Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA Announces Additions to Staff

September, 14, 2012

PHILADELPHIA, PA (www.sep.benfranklin.org) – Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) announced three additions to staff.  Jeffrey Rahm and Mark S. Trabbold are both Directors of Business Development for the Technology Commercialization Group.  Dr. Omar Mencin is Manager of Special Projects for the Investment Group.

“Jeff and Mark have deep backgrounds in energy technology management and new market growth that put them in the perfect position to manage our technology commercialization, energy and water initiatives.  Omar’s experience with early stage investment and initiatives that accelerate entrepreneurial growth adds significant value to Ben Franklin’s mission,”

said RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, Ben Franklin’s President & CEO.

Jeffrey Rahm, Director of Business Development, Technology Commercialization Group, will work with the region’s Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (EEB Hub) team, and lead the planning activities focused on company incubation.  Jeff will also support other Ben Franklin technology development and commercialization initiatives.

Jeff has 20+ years of experience in business development, operations, technology and marketing.  Prior to joining Ben Franklin, Jeff was Vice President, Utility Scale Renewable Energy Development, Epic Innovations International, LLC, where he was responsible for developing wind and solar technology solutions and integrated storage systems for the utility scale power generation industry.  Prior to his position at Epic, Jeff held senior executive positions at geothermal, net metering and energy audit firms.  Jeff holds a B.S. in Transportation Technology/Business Management from Florida Tech.

The EEB Hub was established by the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies as an Energy-Regional Innovation Cluster in 2011.  The EEB Hub has a unique dual mission of improving energy efficiency in buildings and promoting regional economic growth and job creation from its headquarters in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic redevelopment opportunities.

Mark S. Trabbold, Director of Business Development, Technology Commercialization Group, will lead the Delaware River Water Alliance (DRWA), and support other technology development and commercialization programs.  Mark will also support Ben Franklin’s EEB Hub related program activities.

Mark has 30 years of experience in innovation, process engineering and construction.  Prior to joining Ben Franklin, Mark was Vice President, R&D, Insulation Group, CertainTeed Corporation, a North American building materials manufacturing company, where he was responsible for R&D and new business development.  He also held prior Technical Management and Product Development positions at CertainTeed.  Mark holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Eastern University.

The DRWA is the first tri-state public/private partnership created to accelerate the commercialization and deployment of innovative water quality and infrastructure products, serving residential and industrial use markets.

Omar Mencin, DBA, Manager of Special Projects, Investment Group, manages Ben Franklin’s activities with the Project Liberty Digital Incubator.  He also supports the further development of the Investment Group’s entrepreneurial services, acceleration models and capital formation strategies.

Prior to Ben Franklin, Omar was Co-Founder and CEO of the US Market Access Center, a high-tech incubator focused on helping foreign-based technology companies successfully enter the Silicon Valley and greater US Markets.  He previously worked at the World Bank and Goldman Sachs.  Omar holds a B.A. with Honors in political science and economics from Swarthmore College; graduate degrees from Stanford University in Management Science, Engineering and China Studies; and a doctorate in finance from the International School of Management.

The Project Liberty Digital Incubator, an effort among the Interstate General Media (IGM), the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ben Franklin, Dreamit Ventures and Drexel University, is designed to stimulate the establishment and growth of digital media startup companies in the Philadelphia region.

About Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a national, award winning organization for Stimulating Entrepreneurial Potential, through entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.  For thirty years, Ben Franklin has grown technology companies and partnerships through Capital, Knowledge and Networks that help innovative enterprises compete in the global marketplace, generating wealth and supporting regional economic growth.  Ben Franklin has invested more than $160 million to grow more than 1,750 regional enterprises, across all areas of technology.  It has launched university/industry partnerships that accelerate scientific discoveries to commercialization. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.

For additional information, please visit www.sep.benfranklin.org, Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.

BFTP/SEP Contact:

Jaron J. Rhodes
Manager, Marketing and Communications
(215) 972-6700, ext. 3214
jaron@sep.benfranklin.org