Meet Our Team! – Mentors
Joel Yacono
Employer/Occupation: Retired
Years involved in FIRST: 26
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Logistic, Design and build
Favorite Part About Robotics: To See Students Learn And Grow
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: There Are A Lot Of Opportunities Out There And You Need To Stretch Yourself
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Don’t Stop believing
Jeremy Stoddard
Employer/Occupation: Project Engineering Intern at Moog Inc./EE Student at UB
Years involved in FIRST: 9
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite Part About Robotics: Seeing An Idea From A Student Become A Physical Portion Of That Years Robot
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Try Not to Overthink Things!
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Dont Stop Believing
Steve Barnes
Employer/Occupation: Retired
Years involved in FIRST: 18
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite Part About Robotics: I enjoy being able to spend time working with bright and motivated students and mentors accomplishing something incredible together year after year.
If you were a wrestler, what would be your entrance theme song: Beautiful Drugs – Zac Brown
Sue Vasko
Employer/Occupation: Mahle Engineer
Years involved in FIRST: 19
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite Part About Robotics: Working with a wonderful team of mentors and parents dedicated to helping and supporting enthusiastic students. I love witnessing the kids progress over their time on the team and become amazing young adults. I am always so proud of them!
If you were a wrestler what would be your entrance theme song: Roar – Katy Perry
Jeffrey P. Rogowski
Employer/Occupation: Secondary Technology Educator
Years involved in FIRST: 23
Role/Area of expertise of the team: President
Favorite Part About Robotics: Watching students grow into intelligent individuals, graduate and make something of there life’s. It never gets old. 22 years of doing this and every year I get to witness this progression. I love it!
If You Were a Flavor of Ice Cream Which Would You Be And Why: Dulce de leche because it’s takes time to make this master piece! It also uses a wide variety of ingredients to make it the master piece it is to many people. Love is shared with every bite!
Tim Brounscheidel
Employer/Occupation: Retired
Years involved in FIRST: 10
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Electrical/Programming
Favorite Part About Robotics: Seeing A Students Facial Expression When They Grasp A New Concept
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Buy Amazon
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Luckebbach Texas
Kris Sielski
Employer/Occupation: Embedded Engineer
Years involved in FIRST: 11
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Electrical/Programming
Favorite memory about Robotics: That one glorious Saturday during build season when we had a taco bar spread for lunch.
If You Were a Flavor of Ice Cream Which Would You Be And Why: Strawberry, because that’s my favorite flavor.
Adam Stockton
Employer/Occupation: KeyBank / Software Developer
Years involved in FIRST: 17
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Scouting, Imagery, Treasurer
Favorite memory about Robotics: Being able to help give students the same experience that I had during the program, and see them graduate our team and head off into successful careers using the skills and knowledge they learned on our team.
If you were a wrestler, what would be your entrance theme song: Whatever the DJ picks
Noah Raymond
Employer/Occupation: Lockport High Secondary Technology Educator
Years involved in FIRST: 19
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite Part About Robotics: Watching Students Turning Into Problem Solvers
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Take More Chances!
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Cake-The Distance
Michael Root
Employer/Occupation: Welder – Root’s Quality Welding
Years involved in FIRST: 11
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite memory about Robotics: Crashing the robot at least once every year.
If You Were a Flavor of Ice Cream Which Would You Be And Why: Raspberry Swirl – simple but sudden surprises every once in a while
Mike Stutz
Years involved in FIRST: 15
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
Favorite Part About Robotics: The Look On Students Faces When They Make Their Own Part
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Don’t Be Afraid To Fail, That’s Where Some Of The Best Lessons Are Learned
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Wheels On The Bus
Michael Lieber
Employer/Occupation: Teacher in the Lockport City School District
Years involved in FIRST: 20
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Team Support / Student Support
Favorite memory about Robotics: Winning the FLL Champions Award, attending Worlds and earning Robot Dependability at Worlds
If You Were a Flavor of Ice Cream Which Would You Be And Why: Cherry Garcia – Because I’m mainly boring plain Vanilla, but every once in a while I’m fun and exciting. Plus Ben and Jerry and the Grateful Dead are Awesome!
Katie Miner
Employer/Occupation: PhD Student at the University of Chicago
Years involved in FIRST: 12
Role/Area of expertise of the team: CAD, Dean’s List
Favorite memory about Robotics: Any moment with my friends. Robotics gave me connections that I hope will last throughout my lifetime.
If You Were a Flavor of Ice Cream Which Would You Be And Why: Mint chocolate chip, because it’s simply just the best flavor 🙂
Rachel Bucci
Employer/Occupation: Great Lakes Medical Imaging/Director of Billing
Years involved in FIRST: 7
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Outreach and Media
Favorite Part About Robotics: Watching The Amazing Students On The Team bring A Robot To Life
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Your Intuition Is Almost Always Right
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Friends In Low Places-Garth Brooks Vanilla
Bruce McCarthy
Employer/Occupation:
Years involved in FIRST: 3
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Build
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Build Something Everyday
Favorite Part About Robotics: Seeing The Kids Develop Skills For The Real World
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: Journey
Jessica McCarthy
Employer/Occupation: A&A Beauty Supply ~ Executive Assistant
Years involved in FIRST: 3
Role/Area of expertise of the team: Outreach/Media
Favorite Part About Robotics: Watching Students Succeed
What Is A Piece Of Advice That You Wish You Could’ve Heard When You Were Younger: Soak Up Every Moment- The Older You Get The Faster Time Goes!
What Is Your Go To Karaoke Song: : Journey- Don’t Stop Believing