Mark Benson

Mark has extensive experience in the securities, real estate and capital markets. Most recently, he has been involved in strategic advisory and capital raising across a range of investment opportunities from take-privates of large public companies in the retail/consumer sector to a number of early stage companies and on-going real estate investment.

Mark was previously with Wedbush Securities where as Director of Research he was a key driver of the expansion of the equity research department. His team became one of the leading providers of small and mid-cap equity research on the Street in the Consumer/Retail, Technology, Media, Industrial Growth and Life Science/Healthcare sectors. He was also the Senior Equity Analyst and Head of Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure securities research at Credit Suisse and Jefferies and Company. His prior experience includes investment management and he was the CFO for a venture capital funded software company.

He has a B.A. and an M.B.A. from UCLA.

Mark looks forward to the opportunity to support Community in Schools - Los Angeles. CISLA has a uniquely successful model that provides critical support for students in some of the most economically challenged schools in Los Angeles.