Marbenn Cayetano is a Senior IT Business Systems Analyst for the City of Austin whose career reflects a remarkable evolution—from early work in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to shaping the City’s Open Data Program, and now pioneering immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) for civic engagement. Starting in 1998 digitizing maps by hand, Marbenn helped build foundational GIS tools for emergency response and later played a key role in launching Austin’s Open Data initiative, creating a platform that empowers transparency and community access.

Today, Marbenn leads innovative VR projects that transform how residents experience and interact with City services. His work includes virtual cave tours for Watershed Protection, an innovative Oakwood Cemetery 360 VR experience that contributed to a National Endowment for the Humanities grant supporting cultural preservation, and a Municipal Court 360 VR tour recognized with the “Friends of the Court” award. These efforts have earned statewide recognition, including the Best of Texas GTC Award, and continue to push boundaries—leveraging VR and emerging technologies to create smarter, more engaging civic platforms that connect people to information, culture, and community in entirely new ways.