Bill Woodmansee brings extensive leadership, relationship management, and customer service experience to NTX STEM Alliance. Professionally, Bill is a Managing Director with Fidelity Investments, where his career is focused on building strong client relationships, understanding customer needs, and helping organizations navigate complex services and solutions. His experience has given him a strong appreciation for communication, collaboration, and the importance of developing trusted, long-term relationships.

Bill's involvement with FIRST began in 2022 when his son joined a community FIRST LEGO League Challenge team. What started as a family activity quickly grew into a commitment to helping young people discover STEM through hands-on learning, teamwork, and competition. The 2026–27 BIOGLOW season will mark Bill's fourth year mentoring/coaching FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team 57189, MEEP (Most Energized Extreme Programmers).

As a founding director of NTX STEM Alliance, Bill combines his professional experience in leadership and relationship management with his firsthand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing community-based robotics teams. He is passionate about building connections among students, families, mentors, educators, community organizations, and industry professionals to expand access to the resources and support young people need to explore STEM and succeed.

Richard Woodmansee brings decades of technology, project management, and nonprofit leadership experience to NTX STEM Alliance. Before retiring, Richard built a career spanning software development, systems architecture, program management, and technology consulting. He spent many years with Fidelity Investments before moving into consulting and ultimately Accenture, where his work included technology delivery, Agile transformation, and coaching software teams and leaders.

Alongside his professional career, Richard spent more than a decade serving on the board of DFW Metro Golden Retriever Rescue, including serving as its President. That experience gave him firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and responsibilities involved in building, governing, and sustaining a community-based nonprofit organization.

Richard's involvement with FIRST began after his son, Bill, asked him to help mentor FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team 57189 MEEP (Most Energized Extreme Programmers). Drawing on his programming background, Richard began working with the team on Python programming and discovered a new opportunity to share a lifetime of technology experience with his grandson and the next generation of problem-solvers.

As a founding director of NTX STEM Alliance, Richard combines his technology background, nonprofit leadership experience, and passion for mentoring to help build an organization that gives more North Texas students access to robotics, programming, mentors, and meaningful hands-on STEM experiences.

Stephen McConnell brings extensive FIRST experience and a strong commitment to expanding youth robotics opportunities across North Texas. A FIRST alumnus himself, Stephen experienced firsthand the impact competitive robotics can have on students and has remained actively involved with FIRST as a mentor, volunteer, and advocate for youth robotics.

Stephen has played an important role in supporting FIRST events throughout North Texas, including working with FIRST in Texas in the organization of FIRST LEGO League Challenge qualifier and regional events. He also represents North Texas on the FIRST in Texas FTC Advisory Council, helping bring community feedback and experience to efforts that strengthen team, volunteer, and competition experiences.

Professionally, Stephen works with Charles Schwab in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. As Director – FIRST Programs, he brings to NTX STEM Alliance a broad perspective across FIRST LEGO League Challenge, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition. His experience helps the Alliance support students as they progress through FIRST programs and expand opportunities for teams throughout North Texas.

Zachary Stevens brings an entrepreneurial and business-development perspective to NTX STEM Alliance. He is the founder and owner of LEXA Sport, a North Texas custom sportswear company, and holds an MBA from Brigham Young University.

Zachary's connection to FIRST began when his son joined FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team 57189 MEEP (Most Energized Extreme Programmers). Through his family's involvement with the team, Zachary saw firsthand the opportunities FIRST provides students to develop technical skills, confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

As Director – Business Administration, Zachary brings his experience as an entrepreneur and business leader to the organizational side of NTX STEM Alliance. His perspective helps the Alliance think beyond individual robotics teams toward building a sustainable organization—with strong operations, community partnerships, and resources that can support more students and teams throughout North Texas.

Kiersten McConnell brings a lifelong connection to FIRST, professional STEM experience, and a passion for helping young people discover their potential through robotics and technology. A FIRST Robotics alumna, Kiersten credits her experience as a student with helping inspire her continued involvement in STEM and her commitment to giving the next generation similar opportunities.

Kiersten's professional and educational experience has included work with emerging technologies such as 3D printing and virtual and augmented reality, as well as experience as a robotics instructor. She has remained active in the FIRST community as a mentor, volunteer, and competition judge, helping students build confidence in their technical abilities and encouraging young people—particularly young women—to see themselves pursuing careers in STEM.

As a director of NTX STEM Alliance, Kiersten brings both the perspective of a former FIRST student and the experience of a STEM professional and educator. She is committed to creating opportunities for students to explore technology, develop confidence, learn from mentors, and discover where their own interests in STEM can take them.