Gamechangers

The Difference

A Culture of Higher Standards

Benchmark International is a place where everyone is in your corner, and everyone contributes. A place where opinions are valued and hard work is rewarded. Walk into any of our offices around the world and you will feel the team spirit and our company values in action.

We especially understand the importance of business culture because we study those of our clients in order to make deals that are a good fit. We strive to keep our employees inspired and always evolving ahead of our business. Whether you are a potential team member or a potential client, we look forward to hearing from you.

Belong & Thrive

I think we empower people here. We give them the opportunity to impact their future. I like that. And I think it is obvious the commitment, both financial and time, of the CEO and Chairman. The business continues to invest in itself and its people and I appreciate that. I also love the willingness to evolve as a company.

Dara Shareef
Managing Director

The people are fantastic and extremely well chosen - the corporate fabric and ethos is palpable and not just something we "say" we walk the talk. A feeling of satisfaction comes with this - we really are making a difference.

Nicholas Salvatore
Senior Director

Benchmark International offers a warm, receptive environment with a competitive nature. Since day one, I’ve felt welcome. We all like to succeed together and enjoy the fruits of our labor. I am also a naturally very competitive person, and there is a healthy, friendly competition each day to close a deal, or get an LOI, NDA, etc.

Jason Donker
Senior Deal Associate

I thrive on the culture here. I feel as individuals, our differences are embraced, and celebrated. I feel we are free to be ourselves, and our unique strengths and talents are nurtured, brought to the forefront, and put to use in a way the benefits us as people, as well as the company.

Shannon Hess
Director

I decided to join Benchmark because of the family atmosphere. Everyone from the CEO to our analysts knows me and my family and vice versa. I couldn’t ask for a more quality company to work for.

Brett Caskey
Deal Origination Team Lead

I like the tight-knit family environment. There is a healthy balance of work and play. There aren't any office gimmicks which many employers are artificially using to lure talent. Yet, there are plenty of team building and breakout sessions that foster synergy.

Robert West
Director

I feel like you go above and beyond for your employees - and you listen. DreamMark, green room, standing desks, 401K, quarterly outings, charitable donations, employee recognition, holiday fun, etc. However, for me, I also enjoy the work that I do because it's what I do best.

Shelley McCreary
Executive Administrator

I believe our ownership takes a genuine interest in employees and wants to provide the tools that will help us succeed. We are not a company built off slander or putting down others / competitors, but rather one that focuses on constant growth and being a leader. We provide a service that I feel is the best option for our clients who engage with us and are able to produce results far above what is thought to be possible. We create value through helping others and I endeavor to align with this daily.

Wade Duncan
Director of Origination

Benchmark makes this a place where I want to work because of the flexible and diverse nature of the client accounts. I truly enjoy being able to work directly with business owners to better understand their industry while being able to better recognize the distinguishing factors of each business. I also believe we hire good people which makes us a strong organization in the market.

Emily Cogley
Director

Our leadership builds vibrant environments centered around strong values, and that is how we are able to attract and develop world-class talent.

MICHAEL LAWRIE
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

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More data doesn’t always mean better decisions. @kalgullapalli and host Dara Shareef discuss why operators should narrow their focus to the three to five KPIs that matter most, and then ensure they have the right people to move them . With operating experience across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands, Kal has seen how the right metrics, people, and customer experience work together to drive performance. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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We’re honored to be recognized as the 2026 New Community Partner of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Our partnership reflects Benchmark International’s commitment to creating opportunities and making a meaningful impact in the communities we call home. Through mentorship and education, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is helping young people build confidence, discover new opportunities, and reach their potential. We’re proud to support that mission and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work happening across our Tampa Bay community. We look forward to continuing this partnership and finding new ways to give back. #BenchmarkInternational #SettingTheBenchmark #TampaBay #Partnership #BenchmarkInternationalPartnerships
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Wishing you a sweet, joyful, and meaningful New Year. Happy Rosh Hashanah from Benchmark International. #RoshHashanah #BenchmarkInternational
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What makes a riskier investment worth your time and capital? @kalgullapalli and host Dara Shareef unpack opportunity cost, hurdle rates, and why taking on greater risk should come with different expectations for return. Through experience with @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands, Kal brings an operator’s perspective to evaluating risk and return. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business
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We pause today to honor the lives lost, the courage shown, and the unity that emerged. We will never forget. #PatriotDay #NeverForget #BenchmarkInternational
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“I just believe in radical transparency. People should always know where they sit.” - Kal Gullapalli For @kalgullapalli, clarity is key. People deserve to know where they stand, what’s expected of them, and what it takes to move forward. In this conversation with Dara Shareef, Kal shares insights and lessons from his experience with @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands Because sometimes, one honest conversation is all it takes to create clarity, build trust, and move things forward. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, and share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #BusinessLeader
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Take it from the top. Cue our special guest. We’re live! When is an opportunity worth the risk? @kalgullapalli joins host Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to talk about risk and returns, KPIs, building the right team, protecting culture, and making smarter decisions as you grow. Kal shares lessons from operating 77 units across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands. What has he learned along the way? 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #closingremarks
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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Kim O’Connor of Palm Coast Sales, http://Inc., who shares how Benchmark International’s strategic approach and industry outreach helped generate strong buyer interest and support a successful transaction. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday
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🤔 What if your biggest strength isn’t building the playbook, but knowing how to grow with it? Through experience, @kalgullapalli discovered where he creates the most value: taking a proven playbook and putting the right people and processes in place to grow. His journey includes experience across @daveshotchicken, @popupbagels, @orangetheory, @europeanwax, @marcospizza, and @builtdifferentbrands. 🎙️ Tomorrow on Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef talks with Kal about how that realization influenced his path from investing to franchising. Tune in at 6 AM.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #BusinessLeader
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💭 Sometimes a business sale starts with a simple question: What could my business be worth? Dara Shareef talks with @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, about how that curiosity opened the door to exploring a potential sale. While Thomas was exploring his options, Cboe Global Markets approached him about an acquisition. 🎙️ What happened next? Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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Happy Labor Day from Benchmark International. Honoring the dedication, talent, and hard work that drive progress forward. #LaborDay #BenchmarkInternational
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Did you miss our conversation with Derrick Brooks?   As USF football gets back on the field, we’re revisiting a great conversation with a Tampa Bay and USF legend on leadership, business, brand-building, and the power of community.   🎙️ Catch Derrick Brooks in conversation with Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks. Watch the episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, and share.     #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #BenchmarkInternational #Community #TampaBay
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👥 How much more could you build with the right people beside you? For @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, learning to let go and bring great people in became an important leadership lesson. Thomas shares what building a small team taught him about talent, mentorship, and helping others succeed in his conversation with Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks. 🎙️Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #SoftwareEngineering #Business
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“I was the typical founder that thought I could do it all myself.” - @thomasjfrey For Thomas Frey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, one of the biggest lessons was learning when to let go, delegate, and bring great people into the business. On Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef and Thomas explore how learning to trust and empower others can shape the way a founder leads and grows. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Founder #Business #Leader
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Cue host. Stand by talent. We’re LIVE! What does it take to build, lead, sell, and keep evolving? @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, joins Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to talk M&A, delegation, AI, great people, and one of the biggest questions for any founder: What comes next? 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Tim Wood of KGM, who reflects on the complexities of the M&A process and the value of having an experienced partner by your side. With numerous moving pieces and important decisions throughout the transaction, Benchmark International brought the expertise and coordination needed to successfully navigate the process. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday
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What can happen when you follow an interest and see where it leads? For @thomasjfrey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP of Software Engineering at @cboeglobalmarkets, an interest in financial markets led him into software engineering and eventually to building a business later acquired by Cboe Global Markets. Tomorrow on Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef talks with Thomas about the path from building to selling, and the lessons that shaped what came next. Where did that path take him next? 🎙️ Tune in tomorrow at 6 AM.     #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks
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🤝 An exit isn’t just about getting the deal done. What happens after closing matters too. When Symphony Ventures was sold, @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, says the structure gave the founders room to focus on their craft, integrate into the new organization, and continue growing the business without highly restrictive earnouts. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef and Ian explore the side of M&A that owners have to consider beyond the transaction itself: what life and work will actually look like on the other side. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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Sometimes better business starts with a “shoe swap.” Long before @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, was thinking about AI agents, he was thinking about empathy. Ian shares how an initiative he called the “shoe swap” encouraged business partners to see the world from each other’s perspective. The goal was simple: understand what the other side is trying to achieve before you plan, negotiate, or collaborate. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef and Ian discuss why the human perspective still matters, even as technology changes how business gets done. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Business #Podcast #AI
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An idea. Roughly 350 professionals. An exit. Four years. That’s how @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, describes the sprint behind Symphony Ventures. Timing mattered, but so did being able to execute when the market opportunity appeared. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef talks with Ian about the journey from a bold entrepreneurial leap to scaling a company and ultimately reaching an exit. For business owners, it’s a look at what can happen when opportunity, execution, and the right team come together. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI
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What if getting your business ready for AI also made it easier to sell? Ian Barkin has already lived through one automation revolution. Now, he sees familiar mistakes emerging as companies race toward AI. In the latest Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef sits down with @ian_barkin, the founder of @bemagentiq, to explore what robotic process automation can teach us about AI agents, why “AI first” is an ambition but “AI ready” is a plan, and how the work required to prepare for AI could also prepare a company for an eventual exit. What does an AI-ready business actually look like? 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Business #Podcast #AI
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The wait is over! Mark it…. We’re live. On the latest episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef sits down with @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, to talk AI, automation, entrepreneurship, and exits. From becoming AI-ready and potentially exit-ready to keeping humans at the center of automation, developing the next generation of leaders, and finding purpose after a sale. 🎙️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, subscribe, & share! Link in bio. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #Business #AI #Success
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Testimonial Tuesday This week, we hear from Ross Edlund of Skillets http://Inc., who shares how Benchmark International’s experienced guidance and representation helped generate strong buyer interest early in the process and position the business for the desired outcome. #BenchmarkSuccess #BenchmarkInternational #TestimonialTuesday #SettingTheBenchmark #Testimonial #ClientTestimonial
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🤖 AI first is an ambition. AI-ready is a plan. But what does becoming AI-ready actually require? On tomorrow’s episode, host Dara Shareef talks with @ian_barkin, founder of @bemagentiq, about why business owners need to understand and document how work actually gets done before layering AI onto it. That rigor can do more than prepare a company for automation. As Ian explains, becoming AI-ready can, in many cases, also make a business exit-ready. Tomorrow on Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef sits down with Ian to explore what that means for business owners, AI adoption, automation, and business value. 🎙️ Tune in tomorrow at 6 AM. #BenchmarkInternational #ClosingRemarks #Podcast #AI
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How do we make sure the next generation helps shape what comes next? For @ScottFink, Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group and owner of @vwofwesleychapel and @subaruofwesleychapel, the answer starts with connection. Scott believes businesses and philanthropic organizations need to reach the next generation early, build bridges, and provide young leaders with opportunities to make an impact in their communities. Hear Scott discuss the future of Tampa Bay with Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks. Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, Subscribe & Share. Link in bio. #ClosingRemarks #BenchmarkInternational #Podcast #Business #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessLeader