What is your current position?

I'm a Senior Consultant at Macedon Technologies, a software consulting firm that was recently rated the 8th Best Small Workplace in Tech and the 19th Best Workplace for Diversity by Great Place to Work ® and Fortune .

Did FIRST play a role in your current path?

FIRST inspired me to not just excel technically but to also be a leader. FIRST reminded me that being technically savvy is not everything if you can't share your ideas with others, so I pursued a career in software consulting where I can merge business and technology. I'm still early in my career, so I don't know where this path will take me, but I know that I'll never be satisfied unless I'm making an impact.

Do you think FIRST can help young girls follow a STEM path in college and beyond?

I absolutely think that FIRST can help girls on their path through STEM. I stayed involved in FIRST throughout college and it helped me meet women who inspired me to excel in a sometimes difficult field. The community of FIRST is priceless, and staying involved in that community through college and now as a mentor has continued to help me grow my career.

For these and other postings, please visit the main blog page at   https://www.firstchesapeake.org/news/first-family-blog

As this is being written, we are only a few days away from the kickoff for FIRST Steamworks, and the FTC Southwest Virginia Qualifier. Volunteers are needed across the FIRST Chesapeake District FRC events and the remaining FTC competitions in Virginia. How do you want to be involved? Each event requires over 100 volunteers to set up, produce, and pack away, and we'd love to see you at one (or more) of them.

As always, both technical and non-technical volunteers are needed, and the sooner you sign up, the better your chances of getting the assignment you really want. Would you like to try something new this year? Contact Dee Tomczak, and she will be happy to talk to you about it, or put you in touch with the key volunteers who can answer your questions to make sure that the job is a good fit for you.

Many of you will be travelling to events with your teams, and we have a proposition for you! Would you rather spend your day sitting in the bleachers, or are you willing to lend a hand with the event? Many of the jobs that need to be done require no previous experience, and training can either be done on the spot, or materials are sent to you when you sign up. The majority of assignments will allow you to slip away every so often to watch your team compete. 

 Want to work with a friend? Make a note of it in your volunteer application, and we'll make every effort to accommodate that request.

So, pull out your calendars, and take a look. There is plenty of fun to go around.

* January 14, FTC North Central Qualifier, Orange, VA
* February 4, FTC Eastern Qualifier, sponsored by Dominion Resources, Norfolk, VA
* February 25, FTC Virginia State Championship, Lynchburg, VA
* March 4-5, FIRST Chesapeake District Northern Virginia Event, Haymarket, VA
* March 4-5, FIRST Chesapeake District Southwest Virginia Event, Blacksburg, VA
* March 11-12, FIRST Chesapeake District Greater DC Event, Bethesda, MD
* March 18-19, FIRST Chesapeake District Hampton Roads Event, sponsored by Newport News Shipbuilding, Portsmouth, VA
* March 18-19, FIRST Chesapeake District Northern Maryland Event, Owings Mills, MD
* March 25-26, FIRST Chesapeake District Central Maryland Event, sponsored by Leidos, Edgewater, MD
* March 25-26, FIRST Chesapeake District Central Virginia Event, Glen Allen, VA
* April 6-8, FIRST Chesapeake District Championship, sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton, Richmond, VA

To apply to volunteer, [click here]. (Link to VIMS: 

( https://my.firstinspires.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/VIMS_Login.aspx )

If you have any questions, please contact me at dtomczak@firstchesapeake.org .