Ben Franklin picks business-incubator organization boss

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has picked a Philadelphia native as its next top executive.

The Bethlehem business development organization said Monday that Angelo J. Valletta will become president and chief operating officer, Ben Franklin said Monday in a news release.

Valletta, 55, will succeed R. Chadwick Paul Jr., whowill retire March 31.

Valletta is a multiple award-winning senior business executive with leadership experience in areas including operations and technology, according to Ben Franklin’s news release. He has held positions in the financial services, information technology, and human services.

Most recently, he was president and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, where he led business growth in development, operations, finance, humanresources and marketing.

A 2017 story from Catholic Philly. com noted he grew up in a South Philadelphia row house and his father, Lou, was a printer with General Electric.

“He brings deep leadership experience, background in multiple sectors and functions, and an ambitious, positive approach,” said Jan Heller, board chairperson.

Valletta earned a master’s of business degree in management from Philadelphia University and a bachelor’s in computer information systems from Temple University.

Valletta, who lives in Philadelphia, plans to move to the Lehigh Valley, according to Ben Franklin.

Paul, 66, who became CEO in 2002, leading the local Ben Franklin for about half of its existence, had planned to retire in July, but the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the naming of a new executive.

He is credited with leading the organization that, as of 2019, created 11,311 technology-based jobs among client companies and retained 29,719 positions. According to an independent study by the Pennsylvania Economy League, these jobs are in industries that pay an average of $79,364 annually, which is 52% more than the average nonfarm wage in Pennsylvania.