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Lawrence “Larry” Coben

Executive Director, Sustainable Preservation Initiative

Larry Coben is a former founder and CEO of two publicly traded energy companies, a chairman of NRG Energy and the founder and director of the Sustainable Preservation Initiative, a non-profit economic development organization focused on building sustainable businesses at endangered archaeological sites around the world.

Coben is currently an energy investor and advisor, but spends most of his time pursuing his interest in archaeological preservation. Coben’s archaeological interest specifically lies in the study of performance in premodern societies. He is a Professor at UPenn and has written a book on the importance of  “theatrical spectacle” in building ancient empires.