Leaders across the commonwealth recognize how important innovation and technology are to growing and sustaining Pennsylvania’s economy. That’s why so many turn to Ben Franklin Technology Partners.
Throughout our statewide network, members of our team serve on a variety of boards and panels dedicated to investing in our communities, building the ecosystems that lead to new opportunities, and creating the jobs of tomorrow that will attract and retain a skilled workforce that reinforces Pennsylvania’s high-tech leadership position.
When it comes to innovation and technology, no one does it better than Ben Franklin.
From chambers of commerce to universities to manufacturing associations and more, see where our presidents and CEOs and their staff currently serve:
Stephen Brawley, President & CEO, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Board member, Centre County Economic Development Council
Board member, Downtown Bellefonte, Inc.
Board member, SpringBoard Coworking Space
Angelo J, Valletta, President & CEO, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Member of the PA Governor Economic Development Transition Committee
Vice-Chair, Red Cross Rivers Chapter
Board member, Temple University Louis A. Valletta Scholarship
Vice-Chair, DeSales Forum for Ethics in the Workplace
Board member, Business School Executive in Residence and O'Pake Institute, Alvernia University
Ven Raju, President & CEO, Innovation Works
Board member of the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association
Scott Nissenbaum, President & CEO, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Board member, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Board member, The Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT)
Board member, Family Support Line in Delaware County
Board member, Integrated Reality Labs
Ryan Glenn, Director of Statewide Initiatives, Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Board member, Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA)
Board member, Innovation Advocacy Council (IAC – a federal policy advocacy group run and staff by our national association – SSTI)
Board of the PA Manufacturing Advisory Council, run and staffed by TeamPA
Wayne Barz, Chief Investment Officer, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Board member, past Board Chair, Community Action Lehigh Valley
Board member, past Board Chair, Rising Tide Community Loan Fund
Member of Lehigh University NSF Accelerating Research Translation External Advisory Committee
Doug Engler, Regional Manager, Lehigh Valley for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Board member, Center for Research and Economic Development, East Stroudsburg University
Board member, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Executive Board
Board member, Entrepreneurship Council Lehigh Valley
Member, BridgeWorks Enterprise Center Advisory Committee
Board member, Juxtahub Maker Space Advisory Board
Board member, Southside Bethlehem KIZ Advisory Board
Kenneth G. Okrepkie, Regional Manager, Pocono Northeast for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Executive Committee, Past Board Chair, Scranton Area Community Foundation
Executive Committee, Treasurer, Wright Center for Community Health
Board member, Irem Temple Restoration
Board member, Wyoming Valley Chamber of Business & Industry
Executive Committee, Past Board Chair, Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company
Executive Committee, Past Treasurer, CANDO
Board member, Past Board Chair, Scranton Tomorrow
Board member, Past Board Chair, TecBridge
Board member, Engineering Advisory Board, University of Scranton
Member, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Industrial Advisory Council, Wilkes University
Board member, Penn’s Northeast
Secretary of StartUP NEPA Angel Investment Fund
Board member of Stourbridge- WEDCO Incubator
Board member, Past Board Chair, CANBE Incubator
Board member, Wilkes-Barre Connect
Vice-Chair, Carbondale Technology Transfer Center
Board member, Ignite Advisory Board- Scranton Chamber of Commerce
Josh Bradley, Regional Manager for Upper Susquehanna, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Board member, Blueprint Development Corp.
Board member, Plastics Advisory Board, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Board member, Greater Susquehanna KIZ
Board Member, Entrepreneurship Committee, Milton Area School District
Marisa Bishop, Regional Manager for Greater Reading/Berks, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Board member, College of Business Advisory Council, Kutztown University
Board member, Berks LaunchBox Advisory Council
Board member, the O’Pake Institute Innovation Sub Committee
Board member, Elevate Berks.
Kimberly Valuntas, Portfolio Manager for TechVentures, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA
Board member, Jewish Family Services of the Lehigh Valley
Board member, Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley -Women’s Philanthropy
William Kiesling, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Board member and Vice Chair, Delaware Canal 21
Public Interest Member, Delaware Canal State Park Advisory Committee
Board member and Stage Director, The Savoy Company
Saniah Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Board of Trustees and Chair of Audit and Compliance Committee, Virtua Health System
Board member, Select Greater Philadelphia Advisory Board, A Council of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Dr. Anthony Green, Chief Science Officer, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Co-Chair, Industrial Advisory Board, Singh Center for Nanotechnology
Board member, Strategic Advisory Board, Penn Health-Tech.
Board member, the Oversight Board, Coulter Foundation/Drexel University Translation Research in Biomedical Technologies
Board member, PHL Life Sciences Advisory Board, Philadelphia Convention Center
Board member, Temple University iNest Program
Member of Lifesciences PA Policy Committee
Omar Mencin, Managing Director, Tech Investment Group, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Board member, Start Up Bucks,
Board member, PlainSight Capital
Aston Pierce, Investment Director of GoPa and GoPhilly, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA
Board observer for Rimsys
Board observer for LoanStar Technologies
John Mark Sider, Vice President, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Board member, Harristown Development Corporation, and Chair of its Planning Committee
Joseph Hackett, Executive in Residence, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Member of the Tech Council of Central PA
Board member, York Township Recreation
Board member, Tech Rev, LLC, a division of the YMCA of the Roses
Board member, Cultivate Lancaster
Brian Slawin, Director and Portfolio Manager, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Incoming Board President of Erie Regional Airport Authority
Member & Secretary of Executive Committee, ICE Angel Fund
Chair of Investment Committee, eCenter@Lindenpointe
Ex-Officio Member and Consigliere to CEO, Opened Eyes
Board member, Erie Ambassadors
Sherry A. Davidson, Director of Operations, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Treasurer, Centre County Industrial Development Authority
Treasurer, Centre County General Authority
Board member, PA Pink Zone
Todd Erdley, Portfolio Manager, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Board member, Reliance Bank
Board member, Rothrock Trail Association
Rebecca Farmer Force, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA
Member of Renaissance Fund Committee, Penn State University
Board member, Penn State Centre Stage Performing Arts Council
Tom Jones, Board Chair, Innovation Works
Board Member, Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Board of Director
Afshan Khan, Portfolio Executive, Innovation Works
Board member, Robert Morris University Massey Center Advisory Board for Entrepreneurship
Jeff McDaniel, Portfolio Executive, Innovation Works
Board member, Green Building Alliance Board of Directors
Robert Starzynski, Chief Business Development Officer and Treasurer, Innovation Works
Board member, Penn State University New Kensington Board of Directors
Board member, Ignite Business Incubator Board of Advisors