The Man Inside My Greenhouse

By:  Stephanie Benney

There is a certain Sunday on the calendar of June every year where we honor our Father’s for the men they were, the men they are and the men they will be.  We thank them for what they have taught us, how they have shaped us and protected us.   Without these men, we would not have become the strong, fierce women we are today.

As I thought about the multiple ways of attacking this week’s article, not one of them was really satisfying me.  I could write about a “text book” great man in science or philanthropy, or I could write from my heart about the real man who was a great success and inspiration to many in the environmental industry.  This man is my Father.

Many of you who know me personally, know my relationship with my Dad was rocky at best for most of our time together.  While there were many wonderful times, there were also those negative experiences, which shape a child’s mind and future in a not-so-pleasant manner.   Regardless of the negatives, I have chosen to not concentrate on them and whenever possible, turn them into positives.  He has inspired me to do that.

My Dad was the oldest of 2 and lost both of his parents at the impressionable age of 15 years old.  He fought the odds and soon became the first out of our family to attend college.  He received his degree in Marketing from Penn State.  Upon graduation, he left for the Army.  After his time spent serving our country, he went on to work for companies, such as Ralston Purina and IBM, but the mentality of an independent would not allow him to conform to corporate protocol and mindset.  It was during his time with Robinson Industries that his role and destiny as an environmental entrepreneur would commence.

In the 1980′s, Ronald Reagan was in office and concentration on the environment and sustainability were just beginning to become topics of conversation in the mainstream. Clean water and air pollution along with the Ozone depletion were popping up in my text books in school and paralleling in my Dad’s career.  He broke away from Robinson Industries, where he learned the in’s and out’s of air pollution control in the industrial sector.

After an unsuccessful partnership, which ultimately  resulted in my Dad’s sole proprietorship, Benney Technical Sales, Inc., he completely blossomed as the owner of an air pollution control equipment company and was one of the early pioneers to pave the way for future environmental companies to succeed.  Without my Dad realizing it, he was boldly fighting for my generation’s air quality control by alleviating air pollution in “big industry”.  Benney Technical Sales, Inc. continued to grow and prosper throughout the ’80′s, ’90′s and new millennium as a result of my Dad’s integrity and intensity.

Throughout all of my personal up’s and down’s with my Dad, he is still the man who helped and inspired me to write my first environmental memoir on the Greenhouse Effect.  He also pushed me to accurately observe and record data for my first science project, which documented the effects of carbon monoxide on plant life.  He encouraged me to nurture my love of questioning and curiosity in the sciences and all other aspects of life.  He also passed down his passion and tenacity, which I drip 110% of into my writing and research.  I believe that today, my work would be an amazing bond my Dad and I would share.  I guess you could say I do – just in a different way.

It has been 4 years and 4 months since my Dad lost his battle to cancer.  I have had my time to forgive and come to find a peace within.  I have no regrets, for at the end of our time together, my Dad and I were exactly where we were supposed to be – in complete understanding and acceptance of one another.  He walks along with me now and I hear him giving his advice and nudges of direction with every beat of my heart.

This article is dedicated in loving memory of Richard Michael Benney, Father, Environmental Entrepreneur,  Trailblazer and Dreamer.

I love you Dad…

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com