Kim Benton

Kim L. Benton is Vice President, Product & Marketing at Verizon Communications, where she leads the strategy, development, and marketing of wholesale products and services. With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in the telecommunications industry, she brings deep expertise in strategic growth, product innovation, market positioning, and enterprise partnership development.

In addition to her corporate leadership, Ms. Benton serves as an Adjunct Professor, where she leverages her extensive real-world experience to bridge theory and practice in the classroom. Her executive background in consultative selling, strategic account management, operations, and leadership development aligns seamlessly with preparing students for today’s competitive business environment. She is passionate about equipping students with practical insights, critical thinking skills, and professional readiness that translate directly from the boardroom to their careers.

Ms. Benton earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. During her undergraduate studies, she joined the United States Naval Reserves and served 11 years as a Cryptologic Technician, an experience that strengthened her discipline, analytical thinking, and leadership foundation.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for several nonprofit organizations aligned with her passions and is a committed mentor to emerging professionals. Ms. Benton is also the author of her debut novel, An Unseemly Love, fulfilling a lifelong dream of creative expression.

She is the founder of the Turning Pages Book Club, an active member of the LPGA Amateur Chapter in Dallas, Texas, and remains deeply committed to her church and community.