STEM, Girls and Drones
Meet Our Team
Susan Bickford
President
A retired veteran, and innovator in drone training programs, Susan Bickford has a passion for mapping and drone technology. While serving as Natural Resource and Geospatial Specialist for the Wells National Estuarine Reserve in Maine, she developed in-person and online mapping and drone technology courses for partner organizations including the University of New England and Unity College.
As a certified drone pilot Sue works to empower women and girls to seek careers in aviation and other related technology fields. She co-founded 1,000 Drones for 1,000 Girls in 2020 to offer hands-on and online educational experiences in science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) to all students, with a focus on middle school girls.
Brenda Wilson
Vice-president
An educator, leader, and military veteran, Brenda Wilson is also a community-builder who is passionate about inspiring others to explore and utilize drones and remote-control technology in personal, professional, and research capacities.
Brenda’s entrepreneurial ambitions led to her opening DieHard RC in 2015, creating an all-seasons venue for both novices and seasoned experts to hone their competitive skills and share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport of remote-control car and drone racing. As a certified and accomplished drone pilot, Brenda co-founded 1,000 Drones for 1,000 Girls project in 2020.
Billye Auclair
Treasurer
Billye Auclair, Ph.D., has spent the last 30+ years educating and supporting girls and women in the STEM fields. She taught biology at a women’s college for over 20 years, and served on the Board of Girls Inc. in Worcester, MA where she was involved in their EUREKA Program, which empowers and educates girls in STEM and provides them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue STEM careers.
She has provided science workshops for middle-school girls and has mentored numerous young women as they pursue science-related fields. She believes that girls need to be exposed to science in the early grades to spark their interest and build confidence.
Cindy Whitehouse
Secretary
Computer coding is Cindy’s passion, which led her to a thirty-year career as a software engineer and project lead. Combining drones and coding doubles the fun she has with her two granddaughters. Concerned for the future career opportunities for girls in general, she is dedicated to helping them enjoy the excitement of flying drones while they learn profitable and transferable workplace skills.
Using her corporate skills for 1,000 Drones for 1,000 Girls, Cindy is a both a drone coding instructor and the organization’s webmaster.
Kim Players
Marketing and Fundraising
As an inspirational speaker, Kim is known for her transformational energy and masterful training ability who educates and empowers both men and women to discover their greatness and nurture their own success.
A longtime drone pilot, she is also founder and CEO of Master Your Drone, a drone education company for the beginner drone enthusiast, the serious hobbyist as well as professional drone companies who are interested in integrating best practices into their drone services. Kim brings all these skills to bear in developing programs, marketing and funding opportunities to 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls.
Alan Lukas
Education and Finance
Alan brings his skills as both a business leader and educator to 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls. As an aircraft pilot, Alan is well versed in aviation safety . As a business leader, Alan also brings sound business advice to this non-profit as well.
Graduating from MIT with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Alan brought these skills to Baxter Academy of Science and Technology teaching both mathematics and physics. Through this connection, 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls successfully partnered with Baxter to bring week-long Drone Summer Camps an over the years. .
Louann Cormier
Social Media and Drone Education
Louann is currently a Senior Program Manager of The Aerial Drone Competition at Robotics Education & Competition Foundation which sparks interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable, and affordable curriculum-based robotics programs.
Louann’s expertise in connecting people and organizations through social media and other communication venues adds valuable networking opportunities to 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls. Her skills in engaging students through drone education are integral to helping 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls achieve its mission of supporting girls and young women in exploring opportunities in achieving STEM careers.