Our Story
A Preeminent Global Wine and Spirits Marketing Agency
Why Benson?
Benson is a leading wine and spirits marketing agency in the United States.
In 2021 we were named to the top 10 “Power List” of U.S. wine and spirits marketing agencies by Meininger’s Wine Business Int’l. Additionally, Beverage Trade Network included Benson in its 2021 list of top PR agencies highlighting, “stellar work that has attracted the right clients.”
Since 2000, we have worked with iconic wine and spirits companies, launched new brands, and even helped introduce and build whole alcohol beverage categories.
Our vision is to be the preeminent wine and spirits marketing agency. In 2005 we opened an office in New York and over the years our wine and spirits marketing services have evolved to incorporate digital marketing and advertising, branding strategy, media partnerships, influencer partnerships, PR, and advocacy marketing to better serve our clients. With a cross-cultural perspective and a collaborative team approach, our goal has never been to be the biggest, but to be the best at what we do.
Meet the Team
Benson’s vision is to create the preeminent global wine and spirits marketing agency.
To get there, the agency pursues a simple people strategy, the Upward Spiral. The agency adds truly outstanding people to our account teams, who deliver stellar results, which attract the right clients and allow us to expand and evolve. This self-reinforcing strategy influences every aspect of the company.


Geoff Wasserman
CEO
Geoff is the Founder and CEO of Benson Marketing's parent company, The Brand Leader, for nearly 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge to the marketing, advertising, and design space.


Kyle Duford
Executive Creative Director
Kyle spent much of his career focused on the fashion, outdoor, and lifestyle industries. His blend of advertising, branding and digital expertise allows him to help some of the agency's foremost brands.


Thea Schlendorf
Vice President
Drawing on her experience working with Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese brands, Thea coordinates media outreach, story-pitching projects, trade promotions, and social media campaigns for us.


Ashley Kranak
Director, PR
Leveraging years of working with and tapping into culture for top consumer brands, Ashley leads integrated campaign planning and setting earned media and PR/influencer strategies for us.


Chris Heuvel
Sr. Creative Director
Chris has been with BMG's parent company The Brand Leader since 2009 and is behind all of our design work. As our CD, he oversees brand, design, UX/UI all the visuals and brand identity that's needed to own a market.


Ashley Galloway
Director, Client Services
Relationships. That's what Ashley is about. Heading our Client Services team, Ashley has been in the advertising world for nearly two decades, wowing clients along the way, and hitting their goals, whatever they are.


Ashley Maxfeldt
Senior Account Manager
Ashley is an experienced marketer with a demonstrated history of account management & marketing in the advertising industry. Her knowledge of brand marketing to the next generation is second-to-none.


Marie Christina Batich
Account Supervisor
MC joined the agency in 2019, bringing an array of public relations, influencer marketing, media tours, and sponsorship experience from the luxury lifestyle food & beverage space.


Matthew La Penna
Director of Photography & Video
Matthew is a photo and video wizard, having earned numerous awards for his visuals over the years. His sense of spatial composition and storytelling is unparalleled, and he brings this to the Benson Marketing Group.


Nicole Dickerson
Senior Account Executive
Throughout her career, Nikki has directed content marketing for clients through her consultancy, including a luxury food and wine tour company and a new-age wine club.


Lauren Liebler
Account Executive
Lauren came to us with five years of experience in marketing communications working at an agency specializing in travel and tourism with clients in the Caribbean and Florida.


Sara Tressler
Digital Marketing and PR Account Executive
Sara is a communications professional. With a Master's degree from NYU in Public Relations, she mixes PR and marketing daily.
Let's Promote your Wine & Spirits Brand!
Contact Benson Marketing Group to get started.
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