Announcement and Thank You
 

(I had the opportunity to make this announcement at IRI, and am happy to go into some more detail here on ChiefDelphi.com.)

Dear FIRST community,

With much gratitude and respect to you all, I am very happy to announce that I am leaving my job as Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Delphi Electronics and Safety on September 1st. Mark Koors and I have grown our AndyMark company to the point where I can work full time at AndyMark. We started this company 3 years ago, with our intent of leaving our day jobs at Delphi. Now, that dream is being realized. Mark's departure from Delphi will take place over the next year or two.

We owe a great thanks to you all for this success and my transition. You have been good friends and customers as you have watched us grow as a company. We have debated issues on this website, discussed how our products can be improved, and many of you have tirelessly supported what we are doing. I can’t thank you enough.

Up to this point, we have worked hard to support FRC teams, while being distracted with my responsibilities at Delphi. From this point on, my focus will now be 100% on AndyMark, and that will mean better support and service for FIRST Robotics teams.

AndyMark is also moving into a new home, as we will be tenants at Inventrek Technology Park in Kokomo. Inventrek is a high-tech incubator focused on helping new technology-driven companies realize their potential in developing technology-based initiatives. We move in next week.

Although I will be leaving Delphi, I will continue to be a mentor on the TechnoKats Robotics Team. However, I will not be the lead mentor as I have for the past 8 seasons. We are working on a transition now and my limited responsibilities for team 45 have not been redefined. I would like to thank my TechnoKat teammates, as they have supported us through this whole process. Specifically, I want to thank Mark Koors for being a wonderful teammate and business partner, venturing down this path with me.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Mary, for supporting me unconditionally through this process. Without this support, none of this would happen and I would not be in FIRST. My role as husband and father is more important than my role as FIRST mentor and teammate, and I appreciate that she has let me “play with the robots” for so long.

If you are familiar with communicating with me through my Delphi email, you will need to use one of these two addresses to contact me in the future: andybaker45(at)gmail.com or andyb(at)andymark.biz. Also, our mailing address will change to this:

AndyMark, Inc.
700 E. Firmin St.
Suite 114
Kokomo, IN 46902
765-455-1376

Thank you very much,
Andy Baker

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Good luck on your endevour, Andy!

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Good luck! Having had a parent move from a big company to their own endeavor, I wish you the best of luck!

Also, I'm guessing we're going to see the AndyMark line expand, and improve a bit, due to the full time commitment now?

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

I'm really excited for you, Andy. When I first read about the announcement you'd made regarding this at IRI, I had a big smile on my face.

It's not only amazing that both you and Mark have been able to build a successful business in AndyMark, but that you've done so while continuing to be exemplary mentors and members of the FIRST community. Where we typically think of business ventures -- especially startups -- as being competitive and secretive, the two of you have offered your help and have been honest with all of us at every turn. It's really amazing and noteworthy.

AndyMark's service and products have all been simply amazing -- especially when compared to some of the larger companies we've dealt with -- and all of us on team xbot are looking forward to doing our part to keep you employed in 2008 and in the future :)

Way to go :)

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Congratulations Andy, and best of luck to you.:)

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

I got a literal tear in my eye (2 really) when I heard this at the IRI. I'm happy to see you following your dreams and succeeding. Congratulations!

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Best of luck! This is in my opinion, great news for the robotics community. I look forward to seeing AndyMark grow in the coming years.

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Aww, yay!! Congratulations, Andy! :)

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

All the best. You deserve this.

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Congrats Andy on your new direction. May you and Mark continue to be successful by providing something that saves the proverbial kiesters of those of us who don't know a lick about designing a gearbox!

I would proudly put an AM sticker on our robot any day!

Keep it up!

-Andy Grady

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

I can't say I know you as well as some of the other guys on here but I know all about how much work and dedication you have put into your team and into FIRST as a whole. I also know of the high quality parts you put out for the benefit of all teams as we've used plenty. I wish you all the best of luck in continuing AM and look forward to all the goodies you'll be able to make :D

You say thank you to us, but I say thank you to you for putting out such amazing products and for, more importantly, adding so much to FIRST.

Good luck.

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Andy,

I want to formally thank you for impacting my life in the past 4 years that can never be beat. You took me from a freshman who knew nothing, at all, to a confident senior who wasn't afraid to describe the robot to anyone. In the time in between, you (with some other adults also) taught me how to use a mill, lathe, how to run pneumatics, how to design with actually using math that we learned in school and many many many many more things.

At first, I was very intimidated by FIRST, but you have taught all TechnoKats that there is nothing to be afraid of. I can never say thank you enough. It will feel odd this next season going to a new shop and not seeing you there. Even though you are leaving the team lead position, you will still impact ALL future freshman on TechnoKats. You are, and always will be, a legend in the realm of FIRST and you will be rightfully so.

If there is anything you need, ever, do NOT be afraid to ask me for help. You are one of my best friends now, as I said earlier in this note, I can NEVER say thank you enough. Good luck with AndyMark and I hope you and Mark become very successful.

Thank you for all of the great times!

Your friend,
Kyle Love

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Andy,

Your products saved our butts on multiple occasions during Palmetto, but your service saved our butts even more during build. Whether it was combining two separate orders into one box in a hurry or sticking the CAD files on the website, AndyMark kept the Capitals rolling except when our own silly mistakes stopped us. (memo to self: locknuts.) I've got nothing but the best of hopes for y'all.

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

Andy,

Way above and beyond "FIRST" or "Robotics" you are perhaps the most community-oriented individual I have ever met in my life. You step up, you get involved, you provide solutions, you help others - even when it makes things more difficult for you and your team. You handle difficult situations with style, you live a life that shows everyone you come into contact with that you have a sincere desire to help create a better world. You are the most humble team player I have ever seen.

The funny thing is, the more you've given, the more you've received. I believe all the way through my shoes, that there are a few rare gems we get to see a glimpse of in our lives. You, without a doubt are one of those rare individuals. It's impossible to know when you are at work or at play and the size of your "family" seems to have no boundaries.

The example that you set is one we can all learn from and should emulate. Not that we all should start our own business making gearboxes for some silly robot competition; that would be a mistake for most of us. More like following our hearts with conviction, displaying passion in the face of adversity, and having the courage to step up in an otherwise greedy world and show how important it is to help others - always.

Personally, you have done way more favors for me than I can ever repay. I'm a better person because I know you. Thank you and congratulations.

Re: Announcement and Thank You
 

I think I can safely say that a lot of teams wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for AndyMark. Thanks for everything that you do Andy; Indiana and FIRST would not be where they are today without your involvement.

Also, I just wanted to note that this is SO cool. I wonder if we'll start seeing any other FIRST related start up's? A few of us have an idea... but that's all it is right now, an idea :]