Mentors
Jim Davis (1)
Experience: Jim is a professional machinist and welder who designs and builds custom motorcycles for his company MotoMorphic. He has a BS & MS in Electrical Engineering from State University of NY at Buffalo. Jim has experience in welding aluminum, using a lathe and most other tools in a shop.
Role on Team: Jim will be focusing on helping students build the drive train on the robot, and will also supervise the use of power tools.
Jim Davis (2)
Experience: Jim is a retired mechanical engineer, with 30 yrs experience in energy engineering, among other areas of the field.
Role on Team: Jim is a mentor who will help the team with all facets of the building of the robot.
Zarko Draganic
Experience: Zarko is currently doing independent engineering and design research in the areas of green tech and energy monitoring. He was the CEO of AltoCom, a telecommunications company acquired by Broadcom. He has an extensive computer science and electrical engineering background, and held key engineering roles at Apple Computer and General Magic.
Role on Team: Zarko mentors the team on software programming, logic design, algorithms and data structures.
Dave Goldsmith
Experience: Dave is a certificated computer teacher at Redwood High School.
Role on Team: Dave is a mentor and will be one of two certificated teachers on the team. He will be focusing on programming the robot, safety, and ensuring that team members follow school policies. He will supervise all student use of power tools.
James Joaquin
Experience: James is the CEO of Foxmarks; a San Francisco based Internet Software Company. He has helped build numerous technology companies including online photo service Ofoto, where he also served as CEO. James has volunteered as a judge for the FIRST Robotics Silicon Valley Regional Competition for the past seven years.
Role on Team: James mentors the team on fund raising, marketing, finance, and on a key principle FIRST is built upon: gracious professionalism.
Nate Macdonald
Experience: Nate is a certificated teacher at Hall Middle School. He has taught robotics, engineering, and math to high school students. He has run a FIRST robotics team for 5 years and has been building robots for 10 years.
Role on Team: Nate is the lead mentor and will be one of two certificated teachers on the team. He will be involved in all aspects of team activities. He is a mechanical engineer with 10 years experience building robots utilizing a full range of equipment and will be managing the students at all times when power tools are in use.
Jim Murphy
Experience: Jim is a self-employed computer consultant, focusing on systems and networking. He has extensive experience designing professional audio electronics for Ender Musical Instruments, Renkus Heinz, Furman Sound and Dolby Laboratories. He has 3 patents registered for a variety of innovative circuits.
Role on Team: Jim is a parent/mentor and will help the students with design, mechanical, pneumatic and electronic assembly and troubleshooting. He has extensive experience with lathes, milling machines, drill presses, etc. and will help with tool use and safety procedures.
Rose Sullivan
Experience: Rose is a mortgage broker with Pacific Mortgage Consultants. She has been in the real estate and financing industry for 8 yrs. She has also worked in sales and marketing management with start up technology companies, including DSL provider, NorthPoint Communications.
Role on Team: Rose is a parent/mentor and will help the team with organization and project management. She will assist with fund raising and finance management.
Donna Van Ness