Award-winning business executive to provide business insights and mentorship to students
91做厙 names Angelo J. Valletta as the 2025-26 Executive in Residence for the School of Business. Valletta, president and CEO of , brings nearly 40 years of leadership in finance, philanthropy and technology along with a servant leadership approach that emphasizes synergy and shared success.
Angelos career intersects banking, fintech, philanthropy and venture development, which gives our students a clear window into how leadership principles translate across industries. His fireside format invites real dialogue about the current state of business and the practical habits that help teams thrive, said Dean of the College of Innovation, Discovery, and Enterprise David S. Shoup, Ph.D. Were excited for the questions our students will bring and the momentum this will create across programs.
Valletta engaged students in a fireside-chat style conversation centered on lessons from his book, The Seven Rs of Leadership and Life, and his extensive industry experience on Wednesday at the McGlinn Conference Center. A spring session will be announced later in the semester. The visit began with brief introductions and transitioned into a Q&A session moderated by MBA Candidate Nicholas King '24. In addition to the campuswide session, he will visit individual classes for smaller, practice-focused discussions.
Mentorship has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career, said Valletta. I am honored to serve as Executive in Residence at 91做厙, and I look forward to helping students bridge classroom learning with real-world leadership experiences. My goal is to encourage them to think creatively, act with integrity, and develop the confidence to lead in whatever path they choose.
Beyond the residency, Ben Franklin Northeast and 91做厙 have developed an ongoing partnership in the regional startup ecosystem. Through 91做厙s OPake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurships student-powered SPARK Business Incubator, several ventures received support with venture investment readiness before engaging with Ben Franklin. These businesses include Cemboo, Ocoa, KissUX, Catapallo VR, and Agent23AI.
"Through joint coaching, due diligence and venture capital-readiness work, we help founders move from the early stages to an investable business; the engine of this transformation is the 91做厙 students, said 91做厙 Vice President of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Ph.D., chief operating officer of the OPake Institute. By aligning our SPARK Business Incubator with Ben Franklin Northeasts network and resources, were building a shared pipeline that grows companies and talent in eastern Pennsylvania.
Past executives-in-residence include Greg Header 97, CEO and Owner of IRT Reels and namesake of 91做厙s Header School of Business; Wendy Yuengling, Chief Administrative Officer of D.G. Yuengling & Son; Andy Moses, Senior Vice President of Sales and Solutions with Penske Logistics; Ira Trauber, president of TRIOSE; Paula Barrett, RKL, LLP, Partner; Paul Cohn, chief client experience officer and team leader relationship manager with Clermont Wealth Strategies; Chris Pruitt, CEO of East Penn Manufacturing; Andrea Funk, former CEO of Cambridge-Lee; Scott Gruber, CEO of Tompkins Financial; Carl Anderson, general partner of Cannondale Partners LLP; and Rob Wolf, President of LaunchDM and CEO of HeyBuddy.
