J. Benson Construction
Scaling Success Through Vision-Driven Collaboration
When Paul Edlund first encountered J. Benson Construction, he was at a crossroads in his career. After 12 years as a criminal defense attorney, the emotional toll of his work had left him searching for a new path. He knew he wanted to own a business, make a tangible impact in his community, and create meaningful jobs—especially for those who had historically been underserved. Through a mix of timing, opportunity, and deep conviction, Paul took the leap, purchasing the company from its previous owner, who was ready for retirement.
Fast forward, and Paul now stands at the helm of a growing construction firm with a vision: to build a company that becomes a destination workplace—where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered. In fact, J. Benson Construction and Tri-Construction (another New Impact Fund (NIF) investment) were recognized as two of the largest minority-owned businesses in the Twin Cities, ranked by 2024 revenue. However, as any entrepreneur knows, growth comes with its own set of challenges. That’s where Jeff Kiesel, an accomplished executive and investor with NIF, enters the picture.
Jeff, the CEO of Restaurant Technologies, has decades of experience scaling businesses. While building and leading a company with 1,500 employees across the country, Jeff knew he wanted to help entrepreneurs like Paul avoid the pitfalls that can come with growth—not just by investing capital, but by investing time, advising, and connections. Their partnership is becoming a case study in how relationships built through NIF can redefine the paths of both investors and business owners alike.
A Meeting of Minds
From the outset, Paul was humbled by the idea of working with Jeff. “Why does this big, successful CEO want to help me?” he initially wondered. But he quickly realized that Jeff’s willingness to guide him was rooted in genuine passion. Jeff, for his part, recognized Paul’s drive and vision. “I had been recently thinking, ‘Where can I continue to get my juice? How can I give back through my purpose of creating good jobs?’” Jeff shared.
Paul saw advising as a chance to grow as a leader, and Jeff recognized it as a learning experience for himself as well. “Being a NIF investor gave me an understanding of the barriers that Paul has to overcome that I've never had to overcome.”
Through their early conversations, Paul found a reliable partner in Jeff, who provided advice while consistently honoring his leadership.
Early Relationship Building
Paul and Jeff’s relationship is being built on trust and mutual respect. Rather than Jeff telling Paul what to do, their discussions revolved around Paul’s goals and how Jeff could provide insights to help him achieve them. “Jeff's experience working at a billion-dollar company is not the same as running a $5 million company,” Paul admitted. “But I also think that there's a lot of universal things that he's seen and done that I can learn from.”
Jeff, too, values the exchange. “I think about all the people I will never meet. They'll benefit from our partnership into the future,” he said, recognizing that their work together could create lasting change well beyond their own relationship.
To build a strong foundation for their partnership, Paul and Jeff are prioritizing mutual understanding—exploring each other’s strengths, challenges, and motivations—before addressing the operational complexities of scaling J. Benson Construction.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Paul & Jeff CEO-to-CEO collaboration
