Q Branch Coaches & Mentors
Founder/Head Coach/Lead Mentor #1 - John Burdette
John Burdette is a physics and astronomy teacher at the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center. Founding the group in December of 2011, John was looking for a way to fill the gap of future engineering students prior to college. He serves as the jack of all trades for the group. He also serves as event coordinator for all hosted FIRST events.
Outside of Q Branch, John can be found spending time with his wife, Amanda, without whom this would not be possible. He is the proud father of a wonderful daughter who is coming up through the Lakeview K-12 family of FIRST teams. He has a variable number of dogs at home - Ginny and a number of foster dogs (ask about adopting one). He loves to watch college football (especially his CMU Chippewas) and cheering on his beloved Detroit Lions!
Outside of Q Branch, John can be found spending time with his wife, Amanda, without whom this would not be possible. He is the proud father of a wonderful daughter who is coming up through the Lakeview K-12 family of FIRST teams. He has a variable number of dogs at home - Ginny and a number of foster dogs (ask about adopting one). He loves to watch college football (especially his CMU Chippewas) and cheering on his beloved Detroit Lions!
Assistant Coach/Lead Mentor #2 - Alayna Adams
As a former Q Branch member, Alayna has a lot of experience to bring as the Assistant Coach. Alayna spends a good chunk of her time working with the business sub team; the team she was on during her time with Q Branch.
She is currently in nursing school and enjoys time at home with her husband Connor and her two kids.
She is currently in nursing school and enjoys time at home with her husband Connor and her two kids.
Mentor Naveen Paul
Naveen Paul has been with Q Branch as a mentor since the 2019-2020 season, Infinite Recharge. He brings creative ideas and insight, working patiently with new members. Because of his work experience in IT at Kellogg, and his engineering degree, he is able to transfer some of his hands on knowledge to the members of the team.
Naveen Is a dedicated Robotics mentor, committing any time he has to working with the team!
Naveen Paul has been with Q Branch as a mentor since the 2019-2020 season, Infinite Recharge. He brings creative ideas and insight, working patiently with new members. Because of his work experience in IT at Kellogg, and his engineering degree, he is able to transfer some of his hands on knowledge to the members of the team.
Naveen Is a dedicated Robotics mentor, committing any time he has to working with the team!
Mentor Bernhard Kerschbaum
Mentor Bernie (as he is known) is a parent of a current member of team 4327 as well as CEO of Rosler Metal Finishing in Battle Creek. The 2016-2017 season was his first year with the team and he is the current CAD mentor. Whenever he is in the area, he lends his wealth of knowledge to the team in all facets.
Mentor Bernie (as he is known) is a parent of a current member of team 4327 as well as CEO of Rosler Metal Finishing in Battle Creek. The 2016-2017 season was his first year with the team and he is the current CAD mentor. Whenever he is in the area, he lends his wealth of knowledge to the team in all facets.
Mentor Reuben Calow
Mentor Reuben Calow is a parent of a current member of team 4327 as well as VP of continuous improvement and digital transformation at Kellanova. The 2022-2023 season was his first year with the team and he is a current mechanics mentor. Reuben has his bachelor's in mechanical engineering and lends his knowledge to the team in all things mechanical.
Reuben enjoys spending time with his children and traveling the globe!
Mentor Reuben Calow is a parent of a current member of team 4327 as well as VP of continuous improvement and digital transformation at Kellanova. The 2022-2023 season was his first year with the team and he is a current mechanics mentor. Reuben has his bachelor's in mechanical engineering and lends his knowledge to the team in all things mechanical.
Reuben enjoys spending time with his children and traveling the globe!
Q Branch Former Mentors
Mentor Mia VandenBerg (2022 - 2024)
Mia was a mentor for the business sub team. Mia likes to focus on organization and productivity, helping the team be more efficient and effective. Mia is now a student at the University of Minnesota for a masters in human resources.
Beyond Q Branch, Mia loves to spend time with her rescued cats, Sylvester and Rosalina!
Mia was a mentor for the business sub team. Mia likes to focus on organization and productivity, helping the team be more efficient and effective. Mia is now a student at the University of Minnesota for a masters in human resources.
Beyond Q Branch, Mia loves to spend time with her rescued cats, Sylvester and Rosalina!
Mentor Josh Dunlap (2019 - 2024)
Josh is a mechanics mentor as well as the drive team coach. As Q Branch alumni, and the the primary driver throughout his years on the team, Josh was able to use his previous experience on the team and taught current members everything he knew. He also was able to use his programming and computer science experience from working towards his degree at WMU.
Josh was an enthusiastic drive team coach and likes to keep the energy high!
Josh is a mechanics mentor as well as the drive team coach. As Q Branch alumni, and the the primary driver throughout his years on the team, Josh was able to use his previous experience on the team and taught current members everything he knew. He also was able to use his programming and computer science experience from working towards his degree at WMU.
Josh was an enthusiastic drive team coach and likes to keep the energy high!
Former Mentor Aubryn Carey-KrickMentor Aubryn was a former member of Q Branch from 2016-2018 and was a business subteam mentor for the 2022-2023 season. She has her Associate's in culinary arts and is working towards her BAS in business administration at Davenport University. She shared her knowledge to help the business team out.
Beyond mentoring, she likes to spend her time cooking! Her favorite dish to make is homemade fettuccine alfredo. |
|
|
Former Mentor Jeff Daniel (2022 - 2023)Mentor Jeff was also a parent of a student member on team 4327. He works at Consumers Energy and the 2022-2023 season is his first time working hands-on as a mechanics mentor. When he isn’t dedicating his time to the team, he is working on his own projects and building his own solutions to problems.
Mentor Jeff is very excited to share his knowledge with the students! |
Former Mentor Lindsey Keller
Lindsey Keller joined Q Branch in the 2014 season. She is a biology teacher at the Battle Creek Area Math And Science Center. While attending the 2013 Gull Lake District Competition with her two kids, Rylee and Parker, and husband Jason, she was hooked! She serves as the leadership for the Chairman's team and coaches the drive team.
When not helping Q Branch, Lindsey spends time with her two kids and is an active foster parent for several area dog rescues. Ask her some time about how much she loves dogs!
When not helping Q Branch, Lindsey spends time with her two kids and is an active foster parent for several area dog rescues. Ask her some time about how much she loves dogs!
Former Mentor Scott McKinney
Scott McKinney joined Q Branch as a mentor during the 2013 Ultimate Ascent! season. He brings to the group a wealth of knowledge about design, construction and quick fixes. His work experience helps the students of Q Branch understand how professional engineers think on their feet and apply knowledge for working solutions. He mentors the build team.
Beyond robotics, Scott is an avid motorcycle enthusiast. "Grow team, grow!"
Beyond robotics, Scott is an avid motorcycle enthusiast. "Grow team, grow!"
Former Mentor Matt Ames
Mentor Matt Ames is a professional computer programmer. Most of the time Matt mentors the team through Skype during our build sessions as he leads the programming side of Q Branch. He is a former mechanic, tuba player and member of the CMU marching band (this is how he knows the head coach). He is a master of the culinary arts and spent several years living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Mentor Matt Ames is a professional computer programmer. Most of the time Matt mentors the team through Skype during our build sessions as he leads the programming side of Q Branch. He is a former mechanic, tuba player and member of the CMU marching band (this is how he knows the head coach). He is a master of the culinary arts and spent several years living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Former Mentor John Mead
Mentor Mead (as he is known), is currently a student at Kellogg Community College and an alumni from our team, Q Branch. The 2018-2019 season was his first season mentoring. His major at KCC is Business management and he went to DECA Nationals in high school. He provides knowledge mentor the Chairmans team.
You can find him wearing his iconic Ohio State University Beanie.
You can find him wearing his iconic Ohio State University Beanie.
Former Mentor Gary Held
Mentor Gary Held works in mold engineering for DENSO. He brings a wealth of design engineering background to the team! He is constantly helping out the students with mechanics and sharing his ideas with other members of the team and encouraging the students to put in as many ideas as possible, helping them develop their own designing skills.
Former Mentor Gary McNees
Mentor Gary McNees comes to us from DENSO. He serves as the adviser to the team in preparing students to speak with judges, businesses, and other public figure roles. He is always helping out in places he is need. Need mechanics and business work done he is your man. His wise knowledge helps prepare the team to get ready with up coming events.
Former Mentor Nels Multer
Former mentor, Nels Multer, joined Q Branch for the 2013 Ultimate Ascent! season. Working for Battle Creek manufacturer Geislinger as a mechanical engineer, Nels brought a broad spectrum of experience to the team. His knowledge of manufacturing helped the team work through many prototype struggles when working from concept to working solution.
Former Mentor Rich Juvancic
Mentor Rich Juvancic is a parent of a former member of team 4327. Working as an anesthesiologist, he is always eager to tinker with various mechanical wonders of robotics! He is well experienced with robotics and FIRST because his son Richie, was apart of the team. His experience and knowledge helps drive the team forward.
Former Mentor Zack Murray
Former mentor, Zack Murray, comes to Q Branch as a CAD specialist from Rosler metal finishing in Battle Creek. He guided the CAD team in the early stages of the build season by teaching the many new members the skills they needed for a successful season. He has helped us in the mechanics portion of building once CAD was needed much less.
Former Mentor Rebecca Haferkamp (2012-2013)
Former mentor, Rebecca Haferkamp, joined Team 4327 in its infancy during the Rebound Rumble season of 2012 and helped through the 2013 season as well. She worked as a production engineer for Battle Creek manufacturer DENSO. Her experience as an engineer helped students bring conceptual designs to practical blueprints and finally to fruition in the machine.