Although the vast majority of family-owned businesses don’t make it beyond the second generation, Benchmark Craftsmen Inc. is beating the odds.
Based in Seville, Ohio, Benchmark creates branded environments and interactive events, with a diverse portfolio that ranges from museum exhibits and tradeshow booths to interiors for the hospitality industry. In addition to design and fabrication, Benchmark also provides logistical, event, and site management services.
Benchmark’s traces its roots back to Cyclonics, a fabrication firm that Herman Sublett and his partners started in 1968. Nate Sublett, one of Herman’s sons, purchased Cyclonics in the mid-1990s and later sold it to an investor group. After the expiration of a noncompete agreement, Nate launched Benchmark in 2002 with the intention of the new design-build firm becoming a legacy business. Fast forward to today: Benchmark has more than 30 employees, including several family members, and is on track to exceed $9 million in 2025 revenue.
Diversification has been an important factor in Benchmark’s success, helping it overcome economic bumps and shifts. For example, in 2008 the company started to pursue retail and hospitality clients, and 10 years ago, it dipped its toe into the interactive event space.
Most recently, Benchmark has expanded into small production runs, which can range from dozens to hundreds of a particular item. This enables Benchmark to provide clients with a one-stop shop rather than requiring them to work with multiple fabrication contractors. For example, a hotel may need duplicates of furniture for guest rooms but custom pieces for other areas, such as its lobby.
“By working with us as a single source, the client’s environment is cohesive, not only because we’re using the same materials, but also because we understand their corporate identity,” explains Matt Sublett, Benchmark’s vice president of sales and marketing, and one of Nate’s children. This, in turn, has led to additional projects because Benchmark better understands clients’ needs in other areas, he adds.
Benchmark’s corporate identity is as much defined by its family heritage as what it builds. And as the fabrication company continues to evolve, a prime focus has been transitioning leadership to the third generation of Subletts. This includes Matt and his siblings Adam Sublett and Joanna Stoll, who serve as vice president of operations and vice president of administration, respectively.
With a smooth succession in mind, Matt has been participating in several programs hosted by the Edward Lowe and Burton D. Morgan foundations:
- CEO Roundtables — These monthly sessions, held with other second-stage business owners, provide a forum for discussing common challenges and sharing experiences. The roundtable also introduced Matt to different operating systems, including Gino Wickman’s Entrepreneurial Operating System, which Benchmark is now implementing. “Talking with other roundtable members gave us clarity rather than swimming in a sea of choices,” Matt says.
- Workshop for visionaries and integrators — This online session, which dives into the important relationship between CEOs and chief operating officers, helped the younger Subletts align their new leadership roles within Benchmark. “It was a great experience and helped us better understand what our key responsibilities would be,” Matt says.
- Leadership retreat — In October 2024, Matt attended a retreat at Big Rock Valley with other second-stage business owners from northwest Ohio. “Coming from a branded environment perspective, I’m always thinking about how your surroundings can spark the right kind of thoughts or questions,” he says. “Big Rock Valley does an amazing job of putting you in a deep mindset where you’re free from distractions and can work on your issues. I was able to put myself in my dad’s shoes and better understand what it was like transitioning to a third-generation company.”
“My father has spent his entire career in this industry and cultivated this company from the very beginning,” Matt adds. “As he approaches his retirement, the programs provided by the Edward Lowe Foundation and Burton D. Morgan Foundation are helping us build a solid strategy to move the business forward and allow him the time he deserves to enjoy his accomplishments.”