We’re immensely grateful to the amazing individuals who take time out of their busy work schedules to make ROBOTICON possible!  Please join us in giving high fives and admiration to the fine folks highlighted here.

Steve and Terri started ROBOTICON in 2013 at the University of Tampa, when a previous Tampa off-season event was discontinued. With the help of amazing volunteers, sponsors and community partners, they’ve grown the event to one of the largest off-seasons and FIRST showcase events in the country, drawing over 4000 attendees over the last couple of seasons.

Together they have more than 30 years of experience working with FIRST programs, as volunteers, coaches, and mentors. Additionally, Terri served as Regional Director for FIRST in Central Florida for six years and Steve served as Florida FIRST Tech Challenge Judge Advisor for four years. They are also the founders of the nonprofit Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FCDI), which organizes ROBOTICON.

Building off the success of ROBOTICON,  in 2018 they founded the Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC) Fab Lab, at University Mall in Tampa, near the University of South Florida.  AMRoC Fab Lab is home to Florida’s only FIRST Robotics Center, with a full scale FIRST Robotics Competition field, FIRST Tech Challenge fields and FIRST LEGO League tables and resources. AMRoC Fab Lab also supports REC VEX programs and provides school to workforce training programs for all ages.

Vicky is AMRoC’s Operations Manager.  An illustrator by trade, she creates ROBOTICON media from our shirt designs to our awards and manages a lot of event logistics related to volunteer support.

Scott Ertz is a FIRST Robotics Competition alumni from the early days of FRC, where he was a team member at Lakewood High School in Pinellas County, FL.  Today, Scott is the founder and CEO of PLUGHITZ Corporation, a media company and technology consulting firm.   PLUGHITZ has been ROBOTICON’s Media Partner since our inception in 2013.

Clinton is our Drone Program coordinator and manages all aspects of our drone competitions or scrimmages, as well as handling technical support aspects of event production.