Senior Mentor Program

Demand for FIRST has increased so rapidly and organically that FIRST continues to face a growing challenge to recruit and support new volunteers. The Senior Mentor program has been a critical addition to the volunteer resource management infrastructure of FIRST. FIRST Senior Mentors (FSM’s or SMs) are a group of highly skilled and talented, technical and non-technical individuals whose main focus is to identify, recruit, and support teams, mentors and coaches in all FIRST programs. FIRST Senior Mentors are recruited locally at the recommendation of their Regional Directors because of their previous relationships with FIRST Programs and their general understanding of the culture of the organization. Most, if not all FSMs, have had existing relations with FIRST as team mentors, coaches or event volunteers. Working in a part-time capacity, (10-15 hours per week), and through constant communication and collaboration with each Program Lead; their area Regional Director, Regional/Planning/Operational Committees, Program Partners, and VISTA volunteers; they recruit and support FIRST team mentors, coaches, teams, and event volunteers. FIRST Senior Mentors provide support and services for all FIRST programs including; the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), and the Junior FIRST LEGO League (JFLL) programs.

FIRST Senior Mentors

Location

Name                              

Contact Information
AZ Fredi Lajvardi flajvardi@usfirst.org 
CA  Nancy McIntyre nmcintyre@usfirst.org
CA Rick Sisk rsisk@usfirst.org
CT  Kathie Kentfield kkentfield@usfirst.org 
IL Karina Powell kpowell@usfirst.org 
DC  Don Brobst dbrobst@usfirst.org
MA & RI Stephen Cremer  scremer@usfirst.org 
MO Henry Graham hgraham@usfirst.org
NJ & PA               Nathan Knauss  nknauss@usfirst.org 
NY, Finger Lakes Ron Borden rborden@usfirst.org
NY, New York City Mike Siegel   msiegel@usfirst.org
TX Mike Henry  mhenry@usfirst.org 
VA                                         Sally Sylvester  ssylvester@usfirst.org 

Senior Mentors strengthen and expand FIRST’s partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, and communities. In doing so, the Senior Mentor program has moved us closer to achieving the goal of FIRST-to change society by providing youth with experiences that give them not just the skills, but also the desire to solve problems through scientific and technological innovation.  

Read more about becoming a FIRST Senior Mentor.

Read the FIRST Senior Mentor bios.