Kendall Stafford

Education

East Carolina University - BS, Finance

Saint Leo University - MBA, Business Administration

Experience

Kendall Stafford attended East Carolina University, where she received a BS in business with a concentration in Finance. She later went on to obtain her MBA from Saint Leo University. Before joining Benchmark International, Kendall spent several years at a regional bank. Kendall began her career in the bank’s prestigious leadership development program and focused on the the commercial department. The program allowed her to spend six months focused on banking leadership, commercial underwriting, and overall operationsAt the time of graduation, the most significant need of the region she was assigned to was in the wealth management division. Given her background, she passed all regulatory requirements and had the opportunity to build the portfolio for two regional branches. Her primary focus was helping high-net-worth individuals and business owners plan for their future financial needs. This included planning for wealth transfers such as the sale of a business. Upon having a successful career in wealth management, Kendall transferred to the bank’s commercial lending team. She assisted the regional loan officers in underwriting and overseeing the needs of the commercial loan portfolio. The commercial exposure for each client ranged from a few hundred thousand to a few million in outstanding loans.

When the opportunity arose to join Benchmark International as a Transaction Director, Kendall’s background and passion for assisting business owners with their exit and growth strategies made it a perfect fit. She kicked off her journey with Benchmark International in their Tampa office, where she played a pivotal role in its establishment. As a Transaction Director, she led a dedicated team of financial analysts, marketing specialists, and negotiations, demonstrating her leadership and strategic planning skills.

As the firm continued to grow, Kendall’s leadership skills were recognized, and she was promoted to the role of Managing Director. In this capacity, she led multiple deal teams and played a significant role in the daily operations of the office. In 2016, Kendall and her family relocated to Austin, Texas, where she spearheaded the establishment of an office for the southwestern US. This move marked a significant milestone in her career, as she became a Managing Partner and was entrusted with leading the operations, teams, and corporate initiatives for the region. In 2023, she further expanded the firm’s footprint by establishing the Denver, Colorado office. Currently, she resides in Denver and manages operations between the two offices, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to drive business growth.

Skills

Negotiation, Communication, Leadership, Problem Solving, Self-Management, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Finance, Accounting, Financial Analysis, Customer Relationship Management, Time Management