Our Team

The FIRST® in Texas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports FIRST® Robotics teams, coaches and events across Texas with a focus on increasing accessibility and inclusiveness for low-income and underrepresented students.

Board Members

Eric J. van Gemeren

Frmr Chief Technology Officer

Honeywell

Amy Bates

Educational Consultant

S3 Strategies

Kazique Prince

Global Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

NI

Julian Alvarez

Sr Vice President of Business Development

Lonestar National Bank

Jason Arms

Executive Director

Stefanie Breyer

Vice President of Product Planning

NI

Shawn Preston

Assistant General Counsel, Lubricants & Specialties

HF Sinclair Corporation

Len Rucinski

Executive Director of Crude Supply and Trading

Valero Energy Corp

Steve Schaffer

Advisor, Investor, Entrepreneur, STEM advocate

Cindy Stong

Chief Judge Advisor, FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST

Team

Jason Arms

Executive Director

Jane Taylor

Director of Education and Outreach

Blake Ortiz-Alizieri

Development Director

Jess Jankowitsch

Director of Impact & Evaluation

Angela James

Finance

Jessica Mejia

Grants Manager

Juan Salinas

FIRST Robotics Competition

Operations Manager

Dr Dee Wallace

FIRST LEGO League

Operations Manager

Emily Esch

FIRST Tech Challenge

Operations Manager

Lucia Sevcik

Senior Volunteer Coordinator / Operations Manager

SueAnn Wade-Crouse

Grants Writer

Alex Kabli

FIRST LEGO League Coordinator

Central Region

Lon Cherryholmes

FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator

North

Joseph Beckman

FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator

Central Region

Sammy Rivera

FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator

South Region

Damaris Rivera

FIRST LEGO League Coordinator

South Region

Sharon Sledge

FIRST Tech Challenge Program Delivery Partner

East Region

Bryan Melton

FIRST Tech Challenge Program Delivery Partner

East Region

Valeria Rosales

Corporate Engagement Specialist

Heather Sherrill

FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator

West/Panhandle Region

Carlos Hernandez

Texas Mentor

South Region

Orlando Montalvo

FTC Professional Trainer

Yolanda Woods

STEM Coordinator

Marisa Solomon

FIRST LEGO League Program Coordinator

North Region

Brenda Gray

FIRST LEGO League Coordinator

East Region

Gabby Gandara

FIRST LEGO League Program Delivery Partner

West Region

Virgilio Gonzales

FIRST LEGO League Program Delivery Partner

West Region

Seth Lara

Event & Logistics Coordinator

Joe Varnell

Key Volunteer

Patsy Morehead-Potts

Texas Mentor

East Region

Jorge Perez

Texas Mentor

North / Ft. Worth