Eastern Highlights Work of One of Its Graduates

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) 1968 Computer Network Administration/Upper Moreland High School graduate, George Marin, is one of EASTERN’s most notable and successful graduates, and continues to give back to the school and its programs as President of the EASTERN Foundation.

Marin decided to attend EASTERN prior to his junior year at Springfield High School, as he was developing a strong interest in computer programming. Prior to his senior year, Marin moved to Upper Moreland and transferred high schools, but was able to continue his program at EASTERN. After graduating from high school, Marin continued to pursue his computer programming education by obtaining an Associate of Applied Science from Montgomery County Community College, and then his Bachelor of Science from Point Park University, and finally a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering from University of Pennsylvania - the Executive Master’s in Technology Management that is co-sponsored by Wharton Business and Penn Engineering Graduate Schools.

Marin started his career working for a local food distributor, Rotelle, Inc., while working toward his Bachelor Degree - a job that was recommended by his EASTERN Instructor, Mel Johnson. He stayed with the company, and after college, he ran the computer department for nine years, writing all of their software. In 1982 he started a computer consulting company, Data Tech Services, Inc., and began selling and installing the software he had developed while at Rotelle, Inc. In 2000 he merged Data Tech Services, Inc., with his largest competitor and started a company called Integrated Distribution Solutions (IDS). In 2005 he sold IDS to Retalix USA, a retail global company that was interested in supply chain solutions like IDS. He stayed on as a consultant/Sr. Product Solutions Engineer. In 2013, Retalix was purchased by NCR Corporation. He hopes to begin his well-deserved retirement later this year.

Marin started out as a member of EASTERN’s Advisory Committee for the Computer Science program, and now leads the EASTERN Foundation in its efforts to provide monetary awards to deserving students, as well as tools of the trade. EASTERN honored Marin’s countless contributions to the school in 2003 with the Distinguished Service Award – one of only five ever awarded in the school’s history.

“EASTERN provided me with an understanding of the computer industry, and what areas I was most interested in learning more about,” said Marin. “It gave me two years of experience during my last two years of high school in a field that I knew I was going to pursue. EASTERN also gave me enough confidence with a basic understanding of computers and programming, that I found college to be an easy extension of knowledge. This is a great place to begin a long and successful career.”

EASTERN is a public school serving students in nine Eastern Montgomery County school districts. Those districts include Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland. Students benefit from specialized career programs that give them a competitive edge in college or in a career. The campus is at 3075 Terwood Road in Willow Grove. For more information, please contact Amy Shields, Organizational Advancement Director, at 215-784-4806, or visit the school’s website at www.eastech.org. Like Us? Become a fan on Facebook – www.Facebook.com/EasternCenter, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @EasternCenter.