Catskills Conf Is An Annual Conference And Retreat Weekend For Makers, Technologists And Entrepreneurs To Celebrate Creative Innovation At The Ashokan Center In Ulster County
Kingston, NY — On Monday, October 17th, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, AT&T External Affairs Director Ed Bergstraesser, Catskills Conf Co-founder Kale Kaposhilin and Catskills Conf partner organization representatives met at the County Executive’s office to kick off the 2nd Annual Catskills Conf.
The Catskills Conf runs from Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 23 at The Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. More than 100 creative designers, software engineers, students and entrepreneurs of all types are expected to attend, to share their work and to build community. The event is born of a shared belief amongst the founders that by holding an accessible and inclusive space for a multi-day interaction between creative, community-minded innovators, new and exciting collaborations will emerge and take root. Attendees will be facilitated in their work by locally made music, food and beverage both inside the conference hall and around the campfire.
True to its promise to be a mix of modern high-tech and timeless low-tech, Catskills Conf will feature music from locals Jay Ungar & Molly Mason and Mike & Ruthy, as well as activities such as foraging with Dina Falconi, botanical drawing with Wendy Hollander, cider fermentation with Patti Wilcox, cofounder of Gravity Ciders and blacksmithing. Locally made beer from Keegan Ales, cider from Awestruck, meats from Fleisher’s Craft Butchery and chocolate from Fruition will all be served during the weekend.
“At Catskills Conf, technology entrepreneurs from NYC, throughout the region and around the world will get the opportunity to celebrate history, the environment and the arts, while simultaneously discussing technology, business innovation and collaboration,” said County Executive Hein. “I want to thank the founders of Catskills Conf and AT&T for recognizing that the scenery and surroundings here are ideal for inspiring entrepreneurs and for creating a unique program that will allow them to grow together and learn. Ulster County is the perfect home for events like Catskills Conf and quite frankly, it is the perfect home for technology entrepreneurs all year round.”
“Our presenters are doing really inspiring work in technology and community development.” says Catskills Conf Co-founder Kale Kaposhilin. “Our attendees are diverse, they have a twinkle in their eye and they are ready to learn from each other. We’re proud to be stewards of this shared experience and couldn’t do it without the support from AT&T and Ulster County and their commitment to advancing local innovation in our region.”
AT&T’s ongoing support for Catskills Conf grows out of the company’s commitment to foster local innovation by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs, technologists, makers and developers to create new technologies and act on ideas that could positively impact their communities and strengthen the Hudson Valley’s innovation economy and ecosystem.
For more information, or to purchase tickets for this weekend of community innovation and technology discussions, visit www.catskillsconf.com.
Pictured below (from Left): Jay Unger (Jay & Molly's Family Band); Gina Gould, Executive Director, Ashokan Center; Ulster County Executive Mike Hein; Ed Bergstraesser, External Affairs Director, AT&T; Patti Wilcox, Co-Founder, Awestruck Cider; Kale Kaposhilin, Co-Founder Catskill Conf; Molly Mason (Jay & Molly's Family Band).
