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.

 

Darrel E. Koch
Office Manager and Marketing Associate
darrel@benfordcapital.com

Darrel joined Benford Capital Partners in 2008. Prior to joining BCP, Darrel spent eight years as a recruiter servicing Chicago area companies in the hiring of professional staff.  Darrel focused on a niche market within the Financial Services Industry, assisting firms with hiring of Sales Assistants, Analysts and Portfolio Managers.

Prior to recruiting, Darrel was an account manager at Business Furniture Corporation, an authorized Steelcase commercial furniture dealership.  Prior to BFC, he served in the United States Marine Corps as an Administrative Manager and conducted several tours of duty overseas.

Darrel attended San Diego State University where he studied Psychology.