PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Board of Directors for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) -- an innovative economic development organization that stimulates entrepreneurial potential to grow the region's economy -- has elected Gregory S. Bentley, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Bentley Systems, Inc.; Judith Erwin, Executive Vice President and Founder, Square 1 Bank; and Michael J. Heller, Vice-Chair, Business Law Department, Cozen O'Connor, to serve on the Board.
In addition, Susan Evatt, BFTP/SEP's Vice President of the Technology Commercialization Group, was appointed as the Board's Assistant Corporate Secretary.
"Ben Franklin Technology Partners is very pleased to add three new distinguished members as Gregory S. Bentley, Judith Erwin, and Michael J. Heller to the Board of Directors," Board Chairman Martin S. Dorph said. "Mr. Bentley adds significant value to BFTP/SEP as a successful lifetime entrepreneur in software technology. Ms. Erwin has spent her career leveraging existing relationships with venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and service providers around the U.S. Mr. Heller brings additional perspective to BFTP/SEP with extensive experience representing and counseling entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies."
Gregory S. Bentley
Gregory S. Bentley has been Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Systems since 2000, President since 1995, and Chairman of the Board starting in 1994. The global company provides a comprehensive software portfolio for the architecture, engineering, construction and operations of infrastructure assets, within each of its building, plant, civil, and geospatial verticals. When Gregory Bentley joined his four founding brothers at Bentley Systems in 1991, the company had just 35 employees and only research and development activities. Since then, the company -- with the majority of its operations located outside North America -- has grown to more than 2,000 employees and generated $336 million in revenues in 2005. Also, in 2005, the Eastern Technology Council named Bentley Systems "Company of the Year."
Prior to joining Bentley Systems, Gregory Bentley founded and served as CEO of Devon Systems International, Inc., a provider of financial trading software. In 1987, that company was acquired by SunGard Data Systems, Inc. He served as a director of SunGard, one of the world's largest information technology vendors, from 1991 until it went private in an over $11-billion transaction in 2005. In 2003, Greg Bentley was recognized as "CEO of the Year" by the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. He was the chairman of "Campaign 2000" for the United Way of Chester County, PA, which surpassed its fund-raising goal. He has also served on the boards of organizations for the developmentally disabled. In July, 2002, Bentley was selected to participate in the United States President's Crawford Economic Forum in Waco, Texas.
Bentley earned his Bachelor's degree in Decision Sciences in 1976 and an MBA in finance in 1977 (Summa Cum Laude with General Honors) from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Judith E. Erwin
Judith Erwin is Executive Vice President and co-founder of Square 1 Bank, a North Carolina-based, venture-focused national bank established is 2005. She manages the national Venture Capital Services practice with offices in Silicon Valley and Boston, and clients in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Texas, Pacific Northwest, and San Diego areas.
From 1998 to 2005, Erwin was the Regional Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Imperial Bank (which was acquired by Comerica Bank in 2001). She founded Venture Fund Services, a national banking practice focused on strategically important venture capital firms. She was responsible for the recruitment and management of remotely located sales and customer service representatives, and the creation of industry-specific credit products. The bank's portfolio included 100 clients located throughout the United States and Canada with credit commitments in excess of $350 million. From 1990 to 1998, she was Vice President of Plaza Bank which was acquired by Comerica Bank in 1991. As the business development officer, she was responsible for market development of de novo Corporate Offices from Sunnyvale to San Francisco. In addition, she served as the Treasury Manager, responsible for the development of statewide Treasury Management products and services.
Michael J. Heller
Michael J. Heller is a member of the law firm, Vice-Chair of the Business Law Department, and Chair of the Emerging Business and Venture Capital Practice Group at Cozen O'Connor. He is also a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Before joining the firm in 1994, he practiced at Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen. At Cozen O'Connor, Heller represents emerging growth companies in all industries. His representation ranges from the formation and business planning stage to creating, structuring and negotiating joint ventures and strategic alliances. Heller also directs technology licensing, transfer and development, all types of capital-raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and beyond. He often speaks in public forums on venture capital and entrepreneurism in the Mid-Atlantic region and is frequently quoted in local, regional and national publications on the subject.
Heller's memberships include the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group, the Board of Directors of the Entrepreneurs' Forum of Philadelphia, Inc., and the Advisory Committee for the University City Science Center's Port of Technology. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1986, Summa Cum Laude, from Pennsylvania State University, and his law degree in 1989, Magna Cum Laude, from Villanova University.
About Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Since 1982, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) has served as a catalyst for stimulating entrepreneurial potential through the integration of systems designed to accelerate the transition of scientific discovery and technology development to commercialization. Part of a statewide network in Pennsylvania, BFTP/SEP provides entrepreneurs and established businesses with the capital, knowledge and networks they need to compete in the global marketplace. BFTP/SEP has provided more than $110 million to over 1,400 regional enterprises through various funding means. BFTP/SEP is a founding partner of the Nanotechnology Institute(tm) (NTI) and the Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Alliance (MANA(r) and is funded by Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. For additional information, visit www.sep.benfranklin.org.