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Faculty

Learn about our staff and how their expertise can help your business/career.

Instructors at the Ben Franklin Learning Center are talented industry experts. Every day, they apply their skills to get the best results for their clients. Our instructors love to share their knowledge and insights for your benefit, so you are able understand and execute what you’ve learned and succeed.

Brian Amick Faculty Picture

Brian Amick

Creative Director and Co-founder of Werkbot Studios

Kate Alward Faculty Picture

Kate Alward

Director of Human Resources and Training for Ben Franklin Technology Partners' Transformations Business Services Network

Beth Burnside Faculty Picture

Beth Burnside

President of CMIT Solutions of Erie

Joelyn Bush Faculty Picture

Joelyn Bush

Marketing and Communications Manager for the United Way of Erie County

Cathy von Birgelen Faculty Picture

Cathy von Birgelen

Executive Director of the Ben Franklin Technology Partner's eMarketing Learning Center

Josh Curcio Faculty Picture

Josh Curcio

VP and partner of protocol 80, Inc.

Steve Fafel Faculty Picture

Steve Fafel

Director of Business Development for Ben Franklin Technology Partners

Angela Gast Faculty Picture

Angela Gast

Owner of Mighty Creative and blogger at MightyMrs.com

David Hunter Faculty Picture

David Hunter

Managing Partner of Epic Web Studios

Colin Jacobsen Faculty Picture

Colin Jacobsen

Founder of 4045 Media

Nick Kosanovich, Jr. Faculty Picture

Nick Kosanovich, Jr.

Founder of Striking Alchemy

Jeff McCullor Faculty Picture

Jeff McCullor

Co-owner of Erie Ale Works

Christopher Park Faculty Picture

Christopher Park

Senior Affiliate Manager at JEBCommerce

Lesley Ridge

Founder of Socialution Media

Elizabeth Ryan Faculty Picture

Elizabeth Ryan

Program Coordinator for the Center for Business and Economics at Allegheny College

Kelly Wylam Faculty Picture

Kelly Wylam

Director of the Innovation Partnership for PA’s premiere SBIR/ STTR statewide assistance program

Kris Jones Faculty Picture

Kris Jones

Kris is the founder and CEO of LSEO.com

Chris Nash Faculty Picture

Chris Nash

Internet and SEO marketing expert, e-commerce veteran, and entrepreneur

Erin Fessler Faculty Picture

Erin Fessler

Vice President of Marketing and Community/ Government Relations at The Erie Community Foundation

Chris Norris Faculty Picture

Chris Norris

Owns and operates Revox Social

Ron Mattocks Faculty Picture

Ron Mattocks

Co-owner and VP of Client Strategy at Bull Moose Marketing

Ruth Stevens Faculty Picture

Ruth Stevens

Writer/Teacher/Marketing Consultant

Bob Stimolo Faculty Picture

Bob Stimolo

President and Founder of School Market Research Institute, Inc.

Jack Zerby Faculty Picture

Jack Zerby

Founder and Designer of DOHQ, School Of Action, Flavors.me and Goodsie

Mike Wahlster Faculty Picture

Mike Wahlster

Entrepreneur In Residence

Jesse Harper Faculty Picture

Jesse Harper

Entrepreneur In Residence

Jenny Marofsky Faculty Picture

Jenny Marofsky

Principal, CMO of Agency Jen

Brian Slawin Faculty Picture

Brian Slawin

Regional Director & Portfolio Manager

Brynne Tillman Faculty Picture

Brynne Tillman

CEO of Social Sales Link

Ellen Weber Faculty Picture

Ellen Weber

Executive Director of Robin Hood Ventures

Matt Flowers

Managing Member / President of Ethos Copywriting

Julie Bratton Faculty Picture

Julie Bratton

Portfolio and Operations Coordinator at Ben Franklin Technology Partners

Shannon Munro Faculty Picture

Shannon Munro

Vice President for Workforce at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Catherine Mott Faculty Picture

Catherine Mott

Co-founder and Managing Partner of the BTVC Fund

Sreekar Gadde Faculty Picture

Sreekar Gadde

Managing Partner of BlueTreeVC

John Sider Faculty Picture

John Sider

Vice President of Business Development at Ben Franklin Technology Partners

Erika Berlin Faculty Picture

Erika Berlin

Senior Consultant at Strategy Solutions

Annie Hughes Faculty Picture

Annie Hughes

Director of Harrisburg LaunchBox

Alexa Born Faculty Picture

Alexa Born

Managing Director of White Rose Ventures and Executive Director of Braided River Collective

Martin Fedorko Faculty Picture

Martin Fedorko

Managing Partner of White Rose Ventures

Karen Rzepecki Faculty Picture

Karen Rzepecki

Founder of Mason Jars Company

Justin Mandel Faculty Picture

Justin Mandel

Chairperson, Alleghenies Angel Fund

Jennifer L Wingard Faculty Picture

Jennifer L Wingard

Accountant and Coordinator of Administrative Services for Ben Franklin Transformation Business Services

Alec Galanti Faculty Picture

Alec Galanti

Director of Finance for Array

Tom Sharbaugh Faculty Picture

Tom Sharbaugh

Professor of Practice at Penn State Law

Brit Peterson Faculty Picture

Brit Peterson

Staff Attorney at Penn State Law's Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic

Jennifer Stubbs Faculty Picture

Jennifer Stubbs

Assistant Director for Penn State Career Services

Kara Wasser Faculty Picture

Kara Wasser

CEO of OhanaLink Technologies

Mike Doyle Faculty Picture

Mike Doyle

President of Goldin Ventures

Lindsey Bennett Faculty Picture

Lindsey Bennett

Director of Operations at KIZ Resources, LLC

Kurt Duska Faculty Picture

Kurt Duska

President of Kurt Duska Sales & Consulting

Rand Fishkin Faculty Picture

Rand Fishkin

Cofounder and CEO of audience research startup SparkToro

Ruth P. Stevens Faculty Picture

Ruth P. Stevens

President at eMarketing Strategy

Dr. Wei-Shin Lai Faculty Picture

Dr. Wei-Shin Lai

CEO of AcousticSheep

Maureen L. Mulvihill, Ph.D., Faculty Picture

Maureen L. Mulvihill, Ph.D.,

President & CEO of Actuated Medical, Inc.

Jill Edwards Faculty Picture

Jill Edwards

Executive Director of Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum

Bob Dornich Faculty Picture

Bob Dornich

Entrepreneur Coach & Business Incubator Program Director for Ben Franklin Technology

Roger Dagen Faculty Picture

Roger Dagen

Executive in Residence at Ben Frankllin Technology Partners

Matt Blevins Faculty Picture

Matt Blevins

Senior Business Analyst for Angi

Zak Stahlsmith

Founder and CEO of ApexDrop

Scott C. Penwell Faculty Picture

Scott C. Penwell

Partner at Pennwell Law

Brandt Bowman Faculty Picture

Brandt Bowman

Partner at Curbow Law

Matt Curran Faculty Picture

Matt Curran

Business & M&A Attorney at Curbow Law

Dave Lishego Faculty Picture

Dave Lishego

Senior Investment Associate at Riverfront Ventures (RFV) and Innovation Works, Inc.

Christopher Park Faculty Picture

Christopher Park

Senior Affiliate Manager at JEBCommerce

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