About me
Benson was born into a family of third generation restaurateurs and distillers. In his home, the typical salutation is “are you hungry?” Hospitality is in his blood and what he loves. As a child, Benson would sneak into the dining room and be mesmerized by the sights, sounds and unadulterated emotion around each table. He saw firsthand how food fostered community and connection.
After earning his B.S. in Business Economics from UCLA, Benson worked for Moelis & Company in their investment banking and private equity group. He went on to join TPG Capital’s fundraising group where was responsible for the sales, marketing and business development of the platform.
In 2013, Benson left finance and returned to his roots by partnering with Anderson Pugash to open Palm House. A year later they opened The Dorian and then founded the parent company, PHH. As co-founder, Benson oversees strategic and financial planning, operations, concept development and best business practices to deliver transportive leisure.
Benson is a board member of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, SF Travel committee member and member of the Guardsmen of SF. In his free time, he loves biking, hiking, lighting up the grill, and spending time outdoors with his wife and three kids.
