2019 KY NANO + Additive Manufacturing Symposium Open Innovative Panelist
Larry Portaro, is Executive Director of FirstBuild, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Appliances, a Haier company. FirstBuild's mission is to innovate the next big idea in home appliances using outside-in innovation and rapid consumer feedback to fuel its design-build-sell model. FirstBuild's most successful product launches include the Opal Nugget Ice Maker, Paragon, Open Hearth Oven and the Forge Clear Ice System. FirstBuild, located on the University of Louisville campus, offers a free community makerspace, workshop and microfactory in 35,000 square feet of space. Every year, thousands of visitors come to showcase their creativity, share their passion projects, and see what FirstBuild is working on next.
Larry earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the University of Louisville. He has 25+ years of experience at GE Appliances.
