About Our Founder & CEO
Benthale, McKibbin, McKnight & Bitz founder Ed Benthale is no stranger to leadership. Growing up the eldest of four siblings, initially in a suburb of Boston, Ed learned early on that leadership would play a role in his life.
Education
California State University, Fullerton – California Western School of Law
Memberships
Member of the California State Bar Association
President Powerstone Management
More About Ed
"I am proud to have come from a working-class family that was rich in value, discipline and a strong work ethic. My father, a proud Irishman, and my mother a first-generation Italian, always taught there is simply no substitute for good old fashioned hard work and best efforts." The family moved west and settled in Long Beach, CA.
From there Ed completed his primary schooling in Long Beach California and High School in Garden Grove, California. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at California State University Fullerton. While attending college, employed as a commissioned salesperson for a large department store from where Ed honed in on his client satisfaction skills. Customer satisfaction was the ultimate goal. Following college, he found his way working into the aerospace sector with Northrop Grumman. Spending 14 years there, he enjoyed positions in program planning, contracts administration and program management. He held a top-secret clearance and was proud to be actively involved in several top secret governmental programs inclusive of the B-2 Bomber Program. He was proud to serve his nation.
While working at full capacity with Northrop/Northrop Grumman he entered law school in the quest of obtaining the Juris Doctorate Degree. Although a difficult task in working fulltime and attending law school full time, his wife Mary was in total support.
Although he had no interest in being a licensed attorney, he took and passed the California State Bar. He, however, chose to remain with Northrop enjoying various management roles. Realizing a new opportunity, Ed with the support of his wife Mary and his two sons, elected to end his 14-year aerospace career and enter the law profession.
He went to work for a large workers' compensation defense firm, where he honed his skills as a litigator. After a couple of years, he joined a smaller firm closer to his new home in Murrieta. It was a good fit for a while. However, one of the lessons his father taught him early on gave him an idea.
"My father always wanted us to be entrepreneurial and start something for ourselves. I always had that in the back of my mind, and once I felt I was ready, I decided to go out on my own". He has never looked back.
Mike McKibbin joined him early on with the eventual joinder by Ed McKnight. "As a second career attorney, I am proud to have built the practice to where it is today. I enjoy bringing all of my past experiences to the practice of law and to the management of the law firm."
When he is not knee deep in case files, he is usually knee deep in powder snow, or flying off the wake on one of his wakeboards. An avid outdoorsman, Ed enjoys boating, camping, snow boarding, wake riding, waterskiing and generally just having a good time with family and friends. He enjoys all of these experiences with his wife Mary and two sons, Ryan and Curtis.
"Ed's perfect day would be to go snowboarding in the morning, attend a Chargers football game in the afternoon, and then go to a New Year's Eve party", says one close associate. "And I guarantee you he would still be going strong long after the other guests have ditched their funny hats and noisemakers".
Whether at work or at play, he is a strong Type A personality.
"I like to work hard and play hard. But, really I just want to do things right."