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Hi, thanks for visiting. I’m Ben.

My Work

  • Chief Executive Officer at Western’s Smokehouse and Thrushwood Farms.

  • Founding Partner at Charis Consumer Partners, a consumer products focused private investment firm.

  • Former investment banker focused on companies with $10 million to $50 million in annual revenues, mostly in the consumer products sector.

  • From 2013 to 2015, I spent two weeks per year smuggling Bibles into a country with a regime opposed to religious and political freedom.

  • Recently left a non-profit board and looking for something else in this area (please reach out if you have any ideas!).

  • Informally serious student across several fields, including literature, science, theology, technology, and philosophy.

My Projects

I am currently an owner and Chief Executive Officer of a leading manufacturer of premium, crafted meat snacks. We are the largest pure-play co-packer and private label manufacturer in the meat snacking segment.

We are slowly but surely looking for our third company to acquire.

I have started Idea Gallery to integrate my studies into my work and life.

Why I’m Doing This

Check out this blog post.

My Most Popular Articles

Featured
The Remedy: Project Evidence Closes Our Media Trust Gap
The Remedy: Project Evidence Closes Our Media Trust Gap

Project Evidence may be the answer to our trust gap with the media.

My God, why have you forsaken me?
My God, why have you forsaken me?

On the cross Jesus cried, "Eloi, Eloi! Lama Sabachthani!"

"My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me!"

This is a direct quote from the Hebrew Bible in Psalm 22.

Communication-Skills-as-a-Service
Communication-Skills-as-a-Service

Communication skills are not a virtue; they are a way to serve others.

The Long-Term Case for Private Label
The Long-Term Case for Private Label

How significant is the rise of private label and how long will it last? Oh, it’s coming and it’s here to stay.

Western Liberalism: Christianity's Prodigal Son
Western Liberalism: Christianity's Prodigal Son

The Liberal West is a Christian creation. Why Jesus has as much (or as little) in common with today’s liberal as today’s conservative.

In Defense of Private Equity
In Defense of Private Equity

Twitter and the media have run amok in picking on private equity. Some of it is warranted, but some is based on poor speculation.

Biggest Challenge in Food, Part II: Diverging Brands and Manufacturers
Biggest Challenge in Food, Part II: Diverging Brands and Manufacturers

If Brands and manufacturers have different goals, how can we scale natural food production?

Trust in the Age of the Shareholder
Trust in the Age of the Shareholder

Trust between shareholders and other stakeholders has been eroded in today’s world. What is the path forward?

Taming Ideas as a Thoughtful and Independent Reader
Taming Ideas as a Thoughtful and Independent Reader
The Exaggerated Decline of American Investment
The Exaggerated Decline of American Investment

Elizabeth Warren’s Stop Wall Street Looting Act raises some interesting questions, but perhaps the narrative surrounding the decline of investment by American firms is exaggerated.

My Life

I work remotely and live in beautiful Denver, CO. I am married to an inspiring, smart woman named Bryanna, have two young kids, ages 5 and 3, and teach a community Bible study at my home on Thursday nights. We believe it is our calling to open our home and share our resources with our neighbors, including those less fortunate, and are always looking for ways to do that.

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