Help run FIRST Mid-Atlantic!

Members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic are eligible to serve on our various committees. Your participation helps our organization run and increases the impact of our programs.

FIRST Mid-Atlantic Operating Committees

The FIRST Mid-Atlantic Board of Directors has recently restructured the operating committees. The new committees are shown below. This page will be updated shortly as the new committees are further defined.

Administration Committee

Program Committee

Outreach & Advocacy Committee

Finance Committee

Audit Committee

Previous FIRST Mid-Atlantic Committees

Competition

Chair: Eric Zygmont
Key Members:
Kevin Dieterle
Christopher Lester
Frank Larkin
Ed Petrillo
Brian Sherman
& Local Event Coordinators

  • Description 

    The competition committee is responsible for all aspects of the district and district championship events within the region.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of Local Event Coordinators who host each of our District Competitions. The committee is also comprised of interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.

  • Venue Selection

    Sub-Committee

    Chair: Brian Sherman

    The Venue Selection committee’s purpose is to define the district event schedule. Committee member’s also tour new potential venues seeking new locations for future Mid-Atlantic District Events.


Development

Chair: Gene O’Brien
Key Members:
Jim Carr
Herb Katz
Kevin Dieterle
Priscilla Zawislak


  • Description 

    The development committee is responsible for soliciting donations (Monetary or In-Kind) from individuals, business, foundations, other charitable organization , and any other potential donor.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of one board member and interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Equipment

Chair: Brian Sherman
Key Members:
Kevin Dieterle
Tim Leicht
Dave Morris
Debbie Musselman
Ed Petrillo
Eric Zygmont
Richard Gerdes


  • Description 

    The equipment committee’s purpose is to oversee MAR’s equipment and tangible assets. It also works with FIRST HQ to prepare for each year’s game. The equipment committee is the primary point of contact for all MAR-sponsored off-season competitions.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic and representative from local businesses that donate material and labor.

  • Mid-Atlantic Equipment Representative (MER) 

    MERs are volunteers with a thorough knowledge of Mid-Atlantic’s equipment and assets. These personnel share responsibility with the event FTA for supervision of equipment unloading and re-loading and field set-up and teardown. MERs are Mid-Atlantic’s eyes in the field and events cannot happen without their continued support.


Finance

Chair: Joe Giardina
Key Members:
John Giardina
Gene O’Brien
Brian Sherman
Eric Zygmont


  • Description 

    The finance committee is responsible for all fiscal matters of the organization.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of the Treasurer, one Planning Committee member, and other interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Grants

Chair: Randy Gutentag
Key Members:
Trey Entwistle


  • Description 

    The grants committee is responsible for the FIRST Mid-Atlantic grant process.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of interested members of the community.


Information Technology

Chair: Richard Gerdes
Key Members:
Kevin Dieterle
Ben Ng
Sara Reffler
Brian Sherman
Nikki Stout
David Parsons


  • Description 

    The information technology (IT) committee is responsible for maintaining technical support within the organization. The committee oversees the website, social media, and communication services.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of interested members of the community.


Nominating

Chair: Bill Garfield
Key Members:
Jim Hobin
Julia Nuesch
Carol Perrotto


  • Description 

    The nominating committee is responsible to recommend potential board member candidates per the Bylaws.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of one Board of Director member whose term is not expiring plus a minimum of two members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.

  • Tellers

    Sub-committee

    Chair: Bill Garfield

    This subcommittee is responsible to oversee any election for FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Outreach

Chairs: Jessica Kaestle and Nikki Stout
Key Members:
Rich Gerdes
Carol Perrotto
John Giardina


  • Description 

    The outreach committee’s purpose is to collect preferences, opinions, and other data from the membership. It also develop communication vehicles to audiences outside the organization.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of a Board of Director member from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and other interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Planning

Chair: Trey Entwistle
Key Members:


  • Description 

    The planning committee is responsible for investigating and providing advice to the Board of Directors on issures of strategic importance. It also prepares an annual Business Plan and develops other strategic documents.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised a minimum of three Board of Directors, one member of the Finance Committee, and other interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Retention, Recruitment, & Reclamation

Chair: Thom Galie
Key Members:


  • Description 

    The RRR committee’s purpose is to maintain relationships with each existing FRC team, identify high schools and other entities that are prospects to form new FRC teams, and identify inactive FRC teams that can be rejuvenated.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of a Board of Director member from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, FIRST Senior Mentors within the region, and other interested members of FIRST Mid-Atlantic.


Volunteer

Chair: Ali Marinari
Key Members:
Brian Sherman
Eric Zygmont
& Event Volunteer Coordinators
& Key Volunteer Coordinators


  • Description 

    The volunteer committee is responsible for all interactions with volunteers within the region and is the primary contact with FIRST’s FRC Volunteer Resources Coordinator.

  • Members 

    This committee is comprised of Senior Volunteer Coordinators within the region, Event Volunteer Coordinators, Key Volunteer Coordinators, and at least one Board of Director member.