About Kevin

Coach. Builder. Believer in New Leaders.

Hey there, I'm Kevin Bender, and I’m so glad you found The New Manager Club. If you're a new or rising manager who's ever thought, “I am not prepared for this job…” you’re in the right place. Because I’ve been there. And I built this Club just for you.

So, who am I?

I’m a leadership coach with 35 years of hands-on, real-world experience leading teams, managing operations, and coaching people to become the leaders others want to follow.

I’ve been:

Director of Retail for the Philadelphia Phillies (yep, the ballpark was my office),
VP of Retail for Delaware North, overseeing the retail experience in 29 major league stadiums,
And most recently, COO of a major nonprofit, leading hundreds of team members toward mission-driven impact.

And through all of that, I realized something: no one teaches you how to lead when you become a manager. You're just expected to figure it out.

That’s where this Club comes in.

What I believe:

Management is a job. Coaching is a mindset.
Great leaders aren’t born, they’re built.
Every new manager deserves a judgment-free zone to grow, ask questions, and mess up without shame.
We rise together through feedback, friendship, and a whole lot of “I’ve been there too.”

What I’ve built:

I created something called The Coaching Formula. A simple, powerful framework based on six leadership elements I’ve used for decades to build high-performing, people-first teams. Inside the Club, I break this down step-by-step, so you’re not just managing… you’re actually coaching.

This isn’t theory. It’s field-tested. And it’s designed specifically for new and emerging leaders like you.

Why I started The New Manager Club:

I wanted to create the kind of place I wish I had when I first became a manager. Somewhere between a leadership gym, a support group, and a playbook library. A Growth Zone where there’s no shame, just coaching.

Final thing you should know:

This isn’t my community. It’s ours. Whether you’re leading your first team meeting or hiring your tenth employee, you have something to share and something to learn.

So pull up a virtual chair. Ask your questions. Offer your wisdom.
We’re here to grow. Together.