STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania has named Robert Dornich as the newest member of its Transformation Business Services Network, a team of seasoned business professionals that provide business mentoring and support to the tech startups in Ben Franklin’s investment portfolio. In his new position, Dornich will also manage the Technology Center and Zetachron small business incubators in State College.
For more than 30 years, Dornich has been a ‘serial’ entrepreneur, owning eight businesses, including one franchise. In 2001, he co-founded a tech startup, Reclamere, and grew it to more than $3 million in sales and 34 employees. Thinking he wanted to retire, he sold the business in 2014. However, after just a few months, he realized that retirement was not for him.
“I missed the pulse of running day-to-day operations and leading a team of managers and executives,” he said. “I also missed strategic planning, financial forecasting, and empowering a team to innovate and achieve great results.”
One of Dornich’s other great passions has been coaching — especially soccer. Combining his passion for startups with coaching makes him an ideal candidate to help mentor the entrepreneurs that receive Ben Franklin funding.
“This new opportunity is my way of giving back for all the good fortune I’ve experienced in my life,” Dornich said. “My company, Reclamere, was a Ben Franklin funding recipient back in the day, and we never could have succeeded if it had not been for their help, mentoring and support.”
Dornich can be reached at 814-865-7332.