Jeff Benton has more than 23 years of experience developing marketing, business growth and partnership programs for a diverse range of organizations—from professional sports teams and leagues to international networks of CEOs and business executives. Throughout his career, Benton has built relationships with corporate leaders with many of the world’s premier brands. Benton’s diverse background also includes running professional sporting events and overseeing programs that include professional athletes, coaches and entertainers.
Benton is currently the President and Founder of Link Strategy Group, a Business Growth Firm that provides strategic marketing and business development services to a diverse group of clients. The firm is focused on working with companies that provide innovative solutions to the marketplace and that are characterized by their passionate leadership. Link Strategy Group utilizes its experience to help clients grow their revenue through a variety of methods. These include developing sales channels within Link’s extensive network, structuring co-marketing and strategic partnerships, establishing sponsorships, and executing strategic events ranging from CEO Roundtables to Conferences.
The Link Strategy Group team has developed business growth programs directly for world-class organizations including AEG, YPO-WPO, Barclays, Inspirato, Jet Linx, SAP, Aon, NFL Players Association, Vistage, USTA, MLB.com Digital Academy, Xanterra, PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR. Prominent events and programs that the Link Strategy Group team has either developed or implemented strategic marketing and partnership programs for include the YPO Global Leadership Conferences in Toronto, Sydney, Miami, Denver, Singapore, Istanbul and Los Angeles, SAP Studios, Vistage CEO Conference, Super Bowl Week, US Open Tennis, PGA TOUR Championship Management and NFL CEO Roundtables.
Prior to founding Link Strategy Group, Benton created the worldwide alliance and sponsorship program for Young Presidents’ Organization, a network of more than 21,000 global business leaders who are dedicated to lifelong leadership. One of his primary responsibilities included the cultivation of strategic partnerships that would increase YPO’s value as an integral part of its members’ professional and personal lives. As a result of his efforts, the organization now boasts a collection of partnerships with some of the world’s leading brands that offer unparalleled benefit programs and opportunities exclusively to YPO’s members.
Before joining YPO, Benton served as director of business development and strategic alliances for Exclusive Resorts, the world’s largest destination club. In this role, Benton led the club’s sports and entertainment division and was responsible for developing relationships with leading management agencies and sports entities, including the NFL Players Association and the NBA Players Association, as well as individual athletes, coaches and entertainers.
Earlier in his career, Benton was managing director of sales and corporate partnerships for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and US Open. He also previously served as national sales director for the PGA TOUR, where he established corporate sponsorship programs and developed the Premier Partnership program. Benton served in similar capacities, and oversaw sales, marketing and public relations for the Colorado Rapids, a Major League Soccer team, and for RHB Ventures, a prominent sports and entertainment management firm. Over the years, Benton has received numerous awards and recognition for his marketing, events and sponsorship programs.
Benton received his bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta but currently lives in Santa Monica. Benton has a strong interest in professional and personal leadership and is currently developing programs for CEOs, professional athletes and young adults that teach them how to reach their full potential. He served as the Chairman on the Challenge Denver Board and also served on the Challenge Day and Denver Sports Commission Boards. Benton was also member of Colorado Succeeds Advisory Board and member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization in the Colorado Chapter.
