Craig Benson

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Early life and business careerEdit

Benson attended Chatham High School in Chatham, New Jersey. After receiving a bachelor's degree in finance from Babson College in 1977, Benson attended Syracuse University, graduating with an MBA in 1979.<ref name="NGA"/>

In 1983, Benson and partner Robert Levine started Cabletron Systems in Levine's garage.<ref name="NYTimes1">Fisher, Lawrence M. (August 7, 1997). "Cabletron's Chief Executive Plans to Step Down Sept. 1". The New York Times. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> The company moved to Rochester, New Hampshire in 1985 and went public in 1989, with what was then the largest IPO in Wall Street history.<ref>Viscarolasaga, Efrain (June 20, 2005). "Enterasys closes Rochester, N.H., facility to consolidate operations in Andover Template:Webarchive". MassHighTech.com. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> In 1991, Benson was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Inc. Magazine.<ref>Hyatt, Joshua (January 1, 2001). "Born to Run". Inc. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore</ref>

The company grew to have over $1.8 billion in annual revenue, but over time Cabletron began to face heavy competition in the industry.<ref name="NYTimes2">"A Cabletron Systems Founder Steps Down". The New York Times, June 5, 1999. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> Benson resigned in 1999,<ref name="NYTimes2"/> and Cabletron was dissolved into four separate companies (Enterasys Networks, Aprisma Management Technologies, Riverstone Networks, and Global Network Technology Services) in January 2000.<ref name="Indus">Kelly, Matt (March 1, 2002). "After splitting up Cabletron, Piyush Patel mulls his future Template:Webarchive". Indusbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> The company's fragmentation brought layoffs,<ref name="Network">Hohman, Robin (December 22, 1997). "Cabletron cuts rile customers". Network World, p. 6. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> declines in stock price,<ref name="Indus"/> and shareholder lawsuits.<ref>Enterasys Networks (January 18, 2005). "Enterasys Networks Agrees to Settle Shareholder Suit Against Its Predecessor, Cabletron Systems". Press Release. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. Template:Webarchive</ref>

Governor of New HampshireEdit

Benson began running for governor of New Hampshire in 2001, promising to use technology and greater efficiency to save money in state government. Political signs appeared across New Hampshire proclaiming "This is Benson Country." He was elected governor on November 5, 2002, in an open race to succeed the retiring governor, Jeanne Shaheen. In the primaries, Benson spent more than $15 million—$11 million of it his own money<ref>Steen, p. 20.</ref>—in an effort to defeat former state Senator Bruce Keough and former U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey to win the Republican nomination, making Benson's victory one of the most expensive in American history.<ref>McDonald, Greg (September 13, 2002). "McBride Claims Victory in Florida Dem Primary". Stateline.org. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> In the general election, Benson easily defeated Democratic state Senator Mark Fernald, by 90,386 votes.<ref>Steen, p. 19.</ref> Benson successfully made Fernald's support for a statewide income tax the dominant issue in the race. Benson spent more than $9 million, again mostly his own money, in this race.<ref>"Benson projected to win N.H. governor race Template:Webarchive". CNN, November 5, 2002. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref>

As Governor, Benson pushed for state agencies to institute across-the-board budget reductions, and used a custom made, extra large "VETO" stamp to reject a state budget he thought was too large.<ref name="NHPR">Rogers, Josh (June 30, 2003). "Lawmakers, Benson Prepare For Override Vote Template:Webarchive". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> Benson also signed into law a bill that required parental notification for minors seeking an abortion;<ref>Zezima, Katie (June 21, 2003). "National Briefing | New England: New Hampshire: Law Requires Parents' Consent For Some Abortions". The New York Times. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> this law was later challenged and upheld in the Supreme Court in the case Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of New England, but subsequently repealed by the New Hampshire legislature in 2007.<ref>Vestal, Christine (June 22, 2006). "States probe limits of abortion policy." Stateline.org. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref>

Benson's administration came under criticism following the resignation of Attorney General Peter Heed, who had been accused of sexual harassment. While an investigation cleared Heed of any wrongdoing, it revealed improper interference by Benson's security commissioner.<ref>Schweitzer, Sarah (October 26, 2004). "N.H.'s race for governor spotlights scandals". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. Template:Webarchive</ref> Further criticism stems from the inappropriate awarding of a nearly $900,000 no-bid contract by his "volunteer" adviser (and former Cabletron human resource administrator) Linda Pepin,<ref>Barrick, Daniel (January 16, 2005). "Lynch, council want contract competition". Concord Monitor. Retrieved on 201102-06.</ref> who was not licensed to broker such a deal.<ref>Smith, Ashley (October 20, 2010). "Day 2: NH’s Top 20 Political Scandals" (cached version), #14. Thelobbynh.com. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref>

Benson also frequently used "volunteers" in his office to do gubernatorial work, but would not say who they were or what they did.<ref>Barrick, Daniel (February 2, 2005). "Lynch, staff disclose finances". Concord Monitor. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> These were not volunteers in the sense that they were unpaid staffers volunteering their time, rather Benson paid their salaries out of his own pocket, making them volunteers in the sense that they did not draw state salaries. This move was controversial, while proponents noted that Benson was generously allowing the state to save money, critics were concerned that it would limit scrutiny of the volunteer staff. Reporters discovered that one of these "volunteers" (and former Cabletron director of operations), Angela Blaisdell, was New Hampshire's official liaison with the federal government on homeland security.<ref>Rogers, Josh (December 9, 2003). "AG: Benson Volunteers are State Officials Template:Dead link". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref> In addition, Benson was accused of engaging in political payback when Dori Wiggin, supervisor of the Department of Environmental Services Wetlands Division in Portsmouth, was transferred to the department's Concord headquarters. Under Wiggin, the DES had fined Benson in 1998 and 2003 for excavating beach sand without a permit at his Rye oceanfront home.<ref>Goldstein, Meredith; David Rattigan & Clare Kittredge (April 15, 2004). "Healthy Landscapes Seminar Template:Webarchive". Boston Globe. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref>

Benson was also criticized, by both supporters and critics, for a management style that was considered "autocratic".<ref name="Defeated">Schweitzer, Sarah (November 4, 2004). "Defeated after 1 term, N.H. governor fades out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. Template:Webarchive</ref> In an interview with The New York Times, Benson stated that one of his first acts after being elected was to purchase a large, high table at which to hold his meetings. Those in attendance were to stand during meetings, and any latecomers were locked out. "It's to remind people we're here to get in and do our business and get out," he explained.<ref>Rosenbaum, David E. (August 8, 2004). "THe 2004 Campaign: The New Hampshire Governor; A Businessman With a Businesslike Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.</ref>

In the 2004 election, Benson lost to Democratic challenger John Lynch—only the second time in 78 years that an incumbent New Hampshire governor was denied a second term, in a very close race, Benson lost to Lynch by 14,318 votes.<ref name="Defeated"/>

Post-governorshipEdit

Since leaving the Governor's office in 2005, Benson has pursued a number of business interests. He is a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee with over 140 stores.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He served as a Director of Sycamore Networks (2007 to 2013) and currently serves (since 2017) as a Director at Planet Fitness<ref name=":0" /> where he also served as interim CEO from Sept. 2023<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to April 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In December 2020, Merrill Lynch was ordered by the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities to pay $24 million in restitution to Benson, and an additional $2 million fine to the State of New Hampshire.<ref name="Zamost">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Benson complained to the Bureau of Securities in early 2019 after suffering losses while the stock market was gaining.<ref name="Zamost"/>

In 2025, Governor Kelly Ayotte appointed Benson to co-chair the Commission on Government Efficiency or "COGE", a commission tasked with cutting spending by the New Hampshire government. <ref name="coge">Template:Cite news</ref> COGE is modeled on the Department of Government Efficiency, doing similar work at the federal level.<ref name="doge">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Benson resides in Rye, New Hampshire with his wife Denise. They have two daughters.

Benson serves as an adjunct lecturer at Babson College, his alma mater. In 1995, he was inducted into the college's Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.<ref>Faculty Profile: Craig R. Benson. Babson College. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. Template:Webarchive</ref>

Electoral historyEdit

Template:Election box begin Template:Election box winning candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

ReferencesEdit

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Steen, Jennifer (2006). Self-financed candidates in congressional elections. University of Michigan Press. Template:ISBN.

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External linksEdit

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