Lisa Porat
Board Chair
Lisa Marquette Porat is a licensed clinical social worker and U.S. Lead, Patient Advocacy for BeiGene Global Oncology. She holds a B.S. from DePauw University in Sociology/Psychology/Communications and a M.S.W. from Indiana University Graduate School of Social Work. She also holds several licensures and certifications in clinical social work and oncology.
Lisa began her involvement with FIRST over 10 years ago as a proud parent and mentor/coach when her daughter was in FLL and continued as a mentor/coach throughout FTC and continues to mentor FRC Team 1741, Red Alert Robotics, where she is the Past-President and current Leadership Mentor. Lisa has served in various roles throughout FIRST over the years including event volunteering, judging, and helping to host/run numerous events at all levels of FIRST. Lisa also has served on numerous national, state and local boards and consults on board development and strategic planning.
Amy Liimatta
Vice Chair
Amy Liimata is the Director of Engineering Services at Bill Austin and Associates (BAA), an engineering consulting firm located in Columbus, IN. Previous to BAA, Amy spent 26 years with Cummins in various project management and engineering roles within the Service Engineering function.Amy graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor and Masters of Mechanical Engineering..
Brad Thompson
Secretary
Brad Thompson is the owner & lead engineer at Sledgehammer Infosystems, where he provides software, communications, and process automation services to small businesses and non-profits.
Brad graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Computer Science in 2013. While at Purdue, Brad was introduced to FIRST through Purdue FIRST Programs, where he served as an FLL mentor, Director of Junior Robotics, and Vice President.
Brad is now the program coordinator & co-lead mentor of FRC Team 461, Westside Boiler Invasion, and it’s several feeder FTC & FLL teams. He is also a frequent volunteer for events at all levels of the FIRST pipeline, primarily as a judge or in AV/Event Production roles. Brad also helps take care of FIN’s website and other IT needs.
Phil Rowland
Treasurer
Monica Bravo Hochstein
Chair, Competition Committee
Monica Bravo Hochstein is an elementary school teacher in the Lafayette School Corporation. She graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University in 2019 & a masters degree in Educational Leadership and Policy in 2022.
Monica formally began her involvement in FIRST in high school as a member of FRC 461. After graduating high school, she began volunteering in off-season events as an FTAA and as an event manager throughout the midwest. She currently volunteers as a judge, referee, event manager, and as a co-chair of an event planning committee.
Dimple Shah
Chair, Diversity / Equity / Inclusion Committee
Rachel Burke
Chair, Education Committee
Mary Baker
Chair, Development Committee
Grant Carlile
Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee
Jack Doherty
Chair, Volunteer Committee
Sean Dewey
Member at Large
Karla Tugan
Member at Large
Caitlin Sheesley-Brown
Member at Large
Caitlin Sheesley-Brown is the Vice President of Client Development & Success at Ascend Indiana, the workforce and talent initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). In her role, she leads the strategic and operational activities related to the Ascend Network, Ascend’s job matching platform that connects individuals to internships, jobs, and work-based learning opportunities across the state. In addition, Caitlin is an Associate Faculty member for the IUPUI School of Engineering and Technology and earned her Master’s of Public Administration in Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management.
Caitlin has been involved in robotics since managing the City of Indianapolis VEX Robotics Championship alongside the Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation. She went on to support the initial launch of the State Robotics Championship in partnership with TechPoint Foundation for Youth. Caitlin then went on to join the board of First Indiana Robotics in late-2020.
Bill Dyer
Member at Large
Bill Dyer is the General Manager of Human Resources at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana Inc.(TMMI) located in Princeton, Indiana. TMMI established in 1996, manufactures the Toyota Highlander, Grand Highlander, Sienna and Lexus TX. Bill is responsible for all human resources functions at TMMI and is the Diversity Champion for TMMI as well as the Corporate Compliance and Ethics Executive Champion. During Bill’s 23 year career, he has held leadership positions in many areas of manufacturing including Human Resources, Assembly, Production Control and Plastics. He started his career at TMMI in 2001 in human resources. In addition to many varied roles at TMMI, Bill has also recently returned from a 2-yr assignment at Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility in Georgetown Kentucky where he led the Human Resources function. Bill received his associates degree in criminology from Vincennes University and a bachelors in human resources management from Oakland City University. Bill has a passion for developing our youth and preparing them to be tomorrows leaders in advanced manufacturing.