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Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Appoints Dan Mantz as CEO

June 20, 2017

Greenville, TX – June 20, 2017 – The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dan Mantz as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mantz is Chairman of the Board for the REC Foundation and previously held the position of President for RackSolutions, Inc. Jason Morrella will continue to serve as President of the REC Foundation.

In under ten years, the REC Foundation has gone from supporting 80 teams to more than 18,000 teams. This exponential growth has enabled the Foundation to have significant cultural impact, while also presenting some new challenges.

Tony Norman, REC Foundation Board Member and CEO of Innovation First International stated, “I am confident that Dan is the right executive to steward the REC Foundation into the future, and position the organization for long-term growth. Dan is a natural leader with a proven track record of building strong teams, creating healthy cultures, and developing successful organizations throughout his career. The Board agrees that Dan and Jason will make a strong team and will collaborate to lead the REC Foundation to even greater success.”

Mantz will focus on three priorities:

  • Strengthen operational execution across the organization to support the continued growth of robotics competitions, STEM education and training programs.
  • Improve finance, accounting and communications systems.
  • Expand sponsorships and partnerships to better serve more students.

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About the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

The REC Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry, and the non-profit community to achieve this work. For more information, please visit www.RoboticsEducation.org or for details on upcoming events, please visit www.RobotEvents.com.

2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
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