Our Mentors

1099 Mentor: 2011 - Present
Role on team: Co-Advisor 

Mr. Zucca joined the team as an advisor in 2011. He is a math and computer science teacher at BHS

1099 Mentor: 2019 - Present
Role on team: Co-Advisor 

Ms. M joined the team as an advisor in 2019. She is a math and computer science teacher at BHS

1099 Mentor: 2013, 2018, & 2022-Present
Role on team: Co-Advisor

Coach T is an alum of 1099; student member from 2008-2012. She works as a mechanical engineer and comes back to mentor the team.

" My favorite part about coming back and helping 1099 as a mentor is being able to pass on the lessons my mentors instilled in me during my years on the team. " - Coach T 

1099 Mentor: 2003 - Present
Role on team:  Business / Public Relations Mentor

Mrs. Didsbury is one of our team's founding mentors and a lead mentor from 2003-2016. She was a math teacher at BHS and after retiring, still continues to come back and mentor the team.

1099 Mentor: 2009 - Present
Role on team: Engineering / Design Mentor

Mr. DeFreitas joined the team with his daughter, who was a student. He has come back ever since to continue mentoring the team!

1099 Mentor: 2016 - Present
Role on team: Engineering / Design Mentor

Mr. Dackow joined the team with his daughter, who was a student. He has come back ever since to continue mentoring the team! He helps mentor with areas relating to engineering, controls, wiring, manufacturing, and CNC work.  Mr. Dackow works as a Senior Director of Electrical & Controls Engineering.

"Having spent over 30 years making complex machines do what we want them to do, it never stops amazing me how the right keystrokes on a computer and a few wires and parts can make an any machine (or robot) do amazing things."

1099 Mentor: 2018 - Present
Role on team: Engineering / Design Mentor

Mr. Ranchy joined the team with his daughter, who was a student. He has come back ever since to continue mentoring the team!

1099 Mentor: 2014 - Present
Role on team: Spirit Mentor

Ms. Kochman joined the team with her son, who was a student. She has come back ever since to continue mentoring the team!

"I enjoy working with the students and the other mentors. I like to see how technology and creativity inspire enthusiasm and passion in the students and give them an opportunity to learn new things and gain self-confidence and learn how to communicate their ideas and strengthen their communication skills. I also love to see how Poetry, music, design, costumes, presentation, color, public speaking and all the arts are integrated into the competitions and the game/theme for each year." -Ms. Kochman

1099 Mentor: 2024 - Present
Role on team: Mentor + Alumni

Renee is an alum of 1099; student member from 2015-2019. She now come back as a mentor.