Dara Shareef Named as Inaugural Member of the Blue Ribbon Council

Benchmark International is proud to announce that Dara Shareef, a Board Member and Shareholder at Benchmark International, has been named an inaugural member of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County’s Blue Ribbon Council. The honor reflects the company’s longstanding belief in the power of education to create opportunity and closely aligns with Benchmark International’s commitment to supporting education and strengthening the communities it calls home.

• Dara Shareef Named to Blue Ribbon Council: Benchmark International Board Member and Shareholder Dara Shareef has been named an inaugural member of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County’s Blue Ribbon Council.
• Advancing Early Education: The Council brings together business and community leaders to support early learning and help create stronger futures for children and families throughout Hillsborough County.
• Building on Benchmark International’s Commitment: The appointment aligns with Benchmark International’s focus on education and community involvement, including its partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The newly formed Blue Ribbon Council brings businesses together and community leaders who share a commitment to giving children a strong start and creating brighter futures for children and families throughout Hillsborough County. The Coalition officially announced the Council at its Education Young Children Summit last week.

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For Benchmark International, Dara’s appointment is especially meaningful. Education is a key pillar of the company’s community involvement, including its partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning to support young people and create opportunities across Tampa Bay. His service on the Council extends that commitment to the earliest years of a child’s life, when access to learning, encouragement, and opportunity can have a lasting impact.

“Great communities are formed when community and business leaders engage with their citizenry long before they enter the workforce,” Shareef said. “The experiences and opportunities children have in their earliest years shape everything that follows: educational achievement, economic advancement, and ultimately the strength of our workforce and our region. I’m honored to join a group that values the voices of business leaders and ushers them into this important conversation.”

Dara brings more than 25 years of experience in business, investment, and organizational leadership to the Council, including a decade in venture capital and senior executive board roles. Throughout his career, he has bridged education, economic opportunity, and regional competitiveness.

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The Blue Ribbon Council will deepen engagement between the Coalition and leaders across Tampa Bay’s business and civic communities, helping elevate early learning as an important part of the region’s future. For Dara, involvement reinforces a broader belief that giving back and investing in education today helps create stronger communities.

“Business leaders spend a great deal of time talking about talent and how we attract it to Tampa Bay,” Shareef added. “We also have to talk about how we develop it in-house. That process starts early; much earlier than most of us think.”

Benchmark International is honored to support Dara as he brings his business experience and passion for education to the Blue Ribbon Council. His appointment builds on the company’s shared belief that investing in education helps create stronger families, greater opportunities, and a stronger Tampa Bay for generations to come.

Beyond his role with Benchmark International, Dara has held leadership positions across investment, corporate strategy, and business development. He has served as an educator and mentor to entrepreneurs and executives and regularly speaks on business growth, leadership, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions.

About the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County

The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County works to ensure children from birth to age 5 receive high-quality early learning experiences that prepare them for success in school and life through the collaboration of families, educators, providers, business leaders, and the community. ELCHC administers early learning programs and supports families, providers, and community partners working toward kindergarten readiness across Hillsborough County.

For more information, visit elchc.org.

About Dara Shareef

Dara Shareef serves on the Global Board of Directors and is a shareholder of Benchmark International, a global mergers and acquisitions firm specializing in selling privately held businesses. His career spans more than 25 years in capital formation, venture investing, corporate leadership, and M&A. He speaks frequently and hosts Closing Remarks, a podcast that makes the language of mergers and acquisitions more accessible to business owners, their families, and advisors.

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