A man who did well by doing good.
Santa Monica Airport jet crash:
Two of the [four] victims were unofficially identified Monday when Los Angeles-based construction company Morley Builders announced its chief executive, Mark Benjamin, 63, and his son, Luke, 28, were believed to have been on the plane.
I never knew or even met Mark Benjamin and Luke Benjamin. Nor did I have more than a peripheral involvement with Morley Builders. However, it was just enough to convince me that Morley Builders was an exceptional contractor and business. For its employees and subcontractors. Owners and bankers. Totally consonant with its ethics.
Our Philosophy
Morley Builders’ entire business philosophy is based on the “long-term” view. Established over 65 years ago, we seek to continually provide high-quality construction services for another 65 years. This simple goal guides our business practices.
We believe in treating everyone as we would want to be treated – with sincerity, honesty, kindness and trust. We also believe in negotiating contracts, reaching budgets and meeting schedules respectfully.
Much of this respect and dignity stems from the belief that our employees are “owners” of their own business. In addition to all of our salaried people owning a portion of the company, they have decision-making power. Our senior managers do not dictate, but act as mentors, guides and resources for those closest to the matter at hand. This open-door policy lends itself to our family atmosphere.
This judicious approach to the long-term view makes work fun and gives our clients a sense that we enjoy what we do. We don’t just work hard, we work smart.
Good people. Good builder. There was never a project more suited to the strengths of Morley than the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Morley’s roster of sustainable (green) and low-income housing projects is no less impressive. And Mark Benjamin was also an active conservationist.
The company statement:
October 1, 2013
We are heartbroken at the loss of Mark Benjamin and his son Lucas in a tragic accident. Mark has been our President and CEO since 1981 and Luke was a Senior Project Engineer. We are proud to be associated with the Company that Mark’s family founded. He had a profound influence on each of our employees, the Southern California landscape, our local community, and the construction industry. We are committed to building on his legacy.
Issued by Charles Muttillo, Vice President
A legacy that included turning a family owned company into employee owned.
The government shutdown has suspended the federal investigation of this Santa Monica plane crash. LA Coroner working on identifying the victims through dental records.
As fatal small plane crashes aren’t all that rare and Mark Benjamin wasn’t a national figure, it’s interesting to note that it has been a national story for several days. Three obvious reasons for that. First the LA coroner has yet to identify the four victims. The other two reasons are political. There is an active local group that has long sought to have the airport closed. Then there’s the federal government shutdown.
Reuters report on Santa Monica Airport controversy. Probably not the most ideal location for an airport — but doubt many of the surrounding residences were built before the airport.
I used to live down the hill from the airport in Venice, and I worried all the time about a plane landing on my apartment building. There were crashes on a regular basis.
And Politico weighs in.
Didn’t consider this a political story when I posted this diary. Viewed it as a tragedy that took the life of a good man that was instrumental in building and running a good company. Didn’t consider political affiliation germane. However, I also know that principles and/or owners of construction companies are mostly Republicans, but many of them are also decent people and treat their employees well.
This knee jerk comment at Politico
ticked me off enough to check-out Open Secrets.
Mark Benjamin wasn’t a large political campaign donor — but he did max out for Julia Brownley’s 2012 Congressional campaign to turn a red district blue. His other 2012 donations were to the League of Conservation Voters and Barack Obama.
What a tragedy. Once again, the good die young.
At 63 years old, Mark Benjamin had an incredibly rich, constructive, productive, and full life. He leaves behind a real business with 200+ employee/owners that is not subject to the predations of Wall St. He was a real builder and not a taker like the Mitt Romneys of our world.
The larger tragedy that his son’s life was cut so short. (His other son is an astrophysicist.)
To perhaps illuminate my respect for Morley Builders, I had a professional relationship with another contractor vying for the Cathedral project and yet, appreciated that Morley was the much better choice for the job.
A nice obituary on Mark Benjamin. Just your basic all around good guy that is somewhat rare these days.