Victor F. Russo

Victor F. Russo was former President and Chief Executive Officer of Ben Franklin Technology Center of Central and Northern Pennsylvania, Inc. and Managing Member, Penn Venture Partners. Vic Russo directs the activities of the Center located at Penn State. The Center's mission is to grow small technology companies and provides financial support spanning the full range from Research and Development to raising capital from private sources. The total program consists of company investments, operational assistance and support for activities with Venture Capital and private investors. The Center is a Joint Venture participant with Zero Stage Capital in one of the SBA's conditionally approved New Markets Venture Capital Companies. Prior to Ben Franklin, Vic was Director of Technical Programs with United Technologies Corporation in Shanghai, China where he opened the first wholly foreign-owned technology center in China. He established several joint ventures with the largest companies in China, including Aviation Industries of China. Previously, he was Director of European Operations for United Technologies Research Center based in Munich, Germany where he opened UTC's first European research center in Aachen, Germany. He established JV's with Daimler Benz, Finnmechanica and British Aerospace. Prior to these international assignments, he was Director of Business development for UTRC. Vic Russo has a diploma in Advanced Management Program from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Ph.D. in Physics from Penn State and a BS Physics from University of New Hampshire.