Cathy Swider joined Industry Affairs, Oregon University System in April 2005 as Project Administrator for the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP). She has served as a member of ORTOP Planning Committee since its inception in 2001 and chairs the Outreach and Scholarship Committee. Her LEGO Robotics activities include; FIRST LEGO League coach (2001 -2004), co-founder of the LEGO Robotics Day Camp for Girls with Jo Oshiro, Industry Affairs, OUS and co-author of the ORTOP Qualifying Tournament Director's Handbook. In 2008, she joined the FIRST LEGO League World Festival Planning Committee to plan the annual global tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to joining the Industry Affairs she was a program coordinator for Software Association of Oregon Foundation (now TechStart Foundation) where she coordinated SuperQuest, a professional development summer institute for technology teachers, and activities of the Computer Science Teachers Association Oregon. Outside of ORTOP, she enjoys knitting, spending time with her family and currently is building the LEGO Millennium Falcon: Ultimate Collector's Edition