Adult Mentors and Consultants

 

Mike Wittman Mr. Wittman is our Team President and Coach. He is the CEO of American Acrylics, which is where the team meets and builds. This is his fifth season with FIRST and he has been very involved in Science Technology, Engineering, and Math education in our community. He is a founder and chairman of the Milwaukee Vex League and sits on the St. Thomas More and South Milwaukee Project Lead the Way Partnership Committees. Mr. Wittman enjoys sharing the FIRST experience with his daughter, teammates, and mentors. He enjoys seeing our team members and mentors work well together, and credits our success to their hard work.

Bob Grilli Mr. Grilli is an active parent and serves as Vice President of More Robotics. Having a non-engineering background, he is amazed how our young student members diagnose and solve difficult problems during the build and competition seasons. Team members quickly learned that his skill at designing and building robots is, let’s say “lacking.” He is so thankful for all the dedicated team mentors and parents we have and he appreciates all that they do.

Bob Lynch Mr. Lynch is the manager of Internet Services for International Truck and Engine. This is his second year with the robotics team as a mentor helping build our award winning web site. In his off time Bob enjoys camping and traveling with his family.  He is a “Voice of the Cavaliers” fan and also enjoys watching science fiction TV shows.  He is married with one son.

Brian Cieslak Brian Cieslak is a software engineer at Rockwell Automation. This year, he is going to mentor students in programming and electronic sensors. He enjoys amateur rocketry and astronomy, and HAM radio. His favorite TV shows are Antiques Roadshow, Tracks Ahead, and PBS Mystery. About his favorite food, Twinkies, Brian says, "take 2 and call me in the morning!" His favorite thing about robotics is that "the kids are focused on their tasks. They listen, think, then solve." He would also like to add that He is the inventor of the AutoFlex Autonomous Programming Tool.

Chris Stack Mr. Stack is a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering  who assists our team as a Mechanical Engineering Mentor whenever he is back at home in Milwaukee. He is looking forward to coming back to Milwaukee in the spring to be a full-time mentor as well as a full-time engineer. He's also looking forward to getting a job *wink wink*. His nickname is “Crash” and he enjoys breaking stuff. His favorite saying is “If it isn’t broke, I haven't tried hard enough.” Chris has a laptop for his pet that he calls “Lappy.”

Daniel Matthews Dan is our mentor this year for machining and mechanical advice. He is a machine repairman and vacuum specialist for G.E. Healthcare. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and skiing, as well as watching Survivor and The Shield. He has a wife and two kids, as well as a sharkfish, Fido. One of his beliefs is that "the dumbest question is the one you have in your head and do not ask." Dan's favorite part about robotics is interfacing with talented young adults.

Dave Gahl Dave is a new mentor this season. He mentors wherever he is needed. He is also a Museum Guru at Discovery World. He likes bowling, History, random facts and trivia, and his favorite food is crab legs. House and Family Guy are his favorite TV shows. "Technology is an iron cage," he says, but his favorite part about robotics is knowing that the future has hope.

Dennis Miller Dennis is a retired engineer from Johnson Controls. He is married and has 2 children and a cat. His wife teaches English as a second language at MATC. He likes photography, video creation, robotics, computers, and watching NCSI on TV.  His favorite food is lasagna. A favorite memory he holds is retiring. Dennis is responsible for mentoring control and electronics.

Jeff Krueger Mr. Krueger joined QuadTech in 1999 and is the Manager of the Engineering System Support team. Jeff is responsible for leading a team of software testing and application engineers to perform verification and validation of software/hardware and troubleshooting QuadTech products. Jeff holds a BS in Computer Engineer from MSOE, an MBA from UW-Oshkosh, and an MS in Management from UW-Milwaukee.  Jeff’s interests include computing technologies including computer networking and software and hardware development.

Louis Verstegen Mr. Verstegen is working with the team on the fuel cell project. Louis works as a Senior Tech Analyst at Rockwell Automation. His favorite phrase is “If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would get done.” He is married and has two children.

Marc Rivest Mr. Rivest is a Science Teacher at Oak Creek High School. He is our Scouting Mentor, and helped expand our Vex program by creating a Vex Robotics Club at Oak Creek High School. Mr. Rivest enjoys gardening, playing volleyball, and watching the Amazing Race. He enjoys working with the student team members of More Robotics and he says they “make him feel young again”. He is married and has 2 daughters.	Mary Jo Wittman Mrs. Wittman  mentors team public relations, communications, and displays. She is a Physical Therapist and enjoys scrap booking. Mrs. Wittman enjoys watching the student team members learn and discover new things, and is amazed at all that they do. Her family has been involved with FIRST for five seasons, and she thinks it has been a most valuable experience.
Pam Schaefer Mrs. Schaefer is our Team Treasurer and FIRST Lego League Team Mentor. She has 3 children, 2 of whom are on the team. She is a Psychologist and Professor who teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is one of our “Team Moms” who feeds us at events throughout the year. Pam appreciates the positive atmosphere and strong commitment from our mentors and students.	Sharon Tomski Mrs. Tomski teaches engineering at St. Thomas More High School.  She has her master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and is a retired Navy Commander. Mrs. Tomski is involved with Project Lead the Way and is mentoring the Autodesk Inventor team. She also helped mentor our FLL teams on which she has 3 sons. She enjoys reading, quilting and jogging.
P.J. Early P.J., the writing mentor for the team, is a senior writer at STIR Advertising and Marketing. She is married and has two daughters and a step-daughter. She enjoys spending time with her kids and her husband. Her favorite food is cheese pizza, and she enjoys experimental cuisine. P.J. claims she's no good at robotics, but she's still an important part of the team, as she "knows where to stick a comma."	Steven Lynch Steve is a former team member who is now a team mentor helping with the website. He is majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Marquette University and enjoys promoting robotics and engineering careers. Steve is known as the “Voice of the Cavaliers” for St. Thomas More High School, is an Eagle Scout, a loyal Marquette Golden Eagles fan and a fan of the Green Bay Packers.  He enjoys spending time with friends, pepperoni pizza, golf, and just about any other sport.