About Us

MISSION

The focus of the SPACESHIP DISCOVERY project is to create an innovative learning resource for the children of the future and to provide tools and inspiration for a lifelong exploration of nature and humanity.

Complementary goals for this project are to boost the economy of New York, attract tourism to the Hudson Valley, and support the education of our community's children.

VISION

It has been said, “What you do for yourself dies with you; but what you do for others is immortal.” We intend to make the SPACESHIP DISCOVERY Science and Technology Center a world-class destination on everyone's list of places to visit. Our displays and programs will appeal to the innate curiosity that we all possess, through state-of-the-art technology and hands on activities that will bring science to life for all of our visitors.

LONG TERM GOALS

SPACESHIP DISCOVERY has 3 key long term goals that will enable us to fulfill our core mission:

1. Sustainability. SPACESHIP DISCOVERY will be financially stable, enabling it to continuously update, upgrade and develop significant new attractions for sustainable customer flow and teacher education while sustaining normal operations as well as community outreach programs
2. Education. We intend to significantly increase scientific literacy through community outreach programs, group visits to our museums, and structured follow-up to interested visitors. Our intention is to develop lifetime learners.
3. Supporter Return on Investment. Individuals and organizations that support us will feel that they have made a sound investment of time and money. We will accomplish this by offering a variety of ways for our supporters to realize the return on their investment, including exhibit sponsorships, online recognition/promotion, event participation, and other publicity opportunities. Those who have been part of the creation of the SPACESHIP DISCOVERY Science and Technology Center will be honored in a special section of the Center called The Hall of the Immortals.

Captain Holt and His Crew

Floyd T. Holt, President
For over 40 years Floyd Holt has been an award winning Physics Instructor and educational consultant in New York and throughout the United States. During this time an increasing passion for learning and discovery has evolved which he shares with everyone he meets. He believes that now is the “Nexus” moment: a pivotal time to inspire the next generation of children and their teachers with his teacher training initiatives and motivational seminars.

Every year Floyd engaged his students in new and innovative class projects. These projects included holograms, murals, a walking robot, a giant carbon dioxide laser, a flying saucer, a spaceship car, ROBOTEACHER (a voice actuated teaching and learning station), a computer controlled android resembling the Terminator, and many others.

In 1995 they created the world’s first SPACESHIP CLASSROOM, which unified all these elements under a common theme. This creation later inspired the SPACESHIP DISCOVERY project, which has received over $2,000,000 worth of equipment from over 40 major corporate sponsors.

Floyd performed National Public Radio commercials for the Xerox Corporation with James Garner and John O’Hurley. He has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics from the White House and was recently inducted into, and now serves on the Board of Governors of, the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Floyd Holt’s educational projects have been featured on many national television channels including CBS, NBC, The Disney Channel, The Discovery Channel, and MSNBC.

According to Michael Eisner, CEO of the Disney Corporation, "Floyd Holt has created the method and the magic for teaching science." As a scientist, inventor, photographer, author, musician, builder and president of a science museum, Floyd is continually searching for new visionaries who can inspire the next generation about the great promise of the future.

Board of Directors

Dr. John Bivona Jr., Chairman of the Board, Retired Surgeon
Kathleen Bauer, Vice Chair of the Board, VP and Branch Manager, Key Bank
Ray Banks, Treasurer, President, QBS (Accountant)
Colleen Ashe, President, Organizing Solutions Ltd.
Cheryl Bivona, former Human Resources Administrator
Al Cappelli Jr., Architect
Jim Cogan Jr., NYS Law Enforcement
Ron Cosentino, Architect, LEED AP, Cosentino Architecture PLLC
Jennifer Dunn, State Farm Insurance
Barbara Enny, COO, MD Imaging
Julie Gerrard, Business Development Manager, Integrated Enterprise Solutions
Danielle Gowen, President, Weather to Succeed, Inc.
Tim Millard, President, MiTech Computer Services
Debra Pearlman, President, DP Sales Pro
Carena Pooth, President, Pooth & Associates Business Advisors
Ed Siegel, Director of Marketing, SuperOffice CRM
Ted Spiegel, Photojournalist
Daniel Stock, Attorney, Gellert & Klein
Steve Turk, President, Rocking Horse Ranch
Asha Upadhyay, Program Director, THINC

Amber Hinds, Marist College – Secretary to the Board

Advisory Board

Randy Aimone, President, AimOne Marketing
Dave Allis, Entrepreneur and Real Estate Investor
Joseph Bonura, Jr., President, The Grandview and Shadows
Vinny Cossellino, Solar Energy
Dave MacFarland, President, Riverside Bank
Steve Mayhew, President, Momentum Advertising Charles S. North, President, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Keryl Pesce, President, Iwantmorefreedom.com
Mary Kay Vrba, Director, Dutchess County Tourism

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Except as otherwise noted, all content copyright ©2008-2009 SPACESHIP DISCOVERY / Classroom of the Future, Inc.
Photos and graphics may not be used without written permission from the owner.