ERIE, PA – Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA (www.cnp.benfranklin.org) is pleased to announce that Ms. Debra Steiner has become the newest member of Ben Franklin’s Northwest team. In this position, Debbie will provide business mentoring and support to the region’s technology clients as a member of the BF Transformation Management Services Group.

Debbie’s extensive experience in economic and business development spans nearly 20 years. In her most recent position, as manager of the local office of deugro USA, she was responsible for not only the budget and business performance, but also the development and implementation of the overall sales plan, hiring of staff, supervisory control of all accounting efforts, legal and contract compliance issues, and strategic planning.

Debbie’s expertise with entrepreneurs and startup activity was honed during her nearly 15 years with Gannon University’s Small Business Development Center – nine of which were spent as the Center’s Director. In that position, she was responsible for managing and leading the daily operations, cultivating relationships in the public and private sector, and recruiting/training the full-time professional consultants who provided continuous outreach to the service region.

With a Master of Business Administration from Gannon University, Debbie is a long-time resident of the Erie area and has served on various Boards such as the Erie County Enterprise Development Fund, the Board of Corporations for both UPMC/Hamot and Saint Vincent Health Center, and was a past member of ATHENA Powerlink’s Governing Panel.

Please join with us in welcoming Debbie to the team. She can be reached at 814-898-6542.                                   

About Ben Franklin Technology Partners:

The largest early-stage seed investor in our region, Ben Franklin Technology Partners/CNP, (an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority) provides funding and business support services to emerging tech-based companies and small, existing manufacturers. To learn more about the Ben Franklin program, check out this quick video http://bit.ly/1iabSx5. Visit our website at www.cnp.benfranklin.org