Our Mentors

Robin Dorfman

Lead Mentor
Woodie Flowers Finalist Award Winner
Joined Team 980 in 2003

Robin was an FLL Coach and Robotics Mom before joining Team 980 as a mentor. Creative Director at ZOO Digital, Robin has a BA from Harvard University, MA from University of York, England, and MFA from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

 

David (Fred) Masselink

Fabrication Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2022

Having grown up in PEI, Canada, Fred has international exposure aiding him in his navigation throughout life. Starting out at Calvin College for engineering, Fred found that his interests had changed away from the technical field and into filmmaking. He went on to get a BA in Film Studies at Ryerson University. After over-qualifying for a semester exchange program to Hollywood, he enthusiastically packed up his bags and has remained in LA ever since. His aspirations were realized when he began working at IMAX in the Original Content Department. Presently, he’s the Lead Film Recording/Scanning Technician there and a “Robo Dad”. Despite his attempts to escape engineering, Fred has found a balance between the filmmaker and the engineer. In his increasingly shrinking off time, Fred has an ongoing love for writing stories, playing guitar, and a drive for personal and professional improvement.

 

Robert Augenstein

Design Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2023

Robert was invited to start volunteering with the team by his son.  Currently working in commercial aircraft seating, Robert has a much-varied career history that lends itself to the multidisciplinary nature of robots designed to play FIRST games.  A proud BSME alumnus of Cal Poly Pomona; go Broncos!

 

Andrew Dorfman

Drive Coach
Joined Team 980 in 2023

Andrew is a former student member of Team 980. He was awarded the Dean's List Finalist award in 2017 and graduated in 2018 after a successful year as team captain. He returned to the team in 2024 as a jack-of-all-trades mentor specializing in drivetrains, motors, and strategy. He plans to have a career in mechcanical engineering and computer hardware.

 

Zack Gainsforth

Fabrication Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2023

Zack Gainsforth graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and is currently a research scientist at UC’s Space Sciences Laboratory, specializing in comet and asteroid studies. He plays a key role in NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, analyzing samples from asteroid Bennu to understand the early solar system and the origins of life. He was a founding mentor for Team 980 and rejoined in 2023 as the Fabrication mentor.

Cindy Gainsforth

Business & Outreach Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2023

Cindy Gainsforth graduated from Pace University in Pleasantville, NY with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics. She is currently the Head of School for Delphi Academy of Los Angeles and has been a FLL coach from 2017 and joined Team 980 in 2023 as a Robotics mom and mentor.

 

David Graves

Controls Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2017

Engineer and manager at Raytheon for 17 years. Works in electronics design, fabrication and test in the aeronautical industry throughout his career. He started mentoring in FIRST Robotics Competition in 2008 and was a student member of a team when he was in high school.

 

Leilani Emelio

Controls Mentor
Joined Team 980 in 2023

Leilani was on a robotics team for two years at Culver Coty High school where she found her loved for Engineering. After high school Leilani joined the United States Air Force in October of 2015. She was stationed at Nellis AFB where she worked on F-35s as an Armament Team member and as an evaluator for six years. Now Leilani is a Weapons Team Chief working on F-15 strike eagles and is stationed at RAF Lakenheath Airbase since August of 2022. While working full time as an active duty member Leilani graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering. Leilani is currently working on her Masters in Aerospace Engineering .