At One Firefly, we believe in empowering the next generation of innovators by supporting STEM education, teamwork, and hands-on learning. That’s why we are proud to donate $10,000 to the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition South Florida Regional, an event that fuels curiosity, creativity, and career-building opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
But for Ron Callis, CEO of One Firefly, this is more than just a sponsorship—it’s a personal mission.
A Passion for Mentorship
Ron’s journey with FIRST Robotics began in 2012 when he attended the CEDIA Expo and heard a keynote from Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST. Inspired by FIRST’s vision of equipping students with technical, leadership, and business skills, Ron co-founded a FIRST Robotics team in South Florida and served as a mentor for six years.
"I loved working with the students and watching them grow," says Ron. "For many kids, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, being part of a FIRST Robotics team gives them a sense of possibility. It opens doors to futures they never thought they could have."
One such student is Jessica Telles, Corporate Programs Lead at One Firefly. Jessica was part of Team 4592, The Mechanical Mustangs, based at MacArthur High School—a Title 1 school where more than 80% of students come from low-income families.
"FIRST Robotics was life-changing for me," shares Jessica. "It gave me hands-on experience, a community, and a passion for technology. It led me to an internship at One Firefly, which later became my career. Seeing One Firefly give back to FIRST now is truly full circle."
What is FIRST Robotics?
FIRST—For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology—is a global organization that prepares students for real-world careers in STEM through immersive robotics competitions. The FIRST Robotics Competition is often called the "ultimate sport for the mind," where high school students design, build, and program industrial-sized robots to solve complex challenges.
But FIRST is more than just robots—it equips students with:
✅ Engineering & Programming Skills – Designing and coding high-performance robots
✅ Business & Marketing Experience – Securing sponsors and managing fundraising
✅ Leadership & Teamwork Development – Solving challenges and collaborating under pressure
The impact extends far beyond the competition floor. Many FIRST alums go on to technology, engineering, and business careers, aligning directly with the Custom Integration industry.
"Not every student needs to go to college to have a successful career," says Ron. "FIRST Robotics gives students real-world, hands-on skills that could make them excellent candidates for AV, automation, and integration careers. If we introduce them to our industry early, we can help build the future talent pipeline."
Join Us at the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition in South Florida!
We’re not just supporting the FIRST Robotics Competition South Florida Regional—we’re excited to be part of the action!
From April 2–5, 2025, the regional competition will occur in Coral Gables, Florida, where teams will compete, collaborate, and showcase their engineering skills.
Even more exciting, Ron Callis, CEO of One Firefly, and Samantha Hodz, Director of Talent Acquisition Services at Amplify People, will be judges at the event.
"Giving back isn’t just a choice—it’s a responsibility," Ron emphasizes. "When we invest in these students, we invest in the future of technology, our industry, and the communities we serve."
We’d love to see more industry professionals get involved! If you’re interested in volunteering at the event, you can register here:
🔗 FRC South Florida Regional – Volunteer Info
Why This Matters
By supporting FIRST Robotics, we’re helping to ensure that more students have the resources to participate, compete at a high level, and explore STEM career paths. As a company dedicated to innovation and industry growth, One Firefly is committed to supporting initiatives that nurture young talent, foster technical skills, and inspire the next generation of problem solvers.
If you want to learn more about FIRST Robotics and how you can support its mission, visit: