Workshop

Richard Harris
Day Pitney LLP

Richard Harris is a Partner in Day Pitney LLP’s New Haven office where he leads the firm’s Technology, Telecommunications, and Outsourcing practice group. Rick advises leading technology companies in connection with computer and other technology licenses; technology transfer and joint venture agreements; system development agreements; and copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters. Much of Rick’s technology licensing practice is devoted to the transfer and commercialization to private industry of technology from research universities around the United States. He has been on the board of the MIT Enterprise Forum Connecticut since 1992, is a former Chair of the Board and also serves as a Director and Secretary of the Connecticut Technology Council. Rick received a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut’s School of Law. Rick currently serves as Vice- Chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum Connecticut.              

Melanie Raubeson
Day Pitney LLP

Melanie Raubeson is an Associate with Day Pitney LLP. She advises clients on trademark, trade dress, and copyright issues and assists them in securing and protecting their intellectual property. She obtained in-house legal experience serving as an intern and patent fellow for General Electric. Her experience is complemented by her bachelor’s degree with a double major in molecular and cell biology, and ecology and evolutionary biology, and her research on the genetics of childhood neuropsychiatric disorders at Yale University.

Marina Cunningham
McCormick, Paulding & Huber

Marina Cunningham is a Managing Partner with McCormick, Paulding & Huber, an Intellectual Property firm with offices in Hartford, CT, and Springfield, MA. Marina is also Co-Chair of Technology and Intellectual Property Committee of the Hartford County Bar Association; Advisory Board Member for UCONN School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic; Committee member for INTA; and member of CPLA; AIPPI; and AIPLA. Marina has experience in domestic and foreign patent prosecution, trademark and copyright matters, e-commerce related issues, negotiation of licenses and other types of agreements relating to intellectual property, and litigation. She is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. Marina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. She received a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut’s School of Law. Marina has served as Chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum Connecticut 2000 – 2013 and now serves as Director.

Devra Sisitsky
MakerspaceCT

Devra Sisitsky, a native of Hartford returned to the Farmington Valley after many years living in Boston and Washington, DC. She started her career at Xerox and proceeded to spend over 20 years owning a consultancy assisting hospitals in creating a suburban presence with the turnkey development of walk-in centers, mammography, and surgicenters before she transitioned to managed care and designed Hartford’s first PPO for St. Francis Hospital, HealthChoice.

Devra developed 32 startup facilities throughout the United States while she was a national speaker for NAFACC (National Association for Ambulatory Care Centers). Devra established a niche newspaper called “The Homesteader” with a family-oriented audience.  She is known as a” serial entrepreneur” and views each start-up as a puzzle to craft into place.

Devra is impassioned about changing society from one of “conspicuous consumption” to a culture of innovation and “Making”. Her goal is to positively impact the local economy and workforce by engaging students, innovators, entrepreneurs and Connecticut residents in relevant technology illuminating new pathways to financial stability. With years of preparation and experience, her dream of opening MakerspaceCT in Hartford has become a reality.