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FIRST WISCONSIN
District Transition Information
The Road to Districts
The journey toward adopting the district model of play in Wisconsin has been shaped by years of conversation, thorough research, and a deep consideration of how this change would impact teams, events, and the student experience across Wisconsin.
Since 2016, FIRST Wisconsin has engaged mentors, volunteers, team leaders, and national partners to understand the opportunities and challenges of moving towards the district model. Through public town halls, formal studies, and ongoing feedback, the path forward became clear: transitioning to districts would allow more students to play more often, reduce travel burdens, and create a more sustainable structure for long-term growth.
This page outlines the key moments, decisions, and voices that helped shape the future of FIRST in Wisconsin.
2016 - Initial Interest & Community Momentum
In 2016, support for the district model emerged when Wisconsin teams received flyers promoting the concept at a Regional Event. This sparked a passionate discussion at the Wisconsin Regional Town Hall, where community members expressed a strong desire to transition within one to two years.
In response, the FIRST Wisconsin Executive Advisory Board (EAB) initiated discussions to explore what a shift would entail—raising key questions about logistics, impact, and how best to engage stakeholders, especially teams, in the process.
2017 - Formal Exploration Begins
In early 2017, the FIRST Wisconsin Executive Advisory Board formalized its exploration by creating a committee (the District Exploration Committee), to study the feasibility of a district transition. The committee hosted a statewide Town Hall on May 13, 2017, at Appleton East High School to share information, gather feedback, and discuss the potential implications.
Following the meeting, the board determined that no decision would be made before the 2020 fiscal year, allowing more time for research and planning.
2019 - Strategic Reboot & Planning
By 2019, Wisconsin’s efforts toward a potential district transition gained renewed structure and leadership. Meetings at the FIRST Championship in Detroit helped state leaders connect with HQ and gather insights from other districts. That August, the Executive Advisory Board was dissolved and replaced with a newly formed Steering Committee, which received a comprehensive report in December detailing what a district transition in Wisconsin would require—including financial, logistical, and operational considerations.
2020 - Pandemic Pause
At the Duluth FRC competitions in March 2020, several members of the Wisconsin Steering Committee met informally to discuss establishing a non-profit organization in Wisconsin. Focus would be on a working Board of Directors who would assist with fundraising, growth, and a potential shift to districts. Discussion also centered around obtaining legal and financial advice to assist with the establishment of a non-profit organization.
Immediately following the 2020 FRC competitions in Duluth, the global pandemic put the remainder of the competition season on hold. While problematic for so many aspects of everyday life, the pandemic provided the opportunity to focus efforts on establishing Wisconsin FIRST Robotics, Inc.
2021 - Nonprofit Formation
With pro bono support from legal and accounting partners, the Steering Committee formally incorporated Wisconsin FIRST Robotics, Inc. (doing business as FIRST Wisconsin) as a nonprofit organization. On April 30, 2021, the organization’s founding Board of Directors—Jeff Fenstermaker, Rich Merkel, and Sean Schuff—were officially elected.
The nonprofit was established to serve as the state-level entity responsible for the long-term growth and sustainability of FIRST programs in Wisconsin. Later that year, in December 2021, FIRST Wisconsin received its official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. With this milestone achieved, the founding board—under guidance from the Steering Committee—expanded to include a full Board of Directors. Representing Wisconsin's leading companies, educational institutions, and community partners — the following individuals created a strong foundation of leadership and expertise in February of 2022:
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Jeff Fenstermaker, GE Healthcare (Chairman)
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Sean Schuff, Tesla Engineering Charter School (Vice-Chairman)
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Ryan Jipp, Milwaukee Tool (Treasurer)
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Dave Woods, Regal Rexnord Corporation (Secretary)
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Michael Cook, Rockwell Automation
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Arrow Guetschow, Lakeshore FIRST Robotics Coalition
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Juli Pickering, University of Wisconsin
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Darrin Rothe, Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Matt Reiland, Komatsu
2023 - Building Capacity
The first major step in this phase was FIRST Wisconsin becoming the official Program Delivery Organization (PDO) for FIRST Tech Challenge in Fall 2022, marking a new chapter in statewide program oversight. To support this expanded role, the organization hired its first staff member, establishing a foundation for long-term operational stability.
As internal systems matured and sponsorships grew, FIRST Wisconsin was also positioned to assume full fiscal responsibility for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program by Fall 2023 —a key milestone in its development as an independent, statewide partner.
2024 - Re-Evaluation
By 2024, it became evident that several of the assumptions outlined in the 2019 District Model of Play transition report - while accurate at the time - had been impacted by changes in the post-pandemic landscape. Shifts in team retention, event attendance, venue availability, mentor burnout, and volunteer growth prompted FIRST Wisconsin to reassess the feasibility and impact of transitioning to the district model.
A new round of analysis in Fall 2023, followed by statewide discussions with the FIRST Robotics Competition community in Spring 2024, highlighted the need for updated strategies to ensure access to the program was both sustainable and equitable.
If FIRST Wisconsin was truly committed to its mission of “Every Student. Every Program. Everywhere,” then it needed a structure that more effectively supported team retention, reduced travel burdens, and expanded geographic access—especially for schools and communities that have historically been underrepresented or lacked access to the program.
2025 - Decision to Move Forward
In Fall 2024, the FIRST Wisconsin Board of Directors unanimously voted to propose transitioning Wisconsin to the District Model of Play beginning in the 2025–2026 season (FY26). This significant step was shared with the community in the October 17th blog post and reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding access, improving sustainability, and strengthening the competitive experience for all participating teams.
FIRST Wisconsin extends its sincere appreciation to the members of the Board of Directors for their leadership and support throughout this process:
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Jeff Fenstermaker, GE Healthcare (Chairman)
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Sean Schuff, Tesla Engineering Charter School (Vice-Chairman)
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Ryan Jipp, Milwaukee Tool (Treasurer)
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Michael Cook, Rockwell Automation (Secretary)
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Jason Fuhr, Clarios
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Arrow Guetschow, Lakeshore FIRST Robotics Coalition
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Jenna Joestgen, Plexus
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Juli Pickering, University of Wisconsin
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Darrin Rothe, Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Erin Siemandel, Johnson Controls
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Megan Volkening, FIRST Alumni of Madison Officer
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Dave Woods, Regal Rexnord Corporation
Their collective efforts are helping to shape a more connected and sustainable future for FIRST programs across the state.
Status Updates on the Transition
As of June 1st, 2025 all status updates on the transition to District Model of Play can be found under resources within the District Transition section of the FIRST Wisconsin website.