2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Bennie Bray ’72

Bennie M. Bray is a distinguished entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist with a career spanning more than four decades in building and scaling high-growth companies. A 1972 graduate of Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, he is the cofounder and managing partner of Monarch Capital Partners, where he’s helped guide lower/middle-market businesses nationwide toward sustainable growth through strategic investment, operational excellence and leadership development. In addition to his work with Monarch, Bray has served as an operating partner with CIC Partners, where he played a pivotal role in expanding CraftMark Bakery into one of North America’s largest producers of bakery products. His leadership and strategic insight positioned the company as an industry leader and culminated in its successful acquisition by One Equity Partners in 2025. Through generous endowments in the Harbert College of Business, Bray has funded full-tuition scholarships and a distinguished professorship that continue to enrich the academic community. He has also made substantial financial contributions to the athletics complex renovation, golf programs and Bruce Pearl's AUtlive program. Beyond financial support, he actively mentors scholarship recipients, sharing his experiences and inspiring future generations to pursue excellence and give back to others. Full bio at https://alumni.auburn.edu/alumni-awar... Be sure to subscribe for more Auburn Alumni content! https://www.youtube.com/c/AuburnAlumn... Facebook:   / auburnalumniassociation   Instagram:   / auburnalumni   Twitter:   / aualumniassoc   Auburn Magazine online: http://auburnmagazine.auburn.edu