Foundation Speaker Series to Feature Educator, Innovator Don Marinelli

Educator and innovator Don Marinelli will speak at the Stanley Center for the Arts on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The event is part of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties’ Speaker Series, a program that seeks to inspire the community to envision the potential of our region and take steps to create positive change. Tickets are free and can be reserved at www.BigIdeas2016.com.

Marinelli is a co-founder of the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, a graduate program that combines technology and art to produce interactive media that is both entertaining and engaging. After retiring in 2012, he co-founded SD Technologies, LLC, a privately held company developing software for the arts, entertainment and education industries, and currently serves as executive vice president. In 2015, Marinelli joined the Columbia University School of Continuing Education, helping to establish their Entertainment Technology Management Program.

Marinelli is also a consultant on projects related to community advancement and was involved in various downtown Pittsburgh redevelopment initiatives. Pittsburgh, much like the Mohawk Valley, struggled to recover after losing much of its industrial base. In recent years, innovative redevelopment initiatives based on the intersection of art, technology and education have helped propel Pittsburgh beyond its history to become one of the most vibrant metropolitan areas in the nation.

“The Mohawk Valley has always been rich with an appreciation for arts and culture, and now we are experiencing growth through economic development and new technology projects,” said Alicia Dicks, president and CEO of The Foundation. “We believe Don Marinelli will inspire our community to understand how these varying elements, when aligned, create greater outcomes than any could achieve individually.”

The Speaker Series is sponsored by The Foundation’s Corporate Partners.