Inspired to make a difference Inspired to make a difference

Meet the people behind the ‘bots.

We are a group of people with vastly different experience and expertise. When we’re not in awe of all that our students have created and accomplished, we’re busy doing one thing: fueling their love of robotics with the support of an entire community.

Our Team

Daryl Davidson
Daryl Davidson
President & CEO

The Head Human.

Having overseen RoboNation since the beginning, Daryl blends RoboNation’s history with new industry trends and always a splash of fun. When he’s not throwing out his next big idea, he is sure to be spreading laughter with one of his legendary dad jokes.

Lindsey Groark
Lindsey Groark
Vice President of Programs

The Mastermind of Initiative.

As soon as she became part of the RoboNation team, Lindsey hit the ground running. First, fostering a strong STEM community; second, bringing advancements to the early education programs; to now, leading the charge to bring advancements to all the RoboNation programs. To get all her energy, Lindsey enjoys a large cup of iced coffee and a lot of teamwork.

Janelle Curtis
Janelle Curtis
Vice President of Strategy & Marketing

The Creator of Opportunities.

Whether it is pulling in sponsors or developing the next big project, Janelle is always up to something and aims to create the best opportunities for the RoboNation community. Catch Janelle starring in the upcoming, highly-anticipated sequel, “Sleepless in San Diego.”

Cheryl Hedeen
Cheryl Hedeen
Program Manager

The Thought Instigator.

After being involved with the SeaPerch community for well over 5 years, Cheryl came to RoboNation to continue shaping the communities across SeaPerch. Cheryl’s newest initiative is collaborating with education and research specialists, to enhance the SeaPerch and GoSense programs. Not only does she bring thoughtfulness and insight into each workday, Cheryl will always impress with an unbeatable skill for having the best sayings for every situation.

Julianna Smith
Julianna Smith
Program Manager

The Multitasker.

The role Julianna has played on the RoboNation team has evolved from event support, communications and design, to her newest challenge: growing the RoboBoat, RoboSub and RobotX programs. Julianna enjoys absorbing ideas from community members, colleagues and stakeholders to map out a game plan. When Julianna isn’t collecting new ideas, she enjoys traveling to new places and hanging out with four-legged furry friends.

Cheri Koch
Cheri Koch
Senior Events Manager

The Experience Orchestrator.

Dedicated to improving the experience for each and every attendee at each event, Cheri has been organizing RoboNation events for over 8 years. If you have been to any RoboNation event, you’ll know Cheri goes above and beyond to create extraordinary experiences. When she’s not answering to Cheri, she’ll also answer to RoboMom.

David Young
David Young
Product Manager

The Master Tinkerer.

After completing a Naval engineering career, David has retired to a job of designing and tinkering products here at RoboNation. Always looking for ways to improve the SeaPerch and SeaGlide kits, David often works faster than any of us can keep up with. Between thinking up new product add-ons, you can find him testing a modified SeaPerch in his pool or out taking a run.

Laverne Imori
Laverne Imori
Community Engagement Coordinator

The Engagement Ninja.

From customer support to community engagement, Laverne’s top priority at RoboNation has always been meeting your needs. Shifting her focus to the postsecondary community, Laverne jumps at any opportunity to connect and find new ways to support the needs of the community. You’ll never be disappointed by the work or stealth Laverne brings to the table.

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Our History

RoboNation, Inc. (previously known as AUVSI Foundation) began operation in 2009 with generous support from AUVSI, the world’s largest industry organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics.

Today, RoboNation is an independent, tax exempt, 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide a pathway of hands-on educational experiences that empower students to find innovative solutions to global challenges. 

Although RoboNation is a separate organization, the partnership with AUVSI remains strong. AUVSI continues to encourage its members and chapters to invest in their own future by getting involved with RoboNation.  This unique relationship allows students at the earliest ages to understand that a career in robotics is a possibility, helping motivate them to pursue studies and hands-on experience with a career in STEM in mind.

RoboNation students of today are the future workforce for AUVSI’s member companies and the robotics industry overall.

Does all this sound awesome? Find out more.

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