Ben Franklin News

Ben Franklin Appoints Upper Susquehanna Regional Manager

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of Frederick W. Kluck, Bloomsburg, as Regional Manager, Upper Susquehanna. Kluck replaces Larry A. Seibert, who is retiring.

In his new position, Kluck will identify and support the development of start-up and early-stage technology-based firms and established manufacturers for potential Ben Franklin Technology Partners investment. He will develop and implement programs and projects to facilitate economic development efforts in the northeastern Pennsylvania region that he serves, which includes Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union counties.

To accomplish these goals, Kluck will establish and maintain contact with community leaders and identify and develop resources at higher educational institutions. He will manage client projects in his region by evaluating needs, matching requirements with Ben Franklin in-house expertise and members of its Solutions Network or regional professionals, supervise project activities, and evaluate progress and performance.

Kluck will also manage the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center (BRTC) business incubator, which is owned and operated by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The BRTC is part of the 14-member Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network, among the largest incubator networks in the country.

Before coming to Ben Franklin, Kluck was a loan and business development officer for Fulton Mortgage Company. Before that, he worked for Geisinger Health System as a Sales Executive/Business Developer. He helped launch The Yodock Wall Company, a start-up traffic control firm, as National Sales/Marketing Manager. Prior to that, he served in management, quality, and marketing positions with Pennsy Supply, Inc.

Kluck holds an MBA in Finance/Marketing from Wilkes University and a BA from Bloomsburg University. He is a Leadership Hazleton graduate and has earned multiple salesmanship awards.

“Fred brings a combination of manufacturing, entrepreneurial, finance, and marketing experience that will be directly applicable to his work with Ben Franklin Technology Partners,” said Joe Lane, Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development. “He knows the regional business needs well and will be able to partner with other business leaders and organizations quickly and effectively.”

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