" knowing they are equipped with solid skills, strong characters, and the hearts and minds of champions. Carl Sagan once said "Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere." Chargers carry us away." Helps with these CDTs: Marketing |
Niki ByrneYears With Team: 2009 - PresentNiki joined the team as a marketing mentor in 2009, when her daughter joined as a Freshman. She is a substitute teacher in the district. Her husband, John, works for Rockwell Automation and has been mentoring the team for many years. Helps with these CDTs: Marketing |
Rich CoeYears With Team: 2009 - PresentI started working with the team in 2008 when my son joined as a Freshman. In 2009 I started as a full time Mentor for Code. My background in computers started over 30 years ago with writing programs in high school. I majored in Computer Science at Purdue University, and also worked there in the Robot Vision Lab. My background is in Operating Systems, and I have worked on several Unix systems including AIX and Linux. I actively participate in Open Source Software with contributions to Linux, valgrind, fvwm, mwm, sylpheed, Google Chrome, and others. I currently work on creating a customized Linux Distribution for my employer GE Healthcare. Helps with these CDTs: Code |
Rick WoodsYears With Team: 2003 - PresentRick works as the Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Pferd Milwaukee Brush Company. His involvement with FIRST began in 2003, with Stack Attack, when his son, David, was a member. He mentors the mechanical team and enjoys the challenges of each years game. Helps with these CDTs: Mechanical |
Steve LeBlancYears With Team: 2009 - PresentI joined the team in 2009 with my daughter Ashley as a Freshman at Sussex Hamilton High School. I am beginning work with the Code Team and assisting improvements with the computer resources. My background in electronics began in Electronic Engineering Technology at DeVry Institute. My major was in designing and integration with electronic circuits and systems. My current employment is at FISglobal a financial technology provider as a System Network Engineer. I hope to share some knowledge with the students about computer management and network details. I also enjoy working with the electrical components and mechanical. Visiting with the other CDTs I am able to learn how the Code interacts with the other parts of the robot. The Code may require to have changes because of how the parts react or need special system controls built in for better response. I have noticed a lot of the students have very high interest to do productive work within their CDTs. The new students with the team are directed to help with smaller projects in order to learn more about the processes and components within their CDTs. I feel with the direction that was chosen to keep the objectives more simple, that they will have more time to give the robot better control features. ***** Go Chargers! ***** Helps with these CDTs: Code |
Steve Michalski Years With Team: 2001 - PresentHelps with these CDTs: Electrical, Mechanical |
Suzanne LarsonYears With Team: 2009 - PresentMy involvement with the Chargers began in 2009 as a mentor in code. I have over 10 years in the field of software development and a degree in teaching. My son also participates in the program. The Chargers are an enthusiastic, passionate bunch. As a mentor, you have the opportunity to work with students involved in AP programs and really further their interests. In one case, we began a job shadowing program at a near by corporation. The energy is contagious! The Chargers also host the mini-regional at Hamilton High School. On top of coding for the robot functionality, our group will also create software for the running and management of the game. Strides are being made to make the game more entertaining and as a result, more community involvement/awareness. Helps with these CDTs: Code |
Taylor RoehrYears With Team: 2009 - PresentA former team member, Taylor became a mentor for our electrial team in 2009. Helps with these CDTs: Electrical |