Date: 11/6/2025 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Join us for a dynamic and thought-provoking panel, Innovation, Talent & Collaboration: Technology’s Future in the Capital Region, hosted by the RPI Hudson Mohawk Alumni Chapter at Kitware, featuring four RPI alumni leaders shaping the future of technology across academia, industry, and research. Panelists include: Bill Hoffman ’92, Chief Technical Officer, Kitware – pioneer in open-source software and large-scale computing; Wes Turner ’85, PhD ’01, Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, RPI – educator and researcher advancing next-generation computer science talent; Karthik Bala ’97, CEO, Velan Studios, Inc. – visionary leader in gaming and interactive media innovation; Rick Arthur ’92, Senior Principal Engineer, Computational Methods Research, GE Aerospace Research – expert in AI, HPC, and advanced computational methods; and moderator Michelle Chank ’90, MS ’91, PMP, CCP, Managing Partner at Gartner. Together, they will explore how local institutions, startups, and global companies are collaborating to foster growth, attract world-class talent, and tackle global challenges. The discussion will include insights into their own work, regional opportunities and challenges, and an open Q&A. This panel will spotlight the Capital District’s strengths in software engineering, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, gaming, and applied research. Panelists will share their unique perspectives on innovation, talent, and collaboration in one of the country’s most vibrant tech ecosystems. You will not want to miss this!