Charles Benton founded the Benton Foundation in 1981 and served as its chairman until his death in 2015. Read about his full life.
Staff
Adrianne B. Furniss, Executive Director
Kevin Taglang, Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Robbie McBeath, Writing Associate, Communications-related Headlines
Dr. Colin Rhinesmith, Benton Faculty Research Fellow
Kip Roderick, Operations Director
Board of Directors
Leonard Schrager, Chairman
Robert A. Cohen, Secretary
Michael Smith, Treasurer
Austin A. Hirsch, Counsel
Elizabeth Daley
Adrianne Benton Furniss
Terry Goddard
Joanne Hovis
Jim Kohlenberger
Handy L. Lindsey, Jr.
Trustees
Marjorie C. Benton, Adrianne Benton Furniss and Leonard Schrager.
Adrianne Benton Furniss
Adrianne is Executive Director, Board Member and Trustee of the Benton Foundation, a private operating foundation with offices in Evanston, IL, and Washington, DC. Adrianne spent her professional career in the media business, specializing in distribution and marketing strategies, management, strategic planning and acquisitions. For 13 years, she worked at Chicago-based Home Vision Entertainment (HVe), a publisher and distributor of classic and independent films on DVD, where she rose from Executive Vice President to President/CEO and majority owner before selling the business in 2005. Before that, Adrianne spent fourteen years in New York City, the last eight travelling the world for Children’s Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) where she served as VP of International Television. In addition to the Benton Foundation, Adrianne serves on the Board for the not-for-profit documentary film and media arts company, Kartemquin Films, based in Chicago; and on the Board of Advisors for the Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC), which represents a wide range of public and private interests who support the authority of local communities to make the broadband Internet choices that are essential for economic competitiveness, democratic discourse, and quality of life in the 21st century. Adrianne received her BA at Yale University in Art History and an MA in Radio, TV and Film from Northwestern University.
Kevin Taglang, Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
With over 20 years of experience in the field, Kevin Taglang leads Benton’s work monitoring, analyzing and articulating the public interest stake in telecommunications legislation, regulation, and policymaking. Kevin manages and develops Benton’s online and print publications.
Robbie McBeath, Writing Associate
Robbie McBeath graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Media Studies in 2013. In college, he interned with the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission. He recently fulfilled a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where he led a program to reduce local poverty by increasing the tech capacity of nonprofits at the Open Media Foundation in Denver, CO. He hopes to have a career working with community organizations to craft communications policy that works to reduce the digital divide, foster media literacy programs, and expand the discourse around social issues and technology. He enjoys reading works by David Foster Wallace, watching the Twilight Zone, and listening to the band Rush. He is eagerly awaiting another Chicago Cubs championship.
Dr. Colin Rhinesmith, Benton Faculty Research Fellow
Dr. Rhinesmith conducts original Benton research as well as advises the foundation on new research opportunities. Rhinesmith is an assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College and a faculty associate with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His research interests are focused on the social, community, and policy aspects of information and communication technology, particularly in areas related to digital inclusion and broadband adoption. Recent research looks at how community anchor institutions promote digital equity in low-income areas through low-cost broadband, digital literacy training, low-cost devices, and public access computing. Rhinesmith received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a Research Scholar with the Center for Digital Inclusion and a U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services-funded Information in Society Fellow. He received his B.A. and M.A. in Media Studies from Emerson College. Previously, Rhinesmith was a Google Policy Fellow and an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Kip Roderick, Operations Director
Kip Roderick was appointed Operations Director in 2015, assuming increased responsibilities in financial, facilities and personnel administration, following 10 years of service as Office Manager and Executive Assistant for the Benton Foundation. Working closely with Charles Benton for many years, Kip has developed a strong passion for promoting the power of media and communications to serve all citizens and he is proud to be part of the Benton Foundation team. Kip holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and has prior work experience with Public Media Inc./Home Vision Entertainment, and Near North National Group. He is married to Regina Roderick and they have two sons, Oliver and Noah.
Leonard J. Schrager
Leonard J. Schrager has been a leader in the Chicago legal community for more than 30 years. He is a founder and former senior managing partner in the Chicago law firm of Sachnoff, Schrager, Jones, Weaver and Rubenstein, Ltd., now known as Reed Smith LLP. He has served as a hearing panel member for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, and most recently has chaired the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County, evaluating judges running for retention. Schrager was a Professor and Dean at Chicago’s John Marshall Law School and is now Dean Emeritus. Schrager has been a Benton Foundation trustee since its inception in 1981.
Robert A. Cohen
Robert A. Cohen is a leading media management consultant with extensive executive and operations experience. He specializes in developing profitable business strategies for existing digital and print businesses, launching and repositioning media brands, integrating print and digital media, and improving subscription, membership, and retail sales for websites, magazines, newspapers, newsletters and other properties. Cohen has particular expertise with early-stage print and digital businesses, as well as in-depth knowledge of entrepreneurial companies’ approaches to sharpening their competitive edge and reaching their next level of growth through the design and implementation of new content, ad sales, and circulation strategies. Over almost 40 years, he has worked with Rodale Press, Scientific American, Esquire, American Heritage, Scholastic, Audubon, Mondadori (Milan), Groupe Expansion (Paris), International Herald Tribune, New England Journal of Medicine, and Harvard Business Review. He has also held executive positions at LPI Media, the publishing arm of PlanetOut, Inc., Primedia Consumer Magazines, and The New Republic, among others. Born and raised in Chicago, Bob received his BA in Psychology from Yale University and his MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Michael Smith
Michael Smith is a senior executive with more than thirty years of experience leading consumer products companies, including emerging companies and those experiencing financial difficulties. He is currently the COO/CFO of Marbles The Brain Store, a developer, wholesaler and retailer of games designed and selected to stimulate and enhance brain health. Previously, he was CEO of Collins Brothers, LLC, a leading distributor of mixers, garnishes, accessories and retail supplies to the retail liquor industry and COO of Revolution Dancewear, a private-equity backed designer and wholesaler of dancewear and recital costumes. Michael also has provided senior leadership to publicly-traded companies, serving as Senior Vice President and CFO of Cobra Electronics Corporation. He has provided investment banking and turnaround advisory services to middle market companies, including sales, acquisitions and recapitalization transactions. Michael has an MBA in Finance from George Washington University and a BA in Economics from University of Miami.
Elizabeth Daley
Elizabeth Daley was appointed dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts in May 1991. She is the inaugural holder of the Steven J. Ross/Time Warner Dean's Chair. Since becoming dean, Daley has strengthened the school's academic programs, infrastructure and ties with the entertainment industry and media arts community. Under her leadership, the school has added two new divisions in animation & digital arts and interactive media, built the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, installed 13 endowed chairs and formed successful partnerships with a variety of entertainment and technology companies. Daley also serves on the boards of AVID Technologies, the Center for Governmental Studies, the Digital Coast Roundtable, Operation Smile Board of Governors, the Visual Effects Society Advisory Council, Fondazione Azzurra, The Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts, the Warner Brothers Historical Foundation, and advisory boards at USC for KUSC Radio and the Institute of Creative Technologies. Daley earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and M.A. and B.A. degrees from Tulane University and Newcomb College.
Terry Goddard
Terry Goddard, Arizona Attorney General (2003-11), was previously Arizona state coordinator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1983 he was elected mayor of Phoenix and reelected three times. Under his leadership, Phoenix won All-America City honors and rediscovered its downtown. Terry helped lead passage of two significant bond issues totaling nearly $2 billion, including funding for major public cultural assets, including a science museum, restored Art Deco theater, history museum, and significantly expanded art museum.
In 1989, Terry was elected president of the National League of Cities. He has served on the boards of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Arizona Theatre Company, the Cosanti Foundation, and of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. He taught graduate courses at the Arizona State University College of Architecture on urban housing policy and on public participation in local government decision making at the College of Public Programs, and was a Wasserstein Fellow at Harvard Law School. In addition to the Benton Foundation, he currently serves on the boards of the Grand Canyon Trust and the American Immigration Council. He is a lawyer in private practice with the international firm Dentons.
Austin Hirsch
Austin Hirsch has engaged in the practice of law since 1973. He spent most of his professional career with with Sachnoff & Weaver, rising to CEO and Managing partner. In 2007, Sachnoff & Weaver combined with Reed Smith and Hirsch joined the Executive Committee and Chaired the Finance Committee. His practice, including distribution and technology companies, encompasses all aspects of business law -- such as mergers and acquisitions with both financial and strategic parties, corporate and real estate finance, venture capital transactions, partnership and joint ventures, and international transactions, with particular emphasis advising significant, privately owned companies. Also, he focuses on sophisticated tax and trust planning for business owners, families and individuals. In addition to his legal work, Hirsch is a Member of the Board Executive Committee and Secretary/Treasurer of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, and a Member of the Board Executive Committee and President of SelfHelp Home.
Joanne Hovis
Joanne Hovis is President of Columbia Telecommunications Corp. (CTC), a national, public interest, communications engineering and consulting firm. She is an attorney with a background in communications and commercial litigation. Ms. Hovis is a recognized authority on the broadband market and community broadband topics—and on the evolving role of government in the provision of communications services to the public. Ms. Hovis is widely recognized for her recent policy analysis and recommendations (published by the New America Foundation) regarding the Recovery Act's broadband programs. She has also advised numerous foundations and policy non-profits regarding broadband. Ms. Hovis leads the CTC team that advises the cities of San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Seattle regarding fiber-to-the-premises networking. She also advises a number of universities regarding broadband planning. At CTC, Ms. Hovis leads the company's work for non-profit associations and oversees CTC's educational offerings and training programs, which are offered by several universities. Ms. Hovis has authored extensive white papers on communications topics for government agencies and non-profit organizations. Ms. Hovis serves as President-Elect on the Board of Directors of NATOA, which represents local governments and promotes community interests in communications matters. Ms. Hovis previously worked as an attorney with Jenner & Block, in Chicago, and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo P.C., in Washington, D.C. At those firms, she worked on complex communications and litigation projects for such clients as Salomon Brothers, AOL, and Turner Broadcasting.
Jim Kohlenberger
The Benton Foundation is honored to announce that former White House staffer Jim Kohlenberger has agreed to join our Board of Directors. Most recently, Kohlenberger served as Chief of Staff of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) under Director Dr. John Holdren. While in the White House, he helped craft the President’s innovation strategy, advanced policies to help spur a mobile broadband revolution through spectrum reform, worked to secure cyberspace, helped put the U.S. space program on a bold new course for the future, and sought to harness innovation as an engine of economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. From 2004-2008, Kohlenberger was a Senior Fellow at Benton. In that position, he guided Benton's media policy work and strengthened the foundation's collaborations in the field. Kohlenberger headed Benton's advocacy for universal, affordable broadband, tangible public interest obligations for digital broadcasters, diversified media ownership and open communications networks. Previously, Kohlenberger helped shape the Clinton Administration's approach to the Internet. He served as Vice President Al Gore's senior domestic policy adviser and worked to help pass and implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Before joining OSTP, Kohlenberger was executive director of the Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition, and ran his own innovation focused consulting practice. In his new role, Kohlenberger will assist in the governance of the Benton Foundation. In addition, he will join the Board's Program Committee, headed by Elizabeth Daley, dean of the School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California.
Handy L. Lindsey, Jr.
Handy Lindsey has thirty plus years of leadership experience in professional philanthropy. He joined the staff of The Ruth Mott Foundation of Flint Michigan in September 2014 as its President. Handy has served as President of The Cameron Foundation of Petersburg, Virginia, (2004-2013), and President of the Field Foundation of Illinois in Chicago (1997-2004) after being its Executive Director and Treasurer (1988-1997). Prior to that, he was Assistant Director of the Chicago Community Trust (1980-88). While at the Trust he served as a “loaned executive” first as Executive Director of the Chicago Area Foundation for Legal Services and then as Interim Executive Director of the East St. Louis Community Foundation. Handy has extensive nonprofit governance experience having served on the board of directors of more than two dozen civic organizations, policy institutes, and professional associations of philanthropy, most in leadership roles such as member of the executive, management committee or chairman. Immediate past experience includes four years as a member of the executive committee of the Southeastern Council of Foundations and two years as chairman of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. Handy studied at the University of Chicago where he earned an M.B.A. from the Booth School of Business, an M.A. from the School of Social Services Administration, and an undergraduate degree in Sociology. In 2013, Handy initiated an independent consulting practice that focuses on coaching for executive effectiveness and advising foundations in matters of organizational development, program planning and implementation, strategic grantmaking and capacity building for nonprofit excellence.
Woodward Wickham
Woody passed away January 18, 2009, read more