As the legendary Michael Gordon walks into the room, the Beverly Hills High School Robotics team starts to quiet down. It is obvious that Mike (as he likes to be called) is a respected leader in this mini-community. A man who takes his job very seriously, he exudes confidence and experience, helping Team 1515 with any and all problems.
He was not always a master of engineering and architecture. As a young boy, he loved problem solving and working with his hands, making dollhouses and rocking horses for his family during Christmas. He cites his father, a carpenter, as his inspiration to get started in his high school job of landscaping. Mike pursued his love of building throughout school until he graduated from Penn State University with a degree in architectural engineering.
Through a stroke of luck, a friend of his in Florida got him a position as a faculty design manager in the creative department with Universal. There he tackled colossal projects such as the Twister attraction, a fifty- foot tall tornado show that is simulated indoors with an audience a few feet away. During his five years of work with Universal, he transferred from Florida to California and studied animation at UCLA. While in Los Angeles for a project, he also met his wife, a concept artist who has directed huge projects abroad.
With time, Mike began working as a Walt Disney Imagineer, using his specialization in engineering to participate in over twenty different projects. Most BHHS students have been on a ride that Mike helped build, such as his first Disney attraction, Tower of Tara, as well as the Finding Nemo attraction. His mentor, Frank Weigand, helped guide Mike through his career at Disney, and the two remain good friends. Mike also mentions Bill Wilcox, Mark Summer, Dave McCartney, and Maureen Hart as individuals who provided him with guidance and inspiration. After seven years with the Disney Imagineering team, Mike left to start his career as an independent contractor, showcasing his skills in projects involving sculpting, architecture, and engineering.
His unique background has brought Mike Gordon to the Beverly Hills High School Robotics team, where he guides the animation and engineering groups each year. He inspires newcomers and offers his unwavering help to his protégés. He also serves as a judge at the California Regionals, a position he has been honored with for the past five years. Although he never judges Team 1515 at competitions for objectivity's sake, he does announce that BHHS is one the best teams out there, improving each year.
As he begins his speech to the 2009-2010 Robotics team at Beverly, Mike stops to give the room a huge smile. His passion and dedication shine through his calm, strong demeanor, and fill each Robotics member with inspiration. It is because of his guidance and support that his next words ring true: " You guys are all champions, even before you get to the competition". It is due to people like Mike that Team 1515 continues to improve each year, preparing for the upcoming competition with vigor and enthusiasm. When the BHHS Team wins this year at Regional's, we all know that Mike will be cheering the loudest, proud of his team, and ready to be our unwavering support for the upcoming years.
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