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