[FRC Blog] Title Change

FIRST General Forum
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Original Post: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-title-change

The news was released today that FIRST senior management has decided to update my title to remove the ‘Acting’ part, so now I’m Director of FRC.

I want to thank the incredible FRC staff for their over-the-top support throughout the last year. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, and again, FIRST isn’t just a job to them, it’s in their hearts. They’re the best.

I also want to thank the rest of the FIRST staff for all they’ve done in support of the FRC Program and in support of me personally. You may not know them, and may never know them, but they put everything they have into delivering the best possible experience for all FRC participants.

Finally, I want to thank all the teams and volunteers for their kind comments and support, in person, in emails, and on Chief Delphi. It’s not possible for me to put into words what you mean to me. Let’s keep working together to make a great program even better.

I’m moved, and humbled. I still can’t believe I get to do something that brings me such joy for a living. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Frank

It’s about time.

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Hallelujah!

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It’s about time. Great news :smiley:

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A well deserved position! It has been a pleasure dealing in person with Frank at the Championships and I look forward to many years of his progressive leadership. Headquarters got this one right.

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Congrats! It’s about time :slight_smile:

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Where is the LIKE button on this?

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Well deserved! And gratifying that FIRST has recognized what we FRC particpants and volunteers saw; i.e., a leader that we want to follow.

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Best news I have heard all day.

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Absolutely great move by FIRST! I have seen Frank in action at both the regional and championship level and he is definitely deserving of the title.

Congratulations!

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Best news I’ve heard all week!

The first thought I had when the started the “Frank Answers” thing was to submit a question asking when they were going to remove the “Acting” title…

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I literally yelled and jumped when I heard this news. It’s about time. Congrats Frank, it’s well deserved!!!

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Huzzah!! Great news!!

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Congrats on a well deserved and a well EARNED promotion. I’ve appreciated the new openness and communications that have been a part of your tenure.

Still trying to sort out the “read the blog” vs “official FIRST messages”, but I rather have the info and the candid behind the scenes vs the silence from before.

Please hang in there and help us help support you, I really don’t want to be an early poster going “Yes, Frank was amazing, wow I miss him”

Great job, keep it up!

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Two promotions were released today, FRC and FLL named new directors. Here’s the letter that went out:

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Frank Merrick to Director of the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®), effective immediately.

Frank has been serving as the Acting Director of FRC since June 2012 and has been with FIRST since March 2008 as Deputy Director of FRC. His duties, responsibilities, and time as Deputy Director of FRC prepared Frank extremely well in all aspects of the program, so that when FRC needed him to take the helm, he was able to execute flawlessly, without missing a beat, during the FY 2013 FRC Season and Championship. Frank has rightly earned the respect, trust, and confidence of FIRST senior management and the FRC community, and we look forward to Frank’s ability to achieve the greatest possible reach for the FRC Program.

Frank’s Gracious Professionalism®, integrity, and positive “can do” spirit will serve him well as he works with FIRST senior management to take the FRC Program to even greater heights as part of the FIRST Progression of Programs. Frank will play an even more critical role in FIRST achieving its mission and its long-term success as Director of FRC.

Please join us in congratulating Frank on his promotion to Director of FRC and wishing him continued outstanding success at FIRST.

And…

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Kim Wierman to Director of FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) and Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL®), effective immediately.

Kim has been serving as the Acting Director of FLL and Jr.FLL since November 2012 and has been with FIRST since November 2010 as an FLL Program Manager. Her role as an FLL Program Manager, her prior work experience, and her ability to take initiative and be a quick understudy prepared Kim well in all aspects of the FLL and Jr.FLL Programs. When the FLL and Jr.FLL Programs needed her to provide leadership during a stressful time of the season, Kim was able to execute flawlessly and keep the program teams operating at a high level throughout the FY 2013 FLL and Jr.FLL seasons, including the 2013 FLL World Festival and Jr.FLL World Expo. Kim has rightly earned the respect, trust, and confidence of FIRST senior management and the FLL / Jr.FLL communities, and we look forward to Kim’s ability to achieve the greatest possible reach for the FLL and Jr.FLL Programs.

Kim’s Gracious Professionalism®, teamwork, open-mindedness, and creativity will serve her well as she works with FIRST senior management to take the FLL and Jr.FLL Programs to even greater heights as part of the FIRST Progression of Programs. Kim will play an even more critical role in FIRST achieving its mission and its long-term success as Director of FLL and Jr.FLL.

Please join us in congratulating Kim on her promotion to Director of FLL and Jr.FLL and wishing her continued outstanding success at FIRST.

Donald E. Bossi
FIRST President

Steven R. Chism
FIRST Vice President Programs

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A-bloggin’-men

I agree with what Richard Wallace wrote: A leader we want to follow.

Frank, it’s OK to be humble, but you earned this with your actions. it’s all you.

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Congratulations, Frank! Great news. Finally, an official confirmation of what he’s been showing all of us for months–Frank Merrick’s definitely not acting :slight_smile:

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'bout doggone time!
Congratulations Frank!

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Congratulations to Frank and Kim!

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So wait, what will we all universally agree on now?

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That we love FIRST? That we love Frank? That Frank might read CD as much / more than the rest of us? (take your pick. personally, I’m going to go with all of the above)

Yay Frank! This is so well deserved and a huge Mazel Tov from us to you. insert web hug