Arthur M. Gellman is one of the three founding principals of The Benchmark Group. He has extensive business experience, particularly in real estate where he has a lengthy background as an owner, investor, developer and operator of residential and commercial real estate in several areas of the United States.

Mr. Gellman has been instrumental in the establishment of several joint ventures, which were formed to generate multi-site strip shopping center developments in many geographic areas of the United States. Benchmark’s involvement in these ventures include site selection and acquisition, zoning, site planning, tenant leasing and financing of commercial projects.

Mr. Gellman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado in 1965, and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree, Cum Laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1969.

George I. Gellman is also one of the three founding principals of The Benchmark Group. He has had extensive real estate experience as an owner, investor, developer and operator of real estate projects throughout the United States. Mr. Gellman is actively involved in analyzing real estate acquisitions. He coordinates several of Benchmark’s divisions. Mr. Gellman is also very active in negotiating commercial tenant leases and initiating relations with potential tenants.

Mr. Gellman received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969. In 1972, he received a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from the Northwestern University School of Law, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.

Clarke H. Narins is one of the three founding principals of The Benchmark Group. He is President of Benchmark Financial Group Inc, Benchmark Development Corporation, and several other major Benchmark affiliates, having served in this capacity since January 1984. Mr. Narins participates in investment real estate acquisition and divestiture, private placement securitization of real estate, marketing of limited partnership investments, investor reporting and relations.

Mr. Narins received a B.A. degree from Hobart College in 1973 and an M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management in 1976. Mr. Narins received his certification in New York State as a Certified Public Accountant in 1979 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Martin DelleBovi joined The Benchmark Group in 1984 as leasing manager and special projects coordinator. He now directs all commercial real estate activities within Benchmark and oversees the Commercial Property Management Division, which manages and leases over 50 properties totaling 2.7 million square feet. Mr. DelleBovi also leads Benchmark’s Commercial Development Division, which develops power centers for national home improvement centers, regional grocery chains and discount retailers throughout the eastern United States.

Mr. DelleBovi is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration. He is a past board member of the Building Owners and Managers Association and is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. Prior to joining Benchmark, he worked as a property/construction manager and leasing agent.

Steve Longo joined Benchmark in 1994 as controller. In 1998, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and made Chief Operating Officer in 2004. Mr. Longo acts as a liaison between executive management and ownership, chairs the firms’ management committee, and his responsibilities include strategic planning, MIS, tax and accounting.

Mr. Longo is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Canisius College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting and earned his Masters of Business Administration Degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to joining Benchmark, he was a senior manager at KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Longo is treasurer of the local chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and is on the Board of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.

John Rehak Jr. joined the Benchmark Group in 1998. Drawing on his extensive experience in commercial real estate, Mr. Rehak is responsible for identifying, evaluating, negotiating and closing on quality commercial and multi-family residential properties throughout the eastern United States. Mr. Rehak also originates debt financing with respect to new acquisitions, development transactions, and refinancing of portfolio properties.

Mr. Rehak is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he majored in history and was a member of the varsity golf team. For the five previous years prior to joining Benchmark, he was senior director at the mortgage banking firm Holliday Fenoglio Fowler. Previously, he held positions with Fleet Bank’s commercial real estate group and the Empire of America Realty Funding Corporation.

Eric Kager was chosen to join Benchmark in 2023 and became Executive Vice President of the real estate firm’s property management pillar 2024. Mr. Kager is responsible for the strategic management and high-level operations of Benchmark’s residential investments, which stretch throughout the Eastern Unites States.

Prior to Benchmark, Mr. Kager has been at the forefront of residential & commercial leasing, business operations, acquisitions & dispositions, project management and construction & new development. He entered the real estate and property management industry in 2008 and since, has spent time in leadership roles with AIMCO, Clover Group Inc and Gold Wynn.

After years of being in the field, Jared Lemankiewicz joined Benchmark in 2014 as a construction project manager. His knowledge and expertise resulted in assuming the role of Senior Vice President of Benchmark Construction Services in 2023. In this capacity, Mr. Lemankiewicz works closely with all aspects of Benchmark’s organization. He is responsible for oversight of all development projects in the commercial and residential sectors, in additional to leading various sized value-add and capital improvements projects to existing assets.

Mr. Lemankiewicz earned his Associate degree in Construction Management & Engineering Technology from the Community College of Erie County and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo.