Name: She Leads FIRST: Women in STEM - Building confidence and leadership for girls in STEM, and creating team cultures that recruit and keep them, from FLL through FRC
Start: 2026-08-08T11:30:00-0400
End: 2026-08-08T12:15:00-0400

Welcome to GEARED UP 2026: Mentor Conference! Join us at James Madison University’s Festival Conference & Student Center in Harrisonburg, VA, for two days of learning, connection, and community.

You power 10,000+ students across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This day is built for YOU. Whether you’re a rookie coach launching your first team or a 20-year veteran looking for fresh ideas, you’ll find sessions, workshops, and conversations designed to sharpen your skills and recharge your passion.

Proudly presented by Aramco Americas. See you in Harrisonburg.

She Leads FIRST: Women in STEM - Building confidence and leadership for girls in STEM, and creating team cultures that recruit and keep them, from FLL through FRC

Saturday August 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Conf Room 4 (40) Access & Advocacy

An extension of the FIRST Championship Women in STEM panel to a regional audience. The panel applies across every program level — FLL coaches, FTC mentors, and FRC veterans all benefit from hearing how to create inclusive team cultures and recruit and retain women in STEM.

Moderators

DeAnna Williams

Program Manager, Mentorship & SheLeads, Girls with Impact

I'm DeAnna! I'm a non-profit program manager passionate about designing programs that empower young people. I bring a strategic, data-informed, and equity-driven perspectives to everything I build. I thrive at serving communities and addressing social issues through an intersectional... Read More →

Speakers

Elise Spontarelli

Executive Director, Vector Space

Elise Spontarelli is co-founder and Executive Director at Vector Space, a community makerspace in Central Virginia. She's made an entrepreneurial career rendering lines, arcs, and polygons. You'll often find Elise giving her designs life by plasma cutting, laser engraving, and screen... Read More →