The Former Marketing VP Looks Forward to Making a Greater Impact with the Franchise Funding Provider
Benetrends Financial, a leading franchise funding provider, has promoted Ali Kraus to chief marketing officer. Kraus previously served as the brand’s vice president of marketing. Benetrends has also elevated Michael Minitelli from senior vice president of business development to chief development officer.
Since joining Benetrends in 2022, Kraus said the company has evolved from being a ROBS-focused (rollover retirement funds) company to launching new products, services and a new marketing strategy. “We’re now focused on educating the franchise industry on funding options and ensuring we have something for every entrepreneur, every brand and every partner. Seeing that shift take shape has been incredible,” Kraus said.
While marketing in the franchise space has been her focus, Kraus said she is excited to contribute to Benetrends’ growth in areas beyond marketing. “Stepping into the CMO role is paving the way for me to have a bigger impact – not just on the marketing team, but on the board, the company and the overall direction of where we’re headed.”
Benetrends’ overall direction includes providing funding solutions for entrepreneurs who aren’t in franchising and improving processes through technology, Kraus said. “For a long-standing company like Benetrends, we have processes that just work, so shaking things up with new tech-driven efficiencies is exciting. Our marketing team will be deeply involved in how we communicate and roll out these changes.”
President and CEO Rocco Fiorentino said the promotions of Kraus and Minitelli will help Benetrends continue to be an industry leader in small business funding. “Both Ali and Mike have shown their vision, discipline, creativity and leadership skills in building the marketing team and the development team into a powerhouse for small business lending,” Fiorentino said. “I am very proud of the teams they have built and the accomplishments they have made, and there is no end in sight.”
A Unique Perspective
Kraus said her wide-ranging franchise marketing experience, including franchise development marketing for Celebree School, event marketing and digital advertising, have prepared her for the new position with Benetrends. “Each role has expanded my understanding of how franchising works together, and that has given me a unique perspective.”
One initiative she is pursuing involves providing more education about funding, particularly through short-form video content. “I’m excited to see platforms like LinkedIn pushing more educational short-form content,” she said. “That’s a big goal for us. We want Benetrends to be the go-to place not just for financing solutions but also for education in funding.”
Benetrends also will use this format to showcase the expertise of team members. “We know that many people are uncomfortable on camera, so our marketing team is working on new ways to support them – whether through AI tools, filming apps or creative content strategies – to make video marketing seamless and engaging.”
Kraus, a certified franchise executive and vice chair of the IFA’s Women’s Franchise Committee, enjoys crafting and decorating apparel with rhinestones in her free time. She combined her two passions – empowering women in franchising and creating custom clothing – when she made shirts for WFC members to wear to the IFA’s Annual Leadership Conference. “Seeing the team smile in those shirts made it all worth it!”
About Benetrends Financial
Benetrends Financial empowers entrepreneurs with innovative funding options to launch and grow their franchise businesses. With 40-plus years of expertise, Benetrends offers a comprehensive suite of services, including 401(k)/IRA rollover funding, SBA loans and unsecured funding.
