TEAM

Edward H. Benford
Founder
edward@benfordcapital.com

Prior to founding Benford Capital Partners in 2004, Mr. Benford was a Principal at Prospect Partners, LLC, a Chicago-based lower middle market private equity firm with $270 million under management. Mr. Benford joined Prospect Partners at its inception in 1998 and played key roles in the sourcing, closing and monitoring of over 16 investments and served on the Board of Directors of seven portfolio companies: Excello Products, LLC, GameMark Products, Inc., Marine Accessories Corporation, Marina Medical Billing Service, Inc., Regency Windows Corporation, Remuda Ranch Company and Gourmand Specialty Foods, Inc.

Prior to joining Prospect Partners, Mr. Benford worked at Lazard Frères & Co., LLC in the Investment Banking Group working on merger & acquisition and corporate finance transactions. Prior to Lazard, he worked at Morgan Stanley & Co. and at the Northern Trust Company. Mr. Benford earned a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

 

Benjamin R. Riefe
Vice President
ben@benfordcapital.com

Mr. Riefe joined Benford Capital Partners in 2007. Prior to joining BCP, Mr. Riefe served in a strategic planning and operating role at Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., a Willis Stein & Partners portfolio company. At Roundy’s, Mr. Riefe reported directly to the CFO and contributed significantly to Roundy’s growth and improved operating performance.

Prior to Roundy’s, Mr. Riefe was an associate at Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm with $3 billion under management. Prior to Willis Stein, he worked in the Financial Sponsor Coverage and Leveraged Finance groups at Deutsche Bank where he completed numerous financings for Chicago-area private equity firms.

Mr. Riefe received an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and holds a BA degree from Dartmouth College.

Fay AlQassar
Office Manager and Marketing Associate
fay@benfordcapital.com

Fay joined Benford Capital Partners in 2011. Prior to joining BCP, Fay interned in a marketing role at a premier Chicago restaurant company where she focused on grassroots marketing, event planning, and social media. Prior to her marketing internship, Fay worked with a political consulting firm and on a mayoral campaign in northern Indiana.

Fay attended Indiana University where she received a Bachelor of Science in English Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.