Despite being a fairly small rural and suburban community for most of its history, Wilton has been home to several groundbreaking technological developments, pioneering entrepreneurs, and industrial giants. Join us for a panel discussion from local historians and first hand experts in exploring the various industries, inventions, and innovations that have come out of Wilton. From early cottage industries like horse-hair screens and carriage-making to high tech advancements, find out what makes Wilton a unique home for technology.

This panel discussion will follow the stories of three companies, the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Co., the precision optics of PerkinElmer to ASML, and Cannondale Bicycle.

Joining us in discussion will be Director of the Wilton Historical Society, ASML Fellow Chip Mason, tech policy lecturer Bill Bonvillian, and Cannondale Director of R&D and testing Curtis Detwiler.

Chip Mason serves as an ASML Fellow and has dedicated his entire professional career to advancing semiconductor lithography technology. Since joining Perkin-Elmer's Microlithography Division in Wilton, Connecticut, in 1981, he has contributed to the development of lithography systems for more than four decades, spanning roles at Perkin-Elmer, SVGL, and ASML.

A native of Wilton, Chip graduated from Wilton High School in 1977 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1981. He has been a resident of Newtown, Connecticut, since 1985. Chip and his wife have two children and one grandchild.

Curtis Detwiler serves as Director of Global R&D at Cannondale, where he leads global research, testing, and advanced technology development initiatives. Over his career, he has held numerous engineering and leadership positions focused on bicycle design, performance, durability, and innovation. Working at the convergence of engineering, manufacturing, and digital technologies, Curtis seeks out strategic opportunities that unlock innovation, accelerate product development, and bring transformative concepts to life.