Jennifer Leinbach Business Development Officer

Jennifer’s first meeting with members of the Innovation Transfer Network (ITN) took place at an SSTi Conference in Pittsburgh. Impressed with ITN’s accomplishments in Central PA, Jennifer desired to duplicate their efforts in Berks County, where she served as the Greater Reading Keystone Innovation Zone (GRKIZ) coordinator. Discussions followed and one week later, a proposal for funding a collaborative project was sent to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. With the awarding of a $50,000 KIZ Competitive Grant, Team ITN hit the ground running to inspire, motivate and connect the faculty of Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, and Reading Area Community College to local businesses.

Four seed assistance grants, one webinar and nanotechnology event later, the ITN Board of Advisors recommended that the short term collaboration become more permanent. Jen #2 officially joined ITN on July 1 as business development officer to take the lead in Berks and portions of Lebanon and Lancaster Counties.

As the Greater Reading Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator, Jen launched the first Business Idea Challenge competition for Berks County college students. Her passion is assisting entrepreneurs to become more successful. She is a member of the Penn State Berks Entrepreneurship Minor Advisory Board, Berks Technical Institute Information Technology Advisory Committee, Berks Economic Partnership Alternative/Renewable Energy Committee, and the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry Technology Committee.

Prior to serving as the GRKIZ Coordinator, Jen was the Communications Director for the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry, where she kicked off and continues to manage (as a consultant) the Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Excellence and Greater Reading Top Business Awards.

Jennifer resides in a log home in rural Hamburg lovingly built by her husband Christian, sons Matthew and William, daughter Laura and a volunteer crew of family and friends. Her oldest son Matthew (Staff Sergeant USAF) is stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.