Paul to retire from BFTP/NEP

President and Chief Executive Officer R. Chadwick Paul Jr. will retire after 18 years from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2020.

Between 2002 and 2018, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania created 10,590 technology-based jobs in client companies and retained 23,167 jobs. 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 non-farm wage in Pennsylvania.

Chad Paul led the expansion of Ben Franklin’s Bethlehem incubator facilities from 18,000 square feet to 129,000 square feet. He conceived, identified funding for, and executed on the renovation and expansion of Ben Franklin TechVentures, which was recognized twice by the International Business Innovation Association as Incubator of the Year. The InBIA is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship.

Laros Foundation trustees named

The R.K.Laros Foundation has established an associate trustee program to enhance the foundation’s support of Bethlehem’s non-profit community. The foundation was established in 1952 by Laros Silk Mill founder and owner R.K. Laros and his wife Helen.

The program will include the appointment of associate trustees of up to two family members and one community member at any given time.

They will participate directly in foundation community work and in the annual grant making.

The first two appointees are Janelle Laros, and Truman Bennett Shelton, the Laros’ great-grandchildren and members of the Class of 2021 at Lehigh University. They have participated in the R.K. Laros Foundation community based work since 2018.

L.V. Public Media VP elected to post

Christine Dempsey, senior vice president of radio with Lehigh Valley Public Media, has been elected to the Public Radio Program Directors Association’s board. Her term begins this February.

She currently oversees the programming and recent launch of WLVR 91.3, the first full-service NPR news and information radio station in the Lehigh Valley. Her more than 30 years of professional radio experience includes work at local stations WHYY, Philadelphia, and WDIY, Bethlehem. She has won numerous industry awards.

The PRPD Association represents more than 800 public media outlets, including national networks, local stations, and independent producers