AMERICUS — Americus resident Jeff Benton was recently promoted to president of A.L.P. Lighting Components Inc., from SVP Operations. A.L.P. is a leading global manufacturer of components for lighting and other technical industries, with nearly 600 employees and nine locations worldwide. He will have strategic and managerial responsibility for the entire A.L.P. enterprise, including manufacturing operations, finance, distribution and product development.
Benton first came to Americus in 1988, to attend Georgia Southwestern College, after a three-year stint in the U.S. Army. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree with an emphasis in manufacturing management in 1992, and a master of science in administration in 1996 from Georgia Southwestern State University. He met his wife Amy (Timmons) while a student and was an active member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
While in subsequent years the family relocated nationwide for professional reasons, they maintained close ties with the Americus area, settling here permanently in 2012. Benton’s son and daughter now also attend his alma mater, Georgia Southwestern State University.
Benton joined A.L.P. 10 years ago as a plant manager. He guided the growth of the manufacturing operation through a number of major acquisitions, eventually being given company-wide operations responsibility and the leadership of Business Unit management. An expert in LEAN manufacturing and productivity improvement, Benton has helped to dramatically expand A.L.P.’s product line while simultaneously delivering significant organizational efficiencies. He began his career with Cooper Lighting in Americus.