The 2021 iXchange included a farewell to retiring President and CEO Chad Paul and a welcome to new Ben Franklin President and CEO Angelo Valletta.

BFTP-NEP presented six innovation awards to early-stage technology companies, established manufacturers and individuals.

More than 330 registered for Ben Franklin’s annual iXchange, held virtually on May 18.

Valletta had a “fireside chat” with longtime Ben Franklin Solutions Network member Dale Falcinelli.

Under Paul’s leadership, the award-winning Ben Franklin TechVentures incubator-post incubator grew from 18,000-square-feet to 129,000-square-feet. Paul raised $16.4 million to fund the expansions.

The Ben Franklin board honored Paul by dedicating the largest meeting and conference room in Ben Franklin TechVentures in his name, renaming the Ben Franklin Incubator Graduate Award as the R. Chadwick Paul, Jr. Incubator Graduate Award and naming a private street alongside Ben Franklin TechVentures as Chad Paul Way.

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners innovation award winners are:

Entrepreneurial Achievement Award: OPTiMO, Bloomsburg. Michael Miguelez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

The R. Chadwick Paul, Jr. Incubator Graduate Award: ChannelApe, Scranton, Mike Averto, Chief Executive Officer, Jason DePietropaolo, Chief Operating Officer

Product Innovation Award: Signallamp Health, Inc., Scranton, Drew Kearney, Andrew Goldberg, Co-Founders

Innovative Application of Technology Award: SOLO Laboratories, Inc., Kutztown, Lindsay Sokol Szejko, Chief Executive Officer; Jonathan Naugle Owner, R&D Engineer; Jaimyn Sokol Westenhoefer, Owner, President

Manufacturing Achievement Award: Effort Foundry, Inc., Bath, Charles D. Hamburg, Chief Executive Officer, William C. Easterly, President

The Frederick J. Beste III Partnership Award: Eugene A. Lucadamo, Director of Industry Research Engagement, retired, Lehigh University, Bethlehem

To see the iXchange video: www.nep.benfranklin.org