IT firm becomes anchor tenant at TechVentures

TechVentures in Bethlehem has a new anchor tenant. Converged Communications, which is doing business as Convergent, moved into the west wing in TechVenture’s most recent expansion space.

Convergent is an IT solutions and managed service provider. It had previously been located in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

While Convergent is a tenant, it is not an incubator client of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania, which operates the center. The company is paying full-market rent.

Laura Eppler, chief marketing officer for BFTPNEP, said with the tech-friendly amenities of the building, the space served as a good spot for the company’s headquarters.

“Convergent is an innovative IT and managed service provider that is Ben Franklin TechVentures’ newest anchor tenant,” Eppler said. “As a technology-based firm, they contribute to and benefit from the tech ecosystem here at the incubator. And, as an anchor tenant paying full rent, they help us provide below-market rates to our early-stage firm clients.”

TechVentures is also located in the Keystone Innovation Zone allowing extra benefits for the tenant.

Chris Jones, president and CEO of Convergent said that the space “checked all of the boxes” on what the company needed as far as infrastructure and technology. Coming in as a full-rate tenant helped the company support the Ben Franklin organization, which he supports.

“It’s a wonderful service they provide,” Jones said.

Because this was a leasing arrangement, the marketing of the space and the agreement were handled by Mike Adams of NAI Summit in South Whitehall Township.

TechVentures is at 116 Research Drive in Bethlehem.

Convergent also has a location in Wyomissing. It has 28 employees.