Kelly Benish

15+ years business development, strategic partnership, product, and GTM experience providing SaaS website, local search marketing, and productivity solutions to SMB’s & franchise brands around the world.

Diverse global experience in building and managing teams for business development, partnerships, product management, and go-to-market programs, offering local search, AdTech, and MarTech solutions to global SMBs and franchise brands.

Expertise in all forms of SaaS including local search, SEO, reputation management, content marketing, search marketing, digital advertising, social media and more, with a track record of leading high-performance teams and delivering innovative solutions to dynamic markets. Adaptable leader experienced in early-stage and post-acquisition organizations.

Benish is current Co-Chair at B2SMB Institute and currently authors Street Fight's Movers and Shakers / Localogy industry column for job-searchers and changers. She was also voted one of The Top 50 Women Leaders of North Carolina for 2022, was also Voted one of the 101 Top Partners in the Marketing Space for the United States, sat on the board of Angel Ed, The AR / VR Association and The ADP Partnership Committee. Benish also authors the Movers and Shakers Column at Street Fight, and is the founder of New Orleans Networking and Charlotte Startups Groups.

Starting in finance and finding her way to the interwebs by chance, she’s always had a keen eye on networking and learning new business models. Her experience in sales, marketing and business development specialization was cemented in her time in strategic roles at Search Influence, Civic Science, BIA Kelsey and Navads (before they were acquired by Uberall in 2018).

Benish is a nationally recognized speaker including engagements through Hotsauce by Hotjar, SMX East, SMX West, Pubcon, State of Search, DFWSEM, SIGMA (the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America), AACS (The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores), SMASH (Senior Care Sales & Marketing Summit), MDMC (Midwest Digital Marketing Conference), Digital Summit, B2SMB, Borrell, Local Media Association, Local Search Association, Localogy, Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, Association of Directory Publishers, Inland Press Association & more.

Specialties: SaaS, partnerships, SMBs, Fortune 500, retail, online marketing, team leadership, and various digital marketing and technology domains.