Benito’s dedication to his craft and his community is evident in his years of service as an architect and as a member of many professional and community organizations. He has served on numerous boards and associations. Benito served on the Houston Parks Board for more than 10 years where he was part of the Bayou Green Ways implementation. He also served on the Preservation Houston board and aided in the effort to preserve Houston’s historical buildings and pushed for the preservation of the city’s most iconic landmark, the Houston Astrodome. In 2005, Benito was elected President of the Houston Hispanic Architects & Engineers, Inc., where he also served on the board for six years. During his time in leadership, he helped establish a $10,000 scholarship for local high school students. Benito was also appointed by the Commissioner’s Court to serve as the Chairman of the Harris County Hispanic Cultural Heritage Commission.
Within Kirksey, Benito co-leads an extensive Summer Intern program and has mentored more than 80 students from different backgrounds and colleges around the country to learn and experience working in a professional work environment by exposing them to construction site visits, industry seminars, and attending professional organization meetings and lunches. He regularly gives a “Networking Crash Course” presentation and inspires Kirksey employees to build their networks for professional and personal development.
Benito has also received the University of Houston's 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award and recognized as the Society of Marketing Professionals (SMPS) 2020 Principal of the Year.
Many of the projects Benito worked on over the course of his career won awards from organizations such as the Texas Society of Architects, American Institute of Architects, and Preservation Houston. His work and dedication to the field of architecture has always found roots in his desire to represent and promote the communities he serves.
