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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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
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🤝 What do automotive retail and M&A have in common? Relationships matter. @ScottFink, the Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group and owner of @vwofwesleychapel and @subaruofwesleychapel, built his dealerships by choosing relationships over transactions, earning repeat customers and turning them into advocates for his business. It’s an approach he connects directly to Benchmark International: take care of people and foster relationships. Hear Scott discuss the philosophy 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
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Benchmark International is proud to once again be recognized among the world’s most active M&A advisors in PitchBook’s Q2 2026 Global League Tables. Ranked: - 15th Most Active Globally - 17th Most Active in the United States - 16th Most Active in Europe These rankings reflect the dedication of our global team and the trust our clients place in us as we continue to help business owners navigate the sale of their companies and pursue exceptional outcomes. #SettingTheBenchmark #MergersAndAcquisitions #BenchmarkInternational #GlobalMandA #Pitchbook
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@ScottFink took an underperforming Mitsubishi dealership to #1 in the country within three years. How? The Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group and owner of @vwofwesleychapel and @subaruofwesleychapel started by doing something many new leaders struggle to do: he watched, listened, and learned. Scott joins Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to explain how learning from successful operators, implementing proven practices, and surrounding himself with the right people helped transform the business. Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, Subscribe & Share. Link in bio. #ClosingRemarks #BenchmarkInternational #Podcast #Business #BusinessGrowth #Success #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessLeader
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Missed our live webinar? You can now watch Before the Sale: What a Sell-Side M&A Process Really Looks Like on demand. Hear from Benchmark International’s Managing Director, Jordan Houtz, and gain valuable insight into the strategic sell-side M&A process. Watch now on YouTube or Vimeo. #BenchmarkInternational #Business #MergersAndAcquisitions #SettingTheBenchmark #Webinar #SellSide #SellingABusiness
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“We really cared, and we didn’t put profit first.” — Scott Fink. For @ScottFink, Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group and owner of @vwofwesleychapel and @subaruofwesleychapel, success has always come back to relationships. By putting customers first and building trust, he turned those relationships into long-term loyalty and growth. Scott joins Dara Shareef on Closing Remarks to share why relationships, not transactions, have been at the center of his approach to business. Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, Subscribe & Share. #ClosingRemarks #BenchmarkInternational #Podcast #Business #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessLeader
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Tomorrow, August 20, join Benchmark International for a live discussion on what a successful sell-side M&A process really looks like and how business owners can prepare to maximize value and achieve a stronger outcome. It’s not too late to register. Link in bio. 12 PM ET | 9 AM PT #BenchmarkInternational #MergersAndAcquisitions #Webinar #SettingTheBenchmark
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Places, everyone… “We’re live.” 🎙️ On this week’s episode, Dara Shareef sits down with @ScottFink, Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group and owner of @vwofwesleychapel and @subaruofwesleychapel, to unpack the lessons behind building some of the nation’s top-performing automotive dealerships. Scott shares how he helped transform a struggling Mitsubishi dealership into the number one Mitsubishi dealership in the nation within three years, along with the lessons that came from putting relationships ahead of transactions, creating customer loyalty, and knowing when to “leave the foxhole” and take action when others retreat. He also offers practical insights on choosing the right advisors, structuring earnouts, and planning for life after an exit. Watch now on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Like, Subscribe & Share. Link in bio. #ClosingRemarks #BenchmarkInternational #Podcast #Business #BusinessLeader #Leadership #Entrepreneur