Our Team

Every member of the Benchmark IT recruitment team has deep and exclusive experience with IT recruitment services and finding the best technology talent. From our IT recruiters to our leadership team, we are passionate about what we do and dedicated to ensuring success in every endeavor.

john bemis 12202024

John founded Benchmark IT in 2007 and provides executive direction, strategy and key client and talent management for the company. He is committed to strong business ethics, responsiveness and “high-touch” attention to clients and candidates. These are the guiding principals of his 20+ years in the technology recruiting industry. John enjoys extensive and long-standing relationships throughout the industry and is one of the most highly respected technology staffing professionals in the region.

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John Bemis

mariah szarek 12202024

Mariah joined Benchmark IT in early 2017 and quickly established herself as a leading recruiter, known for her ability to source top IT talent, build meaningful long-term relationships, and, most importantly, help candidates achieve their career goals. With a background in HR, an inquisitive nature, and a passion for ever-evolving world of technology, Mariah excels at assessing the unique needs of both clients and candidates. Since stepping into a leadership role in September 2022, she has led the recruiting team with vision and dedication, furthering Benchmark IT’s mission of excellence.

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Mariah Szarek

james shen 12202024

James has built a decade of recruiting success on his 20-year experience as a senior developer and project manager in the financial services sector. He is highly regarded for his keen ability to find the right person for complex and challenging technical positions. His seasoned approach and insightful counsel have earned him the trust and respect of both his clients and candidates.

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James Shen

sylvia bier 12202024

Sylvia joined Benchmark IT in 2018 with a background in human resources management, most recently in the reinsurance industry. In her role as Technical Recruiter, Sylvia creates connections for skilled IT candidates including IT Management, Developers, Database/DBA/ETL, Project Managers, BA-QA, and Infra/DevOps among others. Sylvia is passionate about connecting the right candidate with the right company, making sure that new opportunities will provide her candidates with both career growth and personal satisfaction.

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Sylvia Bier

patrick javier 12202024

Patrick joined Benchmark IT in 2022 as a Technical Recruiter. Prior to joining BIT, Patrick gained experience in Customer Service and Management. With this knowledge, he is able to fully contribute to the high-level of recruiting that BIT has to offer. When not working Patrick enjoys hanging out with friends and family, traveling, sports, and trying different foods. He is driven by finding candidates with endless potential to excel and thrive in their new role/position

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Patrick Javier

devon canora 12202024
Devon joined  Benchmark IT in early 2024 as an Account Executive.  Before joining Benchmark IT, Devon honed his recruiting and account management skills in the financial services industry, which equipped him with the insights and skills required for IT staffing and recruitment. In 2021, Devon graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s in Marketing Management.
Outside the office, Devon enjoys unwinding with friends, hitting the golf course for a round or two, and carving up the slopes on his snowboard throughout the winter.
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Devon Canora

kara mahony 12202024
Kara joined Benchmark IT in August 2024 with over five years’ experience in technical and functional recruiting. She excels at connecting top talent in roles with companies that align with their skills and career goals– including Development, Project Management, and IT Leadership. Kara’s earlier experience in hospitality sharpened her ability to build strong relationships, and her degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology deepened her understanding of career development. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She is dedicated to helping candidates find opportunities that promote both professional advancement and personal fulfillment.
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Kara Mahony

meike geisler 12202024

Meike joined the Benchmark IT team in 2021 with a strong background in human resources, compensation analysis, and data reporting. As the Data Administrative Assistant, she is responsible for maintaining the Benchmark IT databases’ data integrity and managing performance metrics, recruitment advertising, and communications. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has a MA in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College Columbia University.

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Meike Geisler

nancy laperla 12202024

Nancy brings a successful sales and marketing background to Benchmark IT from the cable television programming business, most notably AMC and E! Entertainment Television. At Benchmark IT, she contributes her seasoned perspective to technology recruiting and is responsible for Benchmark IT’s branding, content marketing and client and candidate engagement efforts.

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Nancy LaPerla

charlotte mateo 12202024

Charlotte re-joined Benchmark IT in 2024 and brings a strong background in marketing, social media, and business automation, complemented by a solid foundation in human resources and recruiting. She holds a bachelor’s in business management and a Master’s in HR, equipping her with a valuable set of skills to support business growth. In her role, Charlotte leverages her expertise by creating dynamic marketing strategies, optimizing social media presence, automating processes to drive business growth. Passionate about bridging the gap between technology and human resources, she is dedicated to delivering impactful solutions that drive efficiency and innovation across the organization.

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Charlotte Mateo