Leadership


Thad BenchThad Bench

The President of Benchworks, Thad Bench is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in marketing, brand positioning, and product launch management. Thad has managed hundreds of large scale marketing initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. He has also owned a number of closely held family businesses including manufacturing and distribution operations, as well as commercial real estate holdings.

Thad has held senior corporate marketing positions with St. Louis-based Huttig Building Products and at Jeld-Wen, Inc., one of the country's largest forest product companies. Thad Bench was also a senior managing partner in Number One Supply Corporation, a multi-state building materials distribution operation.

Thad lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with his wife Renée and their two children. He enjoys sailboat racing, running, and working on his farm in his spare time. Thad serves on numerous boards and is a trustee of the Kent School. He graduated from Elmira College in 1984. Email Thad Bench

 

 

 

 

William MortonWilliam H. Morton, Jr.

Bill has more than 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, corporate management, and merchant banking activities, including executive management positions (President, CEO, COO and others) in multiple corporate ventures. Engagements have included aviation, manufactured housing, merchant banking, and advanced technology companies. Bill Morton is a partner in Benchworks, Inc.

Prior to joining Benchworks, Bill was Executive Vice President of OurPLANE, Inc. and a Managing Director of iQ Venture Partners, a private merchant bank originating and nurturing promising companies in partnership with entrepreneurs and management teams. Bill is a director of Benchworks, OurPLANE, Inc., and the Risor Corporation. Past directorships include Aircraft Sales Corporation, Alcort Sailboats, American Business Assistance, Aquasport, Coastal Aviation, Corporate Health Examiners, ExcelAire Service, EZ Petshop.com (now PetCareRx.com), HMS Marine, King Marine Electronics, and Morton/Russell Associates. He was a trustee of the Holderness School in Plymouth, NH, for 18 years and is a graduate of Middlebury College.

Bill is an active sailor and has raced in offshore events, including Trans-Atlantic and Bermuda. He is an aviation enthusiast and is instrument-rated for piloting multi-engine fixed wing aircraft. Bill and his wife Dawn have been married for 38 years and have four children. They reside in Annapolis, Maryland. Email Bill Morton
 

 

 

Melissa JohnstonMelissa M. Johnston

Melissa Johnston is a Senior Vice President at Benchworks, Inc. She began her work here in early 2005 and quickly became a valued member of the company's management team. Today, Melissa oversees Benchworks’ Pharmaceutical Practice serving clients including Shire, Noven Therapeutics, Noramco, and Pfizer. As lead Account Executive for Shire and Pfizer, Melissa helps develop consumer and professional campaign strategies. Melissa implemented a go-to-market plan for the Virtual Speaker Program, Benchworks’ online video conferencing service that connects doctors with knowledge leaders to provide client brand information without the need for travel. She also contributes to Benchworks’  day-to-day operations, implementing business procedures and controls, managing financial and balance sheet matters, helping to administer Benchworks' go-to-market plan, and managing Benchworks' project management staff.


Prior to joining Benchworks, Melissa was Executive Director for a company with an online database product analyzing initial public offerings of stock, and was responsible for overall project management, product development, data content, and maintenance. In 2004, she assisted in the sale of the company's IPO database to a global financial institution headquartered in New York. Following the sale, Melissa decided to remain in Kent County, MD, and explore additional business opportunities.

Melissa graduated magna cum laude from Washington College in 1998 with a B.A. in both Business and Economics. In 2004, she completed the University of Delaware's Project Management Certificate program. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys taking her two dogs for walks, boating activities on the Sassafras River, and watching Porsche Club races with her husband, Mark. Email Melissa Johnston
 

 

 

Andrea TerryAndrea Terry

Andrea Terry is a Vice President at Benchworks. She has been with Benchworks since February of 2002 and has been instrumental in the company’s growth from a boutique advertising specialty company to the full-service marketing firm it is today. Andrea uses her strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills to manage and develop key Benchworks client accounts.

Prior to joining Benchworks, Andrea gained extensive marketing and account management experience in the professional services, health care and online product industries. She served as Associate Marketing Director for a company that developed customized online learning platforms and content for corporate clients and associations. Prior to that position, she spent six years in marketing and product management roles at HCIA (now Solucient), a health care data company, including serving as Product Manager for Web-based data products used to analyze drug and diagnosis data via an online application. Andrea graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She resides just outside of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two young children. Email Andrea Terry

 

 

 

 

   

BrendaBrenda Vujanic

Brenda is a Director of Pharmaceutical Marketing who joined the Benchworks’ pharma team in January 2008 after following the company’s success stories in the local news for several months. She has over 20 years of communications experience in public relations, marketing and sales. She has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, working in public relations for a large healthcare system and then in sales and marketing for a national health insurance provider.

Brenda is recognized as an energetic team member with strong interpersonal, technical and management skills. Her clients appreciate her proven ability to understand brand initiatives and budgets, manage simultaneous projects and meet deadlines. Email Brenda Vujanic

 

 

 

     

NatalieNatalie Staines

Natalie Staines is an Account Executive with Benchworks working with large as well as niche brands. She has experience in the marine, tourism and hospitality, fitness, and senior living industries and has a broad range of skill sets as well as interests. After working in the marine industry teaching sailing she served as managing editor of an international niche trawler publication and event series. She saw an opportunity to bring public relations and social media services to the marine industry and took a leap to start her own small business to help other small businesses succeed in PR and online. Natalie had the opportunity to bring her small business services to Benchworks until a larger opportunity presented itself and she merged with Benchworks. She contributes to marketing, public relations, social media and special projects for Benchworks clients. Email Natalie Staines

 

 

 

 

 

Greg WaddellGreg Waddell

Greg joined Benchworks in early 2007 as Creative Director and quickly lifted the capabilities of Benchworks to include full design services ranging from flat print design to dimensional packaging and multimedia design. Greg's ability to understand a project's scope and its role in an overall marketing effort leads to minimal design time, keeping client costs low. He directs a team of graphic specialists who create original design or work with established client design standards.

Preceding his position at Benchworks he acted as a Senior Marketing Coordinator at a world-class architecture firm in Atlanta, where he developed his acuity to quick turnarounds while maintaining a high level of design.

Greg graduated from Emory University in 1991 with a B.A. in Art History and completed graduate-level study at the Tulane School of Architecture in New Orleans. When not running and scavenging antique stores for early modern furniture, he and his wife are currently restoring their residence, a pre-civil war dwelling in the village of Kennedyville, MD. Email Greg Waddell