On Tuesday, May 20, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) hosted its annual i xchange at the Zoellner Arts Center on the campus of Lehigh University. More than 600 technology entrepreneurs, manufacturers, venture capitalists, economic developers, regional influencers, political leaders, educators, students, bankers, lawyers and accountants from BFTP/NEP's 21-county service area attended.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA hosted i xchange at the beautiful Zoellner Arts Center on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem. This year more than 600 people attended the networking and awards event.

The i xchange combined the presentation of BFTP's 14th annual Innovation Awards and executive networking sessions with a keynote address by Mark Thompson. Mark Thompson is co-author of the international bestseller, Success Built to Last. Through in-depth interviews with international leaders, Thompson unlocked the unique insights and skills of hundreds of people, from executives, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and billionaires, to the presidents of nations and the leaders of small and large organizations.

Thompson is a venture investor, management advisor and former board member of many technology and media startups and established companies. At the i xchange, he discussed how guests could embrace rapid change, ignite their growth as leaders, and engage with influential people who are driving the future of their brand. His presentation discussed how leaders can inspire high performance in their organizations and in their lives. Leadership, he said, involves an individual doing what he or she believes in passionately and being the best at doing it.

The 2008 Innovation Awards

The event included the presentation of BFTP/NEP's Innovation Awards to companies, organizations and individuals who have achieved business success through BFTP, helped others to achieve success or improved their business through innovation.

Entrepreneurial Achievement
The company that best exemplifies the quintessential entrepreneurial spirit: a combination of ingenuity, hard work and innovation that has resulted in the creation of a successful and growing business venture.

John T. Tighe III
Founder, President and CEO, TMG Health
Scranton

TMG Health provides turnkey business process outsourcing services and information systems to the Medicare, Medicaid, and retiree health plan markets. Founded just a decade ago, the company has effectively gained market share and emerged over a six-year period from startup to a major Scranton employer. BFTP provided seed capital and business support resources to TMG at a critical stage in the company's development. With explosive revenue growth of 500 percent over the past three years and 859 employees in the Scranton area, TMG Health has generated significant income and jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2007, TMG was ranked fifth fastest-growing privately held company by Philadelphia 100, 182nd fastest-growing company in North America by Deloitte's 2007 Technology Fast 500, and 307th fastest-growing company in the 2007 Inc 500. Through exceptional skill in developing and implementing the company's business strategy, Jack Tighe and his team have substantially boosted the information technology sector in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Academic Partner
An individual affiliated with an institute of higher learning that has contributed his time and expertise to supporting the BFTP program. This person's contribution has clearly surpassed "normal" expectations for involvement with and support of BFTP.

Joseph W. Connolly, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics and Electrical Engineering Departments
University of Scranton

Dr. Joseph Connolly has provided exemplary support to 40 technology client companies over more than two decades. He has served as project manager and lead investigator in 21 BFTP projects. His technical expertise, coupled with his industrial experience, has created significant process and product developments and improvements at BFTP clients including Laminations, Inc., Specialty Defense Systems, Inc. (Armor Holdings, Inc.), Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc., and many others. By catalyzing the formation of Auto CAD and Machine Vision labs at the University of Scranton starting in 1985, he introduced CAD and solid modeling resources to the region's manufacturers. These labs continue to provide engineering students at the University of Scranton with hands-on experience in advanced technologies and opportunities for real-world applications of their classroom studies. Joe Connolly is an able and respected teacher at the University of Scranton, and a valuable resource for BFTP clients.

Incubator Graduate
The company that has best demonstrated successful BFTP business incubation. The business has been operated skillfully and confidently, meeting all challenges from the development of the product concept, execution of the business and technical plan, successful startup and operation, to graduation from the incubator.

Mark E. Granahan
President/CEO, CICLON Semiconductor Device Corp.
Bethlehem

CICLON Semiconductor produces a range of highly efficient radio frequency semiconductors and power semiconductor transistor products that deliver outstanding levels of performance. The company launched at the Ben Franklin Business Incubator in 2005, and just two years later graduated to the post-incubator space at Ben Franklin TechVentures. Funded at $24 million in venture capital investments plus BFTP's seed funding, CICLON has, in just two years, completed the acquisition of Agere's radio frequency products division assets and put those assets into volume production to support customers worldwide. Simultaneously, the company developed a radically new and dramatically more energy-efficient Power MOSFET transistor design that will power the next generation of energy-efficient computer, consumer and communications systems. CICLON's products have been tested by world leaders in electronic products. Based on design wins, a strong and expanding patent portfolio and growing sales, CICLON expects to increase revenues by four times in 2008 and increase Pennsylvania employment to 50.

Product Innovation
The company that best demonstrates the commercialization of a unique, innovative product that creatively and effectively meets a market need.

Patrick Clasen, Tim Marks, and Justin Lawyer
Principals, EcoTech, Inc.
Bethlehem

Reef aquarium ownership is a sizeable and growing hobby. To properly care for expensive fish and corals within an aquarium ecosystem, adequate water circulation is required. Conventional pumps located within the tank are much larger and generate considerable heat, which can harm or kill sensitive aquarium inhabitants. EcoTech's patent-protected VorTech propeller pump produces wave-like currents within the aquarium utilizing a unique pump which has been split into two halves. The motor, which is located on the aquarium's outer surface, spins a magnet that transfers torque through the aquarium glass to a second magnet, which is located within the aquarium and is attached to a propeller. This patented pump is novel in the marketplace, and sales are increasing rapidly. EcoTech adapted the pump for use in the pedicure spa market. Sales began in this market niche last fall and are predicted to quickly match the sales of the aquarium pump line.

Innovative Application of Technology
The company that best demonstrates a "break the mold" approach to integrating new or existing technology into a manufacturing environment.

Joseph Dowd
Global President and COO, Silberline Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Tamaqua

Silberline Manufacturing is a world leader and global supplier of special effects pigments. The company manufactures more than 500 high-quality effect pigments for numerous markets including industrial, automotive, packaging inks, plastics and textiles. Founded in 1945, Silberline has distinguished itself by producing beautiful, innovative and proprietary effects in the ink, plastics, industrial, waterborne, specialty, vacuum metalized flake and holographic flake markets. Through connections made by BFTP, Silberline worked with Lehigh University's Center for Advanced Materials and Northampton Community College's Electrotechnology Applications Center to develop improved manufacturing processes and new products. Further, BFTP helped Silberline discover venture fair and investment capital opportunities, meet prospective company partners and clients, and select marketing strategists. The Schuylkill County-headquartered company now has global operations and employs 265 Pennsylvanians.

Manufacturing Achievement
The company that best exemplifies achievement in the manufacturing arena, showing a proven track record of success and an unbending commitment to achieving and maintaining excellence in manufacturing.

Raj Pawar
Vice President, Valmont-PennSummit
West Hazleton

Valmont-PennSummit is a leading producer of customized tubular steel poles for various applications in the energy, wireless communications and transportation markets. Valmont-PennSummit has demonstrated excellence in its manufacturing processes including efficiencies in press forming, welding, and material handling of these often massive structures. This superiority is manifested by substantial growth in market share, revenue, profitability, and employment. BFTP has and continues to work with Valmont-PennSummit in automated design, production incentives, strategic manufacturing planning and, most recently, in new production standards. In 2007 alone, with the help of a highly skilled and productive workforce of 216, the company transformed 32 million pounds of steel into finished product. Last year, the company completed a 75,000-square-foot expansion to its West Hazleton facility and acquired a second 200,000-square-foot manufacturing plant.

Entrepreneurial Advocate
An individual from the community who has contributed his leadership, time, and expertise to helping entrepreneurs and the BFTP accomplish their goals. This person demonstrates a sincere and selfless desire to see the region thrive and backs up his commitment with appropriate action.

Donald C. Yount, Jr.
Partner, Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds
Bethlehem

Don Yount has worked with early stage businesses throughout northeastern Pennsylvania for more than six years. Applying his range of experience in finance and operations, Yount has provided crucial advice to a long list of BFTP clients, particularly in writing business plans and formulating strategies. He has participated pro bono in BFTP Tiger Sessions, wherein BFTP companies are candidly reviewed on an enterprise-wide basis by a panel of seasoned entrepreneurial experts. These intense sessions are tremendously productive to clients, and often mark a turning point in the company's development. Further, Yount has continued to work with Tiger Session companies after the meetings, helping them identify financing sources even if they were not candidates for funding by his firm. Yount also served as emcee at the 2007 Lehigh Valley Venture Idol, presented by the BFTP-led Lehigh Valley Technology Network. With his well-honed and incisive business experience, Don Yount unselfishly gives back to the entrepreneurial business community and serves as a role model to the companies he helps.

Special Achievement
An individual whose strong vision, dedication and commitment to the program have helped to bring about a better business environment for BFTP clients.

David B. Williams, Ph.D., Sc.D.
President, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Former Vice Provost for Research, Lehigh University, Bethlehem

Dr. David Williams has been a tremendous advocate for BFTP both in technical support and economic development areas. As a professor in Lehigh's Materials Science and Engineering Department, he developed a materials characterization lab which provides crucial services to many client companies. As Lehigh's Vice Provost for Research, he was instrumental in the creation of the Center for Optical Technologies, which is a significant resource to BFTP's semiconductor and microelectronics clients. He catalyzed Lehigh's Office of Technology Transfer, which has provided a conduit for bringing technology research to industry. He also was influential in the development of the Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania, which has provided major follow-on funding to several of BFTP's life sciences clients. Finally, Williams was a key ally in the funding and development of Ben Franklin TechVentures, BFTP's new, greatly expanded incubator and post-incubator facility that helps address the shortage of wet lab space in the region. Dave Williams' knowledge, commitment, and perseverance have been tremendous assets to BFTP, and his contributions to the region's economy are numerous and long-lasting.

Wachovia was the gold sponsor of i xchange 2008.