The Strathmore Speaker Series is proud to announce that developer Edward M. Riley and muralist Katerina Spilio will present on the restoration of the historic Hotel Syracuse at the Firebarn at 7 pm on Thursday, May 12th, 2016.

Ed Riley

Riley, a Syracuse-native, has 40 years of experience in design, construction, and real estate development and hotel operations. In August of 2014, he resigned from his post as Senior Vice President for Design, Construction, and Real Estate with Pyramid Hotel Group to return home and begin work on the restoration of one of Syracuse’s most historic landmarks, the Hotel Syracuse.

Prior to joining Pyramid, Riley worked with Intrawest Placemaking, Marriott Resorts, and Waterford Development. He has been an architect of record and co-developer on several historic restoration projects in Armory Square area of downtown Syracuse, including the Bentley-Settle, Piper-Phillips, the McArthur, Worth & Cooney buildings. He is a graduate of Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University’s School of Architecture.

 Katerina Spilio

Spilio, who was born in Athens, Greece, emigrated to the United States at the age of four and settled in New York City. While attending Hunter College High School, she began an apprenticeship in Byzantine iconography with her father, training in the creation of traditional Eastern Orthodox icons for churches.  Spilio continued her education at New York University, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design at The London Institute, and the New York City Art Students League. She received her BA in English from Pace University. As part of Byzantine Icons Studio, Katerina has created original artwork ranging from twenty-five foot Pantokrator and sixteen foot Last Supper to miniatures five inches across. Her work is represented in private collections across the United States, England and Greece.