
Innovation Conference Keynote Speakers
The Seven R’s of Leadership and Life

Angelo Valletta
President and CEO
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA
Angelo is the author of a new book, The Seven R’s of Leadership and Life, coming out this Fall. Can you guess what they are? Angelo will speak to his personal mission to bring the seven R’s to every business and personal interaction.
Be prepared for this keynote to turn into an interactive discussion with the audience as Angelo is a people person and he wants to know what’s on your mind as much as share what is on his.
Angelo is the President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA. In his role, Angelo has the opportunity to interact with NEPA “leadership innovation” on a regular basis and he will share his observations as seen through a new lens.
Angelo Valetta joined Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania as President and CEO in January 2021.
Angelo brings close to 40 years of progressively responsible managerial experience in diverse industries with companies ranging in size from small consultants to multi-national firms. Prior to joining Ben Franklin Northeast, Mr. Valletta served as Market President for FISGlobal, the President and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Philadelphia, and the Senior Vice President and Chief Operations and Information Officer at Sun National Bank, and Philadelphia Market Chief Information Officer at PNCBank.
Mr. Valletta holds a B.A. in Information Systems from Temple University and an MBA from Philadelphia University. He’s actively engaged in several nonprofit boards and committees, including the PA Governor Economic Development Transition Committee, GO PA Investment Committee, and Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute Innovation & Investment Board, Pierce College Technology Advisory Board, and Chairs the Louis A. Valletta Endowed Scholarship at Temple University. Mr. Valletta has received honors including the Temple University Alumni Diamond Award, Bank System & Tech Elite 8 Award, and SmartCXO Magazine Top 10 Honoree, among others.
Not in NEPA?

Matt Guedes
Executive Director
Think we can’t do anything we put our mind too? Matt would graciously suggest otherwise.
Matt has had the benefit of many journeys in his life and those experiences now play an important role with the work being done at Camp Freedom – a place that started as an idea and is now a thriving destination for American hero healing, volunteer growth, and community good.
How can all of this happen? “Genuine culture”.
And so this journey together begins…
Matt Guedes has more than twenty-five years of experience in the outdoor industry and has served as a pastor for over 28 years. That service and care extends to staff, guests, and volunteers alike. His extensive background in this field serves him well as the Executive Director of Camp Freedom for the past 5 ½ years. From the first day up until the present Matt has built a team that serves the guests of Camp Freedom and its mission.
For over 14 years, Matt has owned a hunting consultant business. Journey Hunts has paved the way for hunters and their families to encounter the outdoors in a memorable experience. He leads his staff to assist clients to have a hunt of a lifetime and enjoy the journey along the way. Journey Hunts cares for people as they travel and navigate the entirety of the globe.
Matt is an outdoor writer, pro-staff hunter, and sponsored hunter who has pursued various game in nine countries on five different continents. He has been able to harvest over 200 animals with his bow and continues to be a conservationist at the core of his life.
Matt graduated from Dickinson College in 1991 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He also served as an officer in the United States Army for 3+ years. Matt has pastored four churches representing over 28 years in the ministry. He and his wife, Kelley, have been married for over 29 year and they have been blessed with three, now adult, children: Tekoah, Baylee, and Hollis.
Panel Discussion
Leadership Challenges Facing Academia and the Innovative Responses Required
Dr. Rodney Ridley
Alvernia University
Dr. Mary Lou D’Allegro
LCCC
Dr. Kathleen Sottile
NEIU 19
Dr. Erin Keating
Old Forge School District