RIT Rallies: Making the products for frontline workers

A company run by an alumnus is having an impact on treating coronavirus patients from behind the scenes.

Jeff Benck ’88 (mechanical engineering) is the president and CEO of Benchmark, a global provider of engineering, design and manufacturing services. Benchmark is working with about 10 clients who are making products that will help treat patients infected with COVID-19.

“We are producing products that are used by frontline workers in this battle,” Benck said. “We are trying to look at where we can have the biggest impact, where we can pivot, and help battle this horrible disease.”

Some of the products Benchmark is helping to design, test or manufacture include ventilators, portable x-ray units, chest scanning devices, nitric oxide treatment systems and diagnostic equipment.

Benchmark also is manufacturing two testing products that yield results within an hour, one for COVID-19 and one for sepsis, a complication of COVID-19.

Along with medical companies, Benchmark provides both design and manufacturing services to industries including commercial aerospace, defense and telecommunications.

Benck worked at IBM for 18 years in engineering, marketing and project management roles. He was president and chief operating officer of both Lantronix and Emulex Corp. before joining Benchmark in 2019.

Benck is a member of the RIT President’s Roundtable and the Kate Gleason College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council. He hosted RIT Honors students at Benchmark offices in Phoenix just before the pandemic. In 2013, Benck was named a Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Engineering.