Jonathan Amory
Mr. Amory was an advanced robotics engineer for five years at Boston Dynamics, where he helped design a number of robots, including BigDog, RiSE, RHex, and LittleDog. Jon has a background in naval architecture and philosophy, which he studied along with engineering at Trinity College. He has a Master’s degree in Design Studies from Harvard University. Amory helped start the Outliers and serves as our lead Engineering mentor.
Norris Dale
Norris is a retired quality assurance engineer, most recently from the medical devices field. His longish career included stints in mechanical, electronics, and combustion engineering. He holds a BA in Psychology from Hamilton College, a BS in Industrial Technology from the University of Southern Maine and a Masters degree in Manufacturing Management from the University of Maine. He volunteers at FRC events as a Judge and a Robot Inspector. He has supported The Outliers since their rookie year, his third FRC team since 1998. He's looking forward to working on the team again this year.
Chandra Leister
Chandra brings enthusiastic project management, logistics, event planning, marketing, and communication experience to the Outliers Mentor team. She keeps people on track, demands agendas, and helps with team management. She has a BA in Communications (Alfred University), an MS in Human Development (University of Rhode Island), and an MS in Project Management (Roux Institute at Northeastern University).
Billy Wall
Billy earned a BA in Mathematics from USM, and has taught high school math and coached students for math competitions. Billy built and operated wide-area radio messaging networks in Florida for Verizon Wireless for two decades. Working through USM's STEM Outreach and Services office, he has led summer robotics camps for elementary and middle school students since 2010.
PARENT MENTORS
The Outliers are lucky to have some parents who go above and beyond helping with programming, fundraising, marketing, logistics, and more.
Ben Bernard
A ten-year mentor, with the Outliers from the beginning, Ben has provided code help and his real life experience to our students both in and out of his realm of expertise. He is the lead programming mentor.
Ian Helfrich
Ian is a big Lego, computer and Star Wars nerd. He is lucky enough to work with neat computers and technology in his role with Czarnowski, a large marketing and event production company.
Alissa Messer
Alissa Messer has been a parent mentor with the Outliers since 2022. Her daughter's interest in robotics brought Alissa's support to the team, but the team members' drive and passion for their part in the process kept her engaged and finding ways to contribute. Alissa has a college degree in Organizational Communications with an emphasis in law. She continued her education in counseling and loves the opportunity to utilize the skills life has brought and taught her to pass along to others. Her life has afforded her many unique experiences, such as moving 22 miles off the coast of Maine to a remote island, where she honed her resourcefulness while she and her family built their own home without ever having built anything like it before. She also bolstered her engineering skill set restoring a '64 CJ5 Jeep with her Dad when she was in high school. She will sing you a terrific version of the Deering High School fight song (Go Rams!), just wear purple and white to find that team spirit in her! She is always willing to help where needed, whether it's driving the trailer or working on it, finding team sponsorships, or cheering the for incredible students that bring their talents to the Outliers, Alissa is a big encourager and has taught us the moon is possible; now we are shooting for Mars!
Heather Roy
Heather started as a parent mentor when her son Toby joined the team, and continues to help with hotel and travel details, even after he graduated (and became an Alumni mentor!).
With appreciation to our “retired” Parent Mentors
Matt Roy
Tom Pierce
Bob Sawyer
Fred Horch
Jim Ewing
Kathy County
Karla Murphy
Kevin Murphy
Marnie Morneault
John Tower
ALUMNI MENTORS
Former student members who continue to lend time and expertise to the Outliers Team.
Dennis, Gabi, Willete, Toby, and Spencer helping out as mentors in the pit at an offseason event 2023
Adam Dustin
Hasn’t sent his bio in yet, sadly.
Toby Roy
Toby graduated from Baxter Academy in 2020. He is sophomore at Wentworth Institute of Technology studying Mechanical Engineering, and is helping with design and mechanical systems. His favorite robot is Freddy.
Dennis Slobodzian
Dennis graduated from Baxter Academy in 2021, and is a current sophomore at University of Southern Maine majoring in Electrical Engineering. He is a second year mentor, focusing on software development. Dennis’s favorite robot is his first, Freddy.
Jake Willette
Willette is a founding member of the Outliers and graduated from Baxter Academy in 2018. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2022, and is working as a Mechanical Design Engineer in Portland ME at LaCasse and Weston Engineered Systems. Willette is a current board member and sponsor of Outliers 501c3.