Workshops

"MAR Conference" by Edward Petrillo & team


Is your team from New Jersey, Delaware, or Eastern Pennsylvania? If so we welcome you to join Mid-Atlantic Robotics Chairman, Ed Petrillo, as he discusses everything you need to know about the new Mid-Atlantic Robotics Region (MAR) Qualifying Event structure that is being implemented during the rapidly approaching 2012 season. The MAR committee has put in a tremendous amount of work into making this change successful. Ed will be on hand to answer all of your questions and concerns about MAR, and to help you become better prepared for the changes this upcoming season.


"Dynamic Mentoring" by Paul Kloberg



Join FIRST superstar Paul Kloberg for a presentation on innovative mentoring techniques. Paul will show attendees how to inspire students to become leaders themselves and "let go" of the wheel and trust students to git'er done on their own as much as possible.  

Paul Kloberg has been involved in FIRST since 2000. He has fulfilled many roles including Senior Mentor, FTA, regional committee member and head coach of teams 303 and 1403. Paul was Brunswick Eruption's first "Big Kahuna" award winner. He was also the recipient of the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award in 2007 and Volunteer of the Year award at the NJ Regional in 2003. Paul's effects can be felt across the tri-state region due to his exuberant nature and tireless dedication to numerous teams across FIRST. Paul lives by the quote, "sure VIPs are important to FIRST, just not as important as MIPs".



"Winning Game and Design Strategies" by Shaun McNulty


Join Shaun McNulty for a presentation on success strategies used year after year. From the simple techniques used during the robot build process to the complex strategies on Einstein, Shaun will explain team 25's journey. In 2006, Team 25 won 45 out of the 50 matches and finished second in the world. After going through two regionals undefeated, they repeated it again in 2010. In this workshop, Shaun will reveal the success principles employed by top teams along with the major pitfalls they avoid. Learn how to successfully dominate the field and be consistent on the field every year.

Shaun McNulty has been involved with Team 25 since its inception. Starting off as a student, Shaun was inspired and dragged into the vortex of FIRST. Since then, he has been an integral part of the team. Shaun's meticulous attention to technical details along with his talent to critically analyze a FIRST game has provided team 25 with a considerable advantage over the years. While on the field, Shaun coaches student drivers to pay attention to the right details and follow a set of instructions leading to many wins. You will not want to miss this workshop since this is the first time Shaun will uncover 25's various success strategies that any FIRST team can use!



"NEMO (Non Engineering Mentor Organization) Workshop" by Karin Kloberg



NEMO will be open to adult mentors, including engineers, teachers and college students (who may be the only mentors on their teams) who are involved with all the non-engineering aspects of the FIRST Robotics programs. It is mainly a support group and information exchange for those mentors who help with all the behind-the-scene glue that hold the teams together including mentor recruitment and retention, travel (hotels, endless meals), parent involvement, fundraising, business plans, public relations, community service, dealing with the FIRST logistics. We hope to seek out all the NEMs who don't realize they are part of a large community. - firstnemo.org


This workshop will be facilitated by Karin Kloberg. Karin has been a longtime mentor of 303 and 1403. Assisting Paul Kloberg in all his FIRST adventures, Karin knows exactly what it is like to be a mentor on a team. Not to mention that she keeps Paul from going insane! Karin has also volunteered for FIRST at many levels including being a referee at BE for many years. Because of her background, Karin is the perfect candidate to run a NEMO workshop!