Ben Franklin names new chief technology officer

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has named Melanie Kohler as its new chief technology officer.

Kohler is replacing Aaron Balch who is retiring June 30 after more than 20 years.

Kohler was most recently the director of Information Technology at Living Branches in Souderton.

Prior to that, she was the senior director of technology and service at LeadingAge PA in Mechanicsburg. She also served as director of information technology for Phoebe Services, Allentown, for 13 years, and went on to launch and lead its new company service line, Pathstones by Phoebe, as its executive director.

As chief technology officer Kohler will identify, support, and oversee the information technology infrastructure for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania and its business technology incubators, Ben Franklin TechVentures and the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center.

She will also explore innovative IT approaches and improvements for BFTP/NEP and its incubator companies.

“We thank Aaron Balch for his 20+ years of outstanding work and are delighted to welcome Melanie Kohler as Ben Franklin’s new Chief Technology Officer,” said Angelo Valletta, CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Parnters of Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Melanie brings comprehensive IT experience and a positive and forward-thinking attitude that will continue to help Ben Franklin staff streamline our work through technology.”

Kohler earned an MBA in Management from DeSales University and a BS in Business/Healthcare Administration from Cedar Crest College. She attained Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification from Purdue University.