Stu Smith

As our VP of Market Growth, Stu helps people discover what makes Benchmark different, and he makes sure our long-time clients keep coming back. He’s always on the lookout for what’s next, whether that’s a new market, a new client, or a new partnership. Once he spots it, he works with our preconstruction and market leaders to take it from first coffee to signed contract.

Stu leads the Market Growth team, so he’ll be supporting you in this role. That includes proposals and presentations that show our best side, as well as groundbreakings and community events. He believes great relationships are the foundation of great business.

Stu is proof that when you find the right place, you stay a while. He joined Benchmark in 2008, fresh out of Radford University with a business degree in Marketing and Management. More than 18 years later, he’s still here and still loves what he does.

Stu started as a Project Estimator, crunching numbers and learning how buildings come together. In 2010, he moved into preconstruction, where he spent nearly six years helping clients shape their projects before the first shovel hit the ground. In 2016, he became our Senior Living Market Executive and built lasting relationships with clients in one of our core markets. Since 2020, he has led Benchmark’s Market Growth team as Vice President, where he helps new clients get to know us and makes sure our long-time partners feel like family.

Because Stu has worked in estimating, preconstruction, and client relationships, he understands both the business and the buildings. That’s a big advantage when you’re telling Benchmark’s story. He’s a great mentor for anyone who wants to learn how marketing and construction come together.

Stu is based in Lancaster. When he’s not at work, you might find him biking around the county or spending time with his wife and two kids.

Learn the business behind the buildings. I started at Benchmark as an estimator, and understanding how our projects come together has made me better at every role since. The best marketers here don’t just know our brand. They know our work, our people, and what our clients care about. Relationships are at the heart of everything we do, so get to know people, follow through on your promises, and sweat the small stuff, because clients notice. And bring your curiosity. Benchmark has always invested in people who want to keep learning and growing.