Celebrating 20 Years at the Benton Foundation

[Commentary] “Welcome to the Benton vortex,” a colleague said to me 20 years ago today and, noticing how startled I appeared added, “Don’t get me wrong; it’s a very nice vortex.” That’s how it started for me, a nervous man of 29 -- new to DC, a couple of weeks away from being married, just out of Northwestern University’s graduate program and in my first “real” job or, for sure, the first job in what I hoped to be a career. Not because of my anniversary, but because of the passing of our founder, Charles Benton, this spring, we’ve all been a bit reflective the past few months.

I write today really not to reminisce, but to take the opportunity to say thank you. My first real job did turn into a career. And the Benton Foundation has been flexible over the years, allowing me to return to Chicago and, for many years, be at home to raise my kids (yes, the marriage turned out to be long-term as well). Thanks for letting me never stray too far away from the Benton vortex. And, as Charles would say, enough with the navel gazing -- let’s get back to work.