Re-imagining Cemeteries as Places for the Living: John Hoeschele at TEDxCortland

John Hoeschele's "strange and unexpected" interest in old cemeteries led him to join and become president of the Cortland Rural Cemetery Board of Trustees, where he is currently exploring innovative ways to tackle that historic cemetery's many financial and operational challenges. Hoeschele has lived in Cortland since 1988 (with his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Max and Margaret). Originally from Rochester, NY, Hoeschele is a marketing executive at Syracuse-based Anaren, Inc. Hoeschele has headed up the creative departments at several CNY ad agencies; was a partner in an industrial dot com; ran his own company in Cortland for six years (Drum Creative Corp.); and is an active contributor to Cortland's non-profit organizations, including past membership in the noon Rotary Club and Downtown Business Association, and Cortland Rural Cemetery Foundation -- and past chairmanship of the Lime Hollow Nature Center board. John Hoeschele spoke at the first ever TEDxCortland, held November 9th, 2013, at Greek Peak Mountain Resort.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)