SURVIVE & THRIVE: How to Run a Sustainable Team without LOSING YOUR MIND

by | Jul 22, 2026 | Sustainability

Thank you for joining us at the 2026 Viva Los Mentors Conference, for SURVIVE & THRIVE: How to Run a Sustainable Team without LOSING YOUR MIND.

Below are the links to the slides from the workshop and a workbook doc. If you have any questions.  You can email Wenday at waustin@firstinspires.org or Elise at elise@liseydreams.com for questions and/or comments.

Presenters: Wendy Austin (FIRST Regional Director North & Central Florida ) and Elise Cronin-Hurley (Team 1902 Exploding Bacon FL)

A workbook designed to help your team not just survive, but thrive!
Survive → Sustain → Thrive → Inspire

Access the Presentation
Access the Workbook

About the Presenters:

Wendy's Story

  • Work Experience
    • FIRST Regional Director North & Central Florida, 2017-current 
  • Team & Volunteer Experience
    • Mentored, numerous FIRST teams at all levels: 
    • 4-H Volunteer & Lead
    • FIRST: numerous roles as a volunteer and judge at competitions; volunteer, events and outreach, since 2006
    • Extensive history of youth organization development: church youth leader, Girl Scout leader, PTA President and more.
    • Southeastern FIRST Mentor Conference (SE/FMC) founding planning member

Elise's Story

  • Volunteer Experience
    • Event Organizing since 1988
    • FIRST & 4-H Mentor since 2011 (Team Lead for Hall of Fame team, 4-H Exploding Bacon Robotics 1902, 2016-2019) 
    • Communications Director for Orlando and Tallahassee Regionals, in Florida
    • FIRST Hall of Fame Chair and FIRST Mentor Conference Planning Committee and presenter - 3 years in a row
  • Work Experience
    • Graphic Design since 1985/Website Design since 2000
    • Professional consulting experience: assisting organizations develop and recover digital assets.
  • Education
    • Bachelors: Organizational Communication 1990
    • Masters: Public Admin w/focus on Non-Profits 1994

Tip

Document all of those who have access to all team assets. Then think about people associated with the team who have the potential to become decision-makers over the next 3 years

About the Author

Serving as a mentor since 2011, Elise Cronin-Hurley also served as a Team Lead of 4-H Exploding Bacon Robotics Team 1902 from 2016 - 2019.  She volunteers and judges at numerous FIRST events, on regional planning committees, with the FIRST Hall of Fame, and has conducted workshops on imagery, FIRST Impact Award, and team organization. By day she is a freelance web and graphic designer. Read More about Elise