Marquis Who’s Who Honors Mara A. Benner as an Expert in Executive Coaching, Leadership Development and Integrative Wellness
Mara Benner partners with Fortune 100 companies and innovative organizations to elevate leadership readiness, sharpen business acumen and drive performance
ALEXANDRIA, VA, February 19, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Mara A. Benner has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Benner has distinguished herself as a leader in executive coaching, leadership development, and integrative wellness, earning national recognition for her ability to guide leaders through complexity, change, and growth. She is the president and founder of True North Executive Coaching LLC, established in 2021, where she partners with Fortune 100 companies, startup organizations, and nonprofit associations to support leadership effectiveness, organizational resilience, and performance. Working from her Alexandria, Virginia office, Ms. Benner has collaborated with organizations including Lockheed Martin, Humana, Chainalysis, the National Education Association, and the American Association of Colleges and Universities, among others.
Through True North Executive Coaching, Ms. Benner is the architect of Leadership Excel, a structured leadership development program designed to strengthen executive presence, strategic decision-making, and leadership effectiveness during periods of organizational complexity and change. The program has been implemented with leaders, supporting both emerging and senior leaders as they translate strategy into execution. Leadership Excel integrates practical leadership competencies with personal performance, helping leaders execute effectively while sustaining resilience, clarity, and accountability in high-pressure environments.
In parallel, since 2016 Ms. Benner has served as practitioner with the GW Center for Integrative Medicine. Through this work, she has provided integrative and alternative wellness services, supporting individuals navigating complex health challenges. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, she ran an alternative healing program at GW Hospital. From 2001 to 2015, Ms. Benner served as vice president of government affairs at Gentiva Health Services, now part of Humana. During her tenure, she was a national advocate for value-based care in home health services and played a key role in advancing home health policy at the federal level – work that continues to inform her systems-level perspective in leadership and healthcare.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Benner held senior leadership roles with the American Association for Homecare, serving as vice president of operations and government relations as well as executive director for the Maryland Home Health Association. Her professional journey began on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide to a member serving on the then House Select Committee on Aging, where she developed an early and enduring focus on gerontology and public policy.
Ms. Benner has maintained active involvement in professional and civic organizations throughout her career. She was a board member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the Del Ray Business Association, and AIM Health Institute. She served in leadership board positions for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the Maryland National Capital Homecare Association and One Spirit Learning Alliance. Academically, Ms. Benner earned a Bachelor of Arts in gerontology from Kent State University. She holds advanced certifications in mindfulness-based stress reduction from Duke University, as well as additional certifications in integrative approaches for leadership, health, and wellbeing.
Ms. Benner is also an accomplished author. She joined with authors at George Washington University, Veteran’s Administration and the GW Center for Integrative Medicine to publish “Resetting the Microbiome” Abstract and was the wellness writer for the Alexandria Times publishing numerous health and wellbeing articles. Her achievements have been recognized through numerous honors, including Rising Star of the Year from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, multiple leadership awards from Gentiva Health Services, and professional recognition from state and national healthcare associations.
Born in Pittsburgh, Ms. Benner enjoys hiking, visiting national parks, traveling, sailing, painting, and exploring museums. She is currently focused on expanding her work with organizations navigating cultural and technological transformation, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Through her Leadership Excel program and personalized executive coaching, Ms. Benner remains committed to supporting leaders and organizations in aligning purpose, performance, and wellbeing in an evolving global landscape.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #
