Each year, the Corridor Business Journal shines a spotlight on young professionals who have made a meaningful impact on the region early in their careers. We are proud to introduce you to the 20th class of Forty Under 40 honorees, chosen by a committee of past honorees. Ben Fiedler Product Owner | Benchmark Age: 32 […]
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Ben Fiedler
Product Owner | Benchmark
Age: 32
Residence: Coggon, Iowa
Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa
Family: Wife, Jamie
Residence: Hiawatha, Iowa
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Education: Kennedy High School, graduation from Kirkwood planned spring of 2025
Best advice you ever received? While it isn't a quotable piece of advice, the question about a "big break" really got me thinking about the unspoken advice I received throughout my career. Every step of my way, I was given a hand to help me develop professionally, even if I hadn't earned it yet. While my mentors may not have explicitly stated it, the advice I was given was to always help the next person in line.
What’s the biggest issue facing the Corridor, and why? Ensuring that the next generation sees the Corridor as a viable place to live, beyond staying just because this is where they were born. These reasons can be because of our great public schools, high-quality jobs, or superior quality of life. However, for most people, it is not one factor, but rather a combination of all. The Corridor needs to continue focusing on ensuring our community is well-rounded to attract and retain the next generation.
If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support? Community engagement. I think a lot of societal issues could be solved by building a stronger community. When we know each other, we can then care about one another. When we care about each other, we can help. Because of this, I would focus on building stronger communities, by being intentional about creating spaces for different walks of life to come together.
What are your passions outside of the workplace? My wife Jamie and I are both heavily involved with the Friends of Hiawatha Parks and Rec Foundation, helping with various community events. Beyond the volunteerism activities, we both love the National Park system and are working our way through visiting every one of them.
What do you want to accomplish by the time you are 50? I don't buy green bananas, because I don't plan that far ahead. 17 years is a long time, and the future holds a lot of opportunities. I hope that I can continue to give back to my career and mentor others starting their careers.
