For Hall of Famer John Benko, It’s All About Friendships and Family
It’s been a big year for John Benko.
He and three CLDA board members have joined forces to form a nationwide network in the final-mile space. He and his wife Sandra sent their daughter off to college, making them empty nesters with the freedom to live anywhere in the country. And he became the 30th member of the CLDA Hall of Fame.
It was a journey that started for John when he was 17 and one that took him to this year’s Final Mile Forum in Miami where his long-time friend and new business partner, Tom Jowers, served up the honors.
Here’s some of what Tom said about the man who introduced him to the benefits of industry associations: “Around 15 years ago, my personal life changed for the better. Although I’d been in the industry for over 15 years, I had no idea about associations. I went to the ECA conference in Chicago, and I met a guy who introduced me to his boss, John Benko. Soon after that, Benko calls me up and says, ‘Hey, you like hockey?’ And I say, ‘No’. To which he responds, ‘Well, you’re gonna go to a game with me.’ We sat and talked about business the entire time. So, five years go by, and we stay in touch, but I’m struggling in my business. John says to me, ‘We’ve got to get you out of that situation. But before we do that, why aren’t you involved in any of the industry associations? You need to get involved.’”
John introduced Tom to members of the Florida Messenger Association, which at the time wasn’t very active. Together, the two men rebuilt it and eventually Tom became the president. Next, John wanted Tom to get involved with MCAA (CLDA’s predecessor). Tom continues the story: “John says, ‘Hey, there’s this group, the MCAA. You need to be part of it.’ And I’m thinking ‘How am I going to do that too?’ But John insists, so I go to a meeting and it’s so good that I stick with it. Then he says, ‘You need to join the board.’ And I’m like, ‘You’re crazy. I can’t do that! I don’t know the things that all the people in that room know.’ His answer was, ‘You have no idea what you know until you get in the room with those people and start creating relationships.’ That was 16 years ago and I’m still here, on the board because John Benko pushed me to take that leap. He’s my friend my guidance counselor. Now my business partner and I love him and want to be the first to congratulate him on joining the CLDA Hall of Fame.”
While the intro gave John a few minutes notice that he was about to be center stage to accept his award, he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Here’s what he came up with: “All right, full disclosure: I suck at this. I’m not usually at a loss for words but not when it comes to talking about myself. I’m no good at acknowledging praise of any kind. I’m very easy to talk to, I think, and I’m happy to talk about anything you want to talk about, but when it’s about me, I ‘m not that comfortable.
Where I do feel comfortable is when I’m talking about my passion for this association. Some of my strongest friendships have been born out of this association. Pretty much all of the good things in running my businesses have come from this. There are just good, good people who have helped me personally and professionally in this room tonight. I have enormous affinity for the CLDA and the MCAA prior to that. I wouldn’t be standing here today absent the people in this room. I stand on the shoulders of some very, very smart folks who really helped me. I truly genuinely thank you for inviting me in. I very much appreciate everything that you’ve allowed me to participate in. But I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the folks who are standing behind me, my family. They’re really the ones who have sacrificed everything. Sandra, my wife, sacrifices today and has over the years allowing me to do this. She could have put up a fight and said, ‘No, I need I need you,’ but she knew that this was important to me. She knew what we got out of it, and she supported me unconditionally. My eldest son Kyle, my daughter Cooey and father-in-law Mario who are also with me tonight are the ones who keep me going, along with my mother-in-law and middle son Gavin who couldn’t be here tonight. I’m just very, very blessed to have good people surrounding me. I thank all of you for your support; for your trust and for your friendship.”
A Journey That Starts at Age 17
The road that led John to the CLDA Hall of Fame started at age 17. In 1984, John entered the world of logistics as a Station Agent for Piedmont Airlines in South Bend, IN. He sold tickets, boarded flights, worked in air freight, loaded luggage, and even did weight-balance on the planes. He spent 18 years with the airlines.
Over the next three decades he moved from the airlines into the courier business and to the presidency of the CLDA in 2016. He’s run companies. He’s owned and sold his own companies. He’s consulted with companies and even nursed a few through the mergers and acquisitions process. And in March of this year, he joined forces with three other CLDA board members, Tom Jowers, Randy Edmonds, and Monte O’Hare, to form a nationwide network to provide the lower 48 US states with final-mile services.
John claims much of the journey would not have been possible without the relationships he’s built through this association: “I’m a byproduct of lots of different people who have helped me along the way. Without the guidance of lots and lots of folks including the past presidents of the CLDA, the members of past boards, the present board, and staff it wouldn’t have happened this way. It was a village that raised John,” he says, calling his two decades with the association, “A labor of love.”
He attributes his long and varied career in logistics to the skills and relationships he’s built through the association.
“The businesses that I've had; the ones I’ve sold; the ones in which I've worked would have been far weaker without the influence of the CLDA. So, it's me who really owes continuous praise for this association. Absent of that, I would be a lesser individual, and I would not have had the success I had with each of my businesses.”
Johnny Appleseed
When it comes to the CLDA, John calls himself, “Johnny Appleseed. I go out and spread the good word about this association.”
He’s bullish about the association’s ability to open the door to discussions with others experiencing the same challenges: “I think that you participate in the CLDA for the networking opportunities. Being able to talk to folks and listen to what they are sharing is invaluable. The fact that I can pick up the phone and talk to hundreds of people to tell them about my challenges or my struggles and ask for help is priceless. You can’t buy that anywhere else.”
The association’s advocacy efforts also strike a chord with John: “From an advocacy standpoint, there’s nobody in our space that does what we do. The CLDA does more to advocate for the advancement of those in the final-mile delivery space than anyone else. I think you join the CLDA because your voice is stronger when it’s united with many others. You have a lot of folks around you who are able to be louder on behalf of the industry than you could be individually. Our advocacy efforts help spot legislative issues that could put members of our industry out of business. You want someone to help you be on the front side of those issues. You want someone to advocate for you before those issues run you over. That’s what this association does better than anyone else.”
He reminds anyone who will listen that the CLDA is all about mutually building members’ businesses. “I know there’s a significant amount of business that gets pushed and pulled back and forth between companies who are members. If you are part of a company in this space and you want additional business, I think this is one of the best ways to do it. The CLDA provides venues where there’s a concentrated group of shippers and carriers. At every CLDA event, you hear small and large carriers raising hands and saying, ‘Hey I can help you with that.’”
He sums things up this way: “It’s a competitive disadvantage if your company is not part of the CLDA. If you choose not to plug in and not to use this group of industry pros to put your ear to the ground, you’re at a disadvantage against those companies that do. You run the risk of getting run over or having opportunities pass you by.”
A Look Back at Two Decades with the Association
Thinking about his 20+ years with the association – including 14 on the board, 12 on the Executive Committee and two as president – John is philosophical and grateful.
Here’s how he sums up his time with the association: “Joining the MCAA/CLDA 20 years ago was one of those pivotal decisions that was and continues to be a game changer for me and my family. The CLDA has taught me much about faith, family, business, and politics. It has allowed me to forge and foster lifelong friendships that mean everything to me.
Before joining this association, I was told that it was different than other trade association because the members truly care about helping each other to be successful. ‘A rising tide raises all boats’ was a quote that immediately jumped to mind when I experienced my first conference in 2003. After attending the 2022 CLDA FMF in Miami, I am happy to report that this theme continues to be strong today.”.
In reflecting on joining others who are part of the CLDA Hall of Fame, he concludes with this: “I am very honored, humbled, and grateful that the current CLDA Board saw fit to acknowledge my small contributions over the years in this very special way. I will always treasure this induction into the CLDA Hall of Fame always. I remain very thankful to those past Presidents and Boards who came before me, for their leadership and examples that helped pave the way for others, including me. Thanks to the past and present Kellen Staff for their continuous support of the MCAA/CLDA over the years. Lastly, I’m forever grateful for my family’s sacrifices and support over the years, for allowing me to volunteer and be a part of this great association.”
