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I am a growth-driven merchandising executive with a proven ability to transform product…
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Benito Mendez shared thisGreat teams make every ship visit better. There’s nothing more valuable than spending time together, learning from our shipboard leaders, sharing ideas, and discovering new ways to elevate the guest experience. A special thank you to our amazing Harmony and Oasis teams for the warm welcome, valuable insights, and hospitality. And an added bonus: celebrating the well-deserved promotion of Ramona Pino to Director of Merchandising, Logo and Product Development. 🎉🎉🎉 Starboard’s cruise line branded merchandise continues to set a new standard, earning great recognition from our cruise line partners and delivering exceptional results! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Congratulations, Ramona, on this exciting new chapter! Roshan Poojary Alexandru Tanase Caryl Capeci Courtney Keenan Ramona Pino Claudia King-McWilliams Patricia Rodriguez Valeria Larios, MBA Michelle Goldberg Yasemin Kuloglu Jessica Perez Stan Lomnicky
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Benito Mendez shared thisAnd we did it again. 😎 There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a team bring a product vision to life with passion and intention—creating a shopping experience that feels both memorable and truly special. Incredibly proud of everyone who made this happen. Bravo, team. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Benito Mendez shared thisStarboard has announced the debut of an expansive collection of immersive retail experiences onboard Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, the third ship in the vacation brand’s Icon Class fleet. Developed exclusively by Starboard, the retail offering blends discovery, personalization, luxury and family-focused interactive experiences, introducing first-at-sea brand partnerships, innovative boutique concepts and curated assortments designed to elevate every guest’s journey. https://lnkd.in/d6DZTViv Lisa Bauer Catherine JenkinsStarboard debuts retail experiences aboard Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Sea – Global Travel Retail MagazineStarboard debuts retail experiences aboard Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Sea – Global Travel Retail Magazine
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Benito Mendez shared thisCheers from a beach in Mexico 🌊 In the spirit of becoming a better version of myself, I’ve been making time to slow down and reflect—starting with a new gem I received as a Father’s Day gift. I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader, and I usually only pick up books while traveling for business or vacation. But Trust & Inspire by Stephen M. R. Covey really hit home. Although it was published a few years ago, I’m just discovering it now—and the message feels incredibly relevant. At its core, the book challenges traditional “command and control” leadership models and encourages a shift toward trusting and inspiring teams in today’s workplace. As I reflect on the past 18 months and the strong progress and results we’ve achieved, I can see myself somewhere in between these two approaches. What stands out most is how much the “trust and inspire” mindset has elevated ownership, accountability, and results. Here are a few nuggets that resonated: “There is enough for everyone… so my job as a leader is to elevate caring above competing” “Enduring influence is created from the inside out… so my job as a leader is to go first” “if you want to influence other people, if you want to improve the communication within your team, if you want to change the culture of your family, don’t wait on others. Just go first. Be the first to: ● … listen ● … admit you were wrong ● … be loyal to the absent ● …affirm and praise a wayward child ● … keep a commitment ● … hold yourself accountable ● ... admit that you’re unsure ● … take responsibility for poor results ● … create transparency when everyone else is operating from hidden agendas ● … tell the truth instead of creating spin ● ... extend trust ● … give someone the benefit of the doubt ● … show respect ● … share difficult information … choose abundance … be courageous …clarify expectations ● …. assume positive intent” Another highlight: “What Trust & Inspire Leaders Model: ● Humility and Courage ● Authenticity and Vulnerability ● Empathy and Performance” I’ve been fortunate to experience leaders, peers, partners, and team members at every level who have trusted and inspired me. Taking time to learn and reflect has reinforced how important it is to be intentional about how I show up—and how I can better support and elevate those around me. Highly recommend this read for anyone, at any level.
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Benito Mendez shared thisMay 21, 2001, I joined Starboard Group for the first time. 25 years later, I’m reminded that time is the one global currency we all share—and it has a way of both humbling and grounding you. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the people who shaped my journey—from my early days as a Buyer to now leading an incredible group of talented of retail professionals. The mentors, teammates, and partners, the business wins, the milestones—they’ve all been part of a journey that continues to evolve. What makes Starboard special is its unique DNA. It’s a global organization operating seamlessly across B2B and B2C. At its core, it’s a retail powerhouse—driven by curation, innovation, vendor partnerships, product development, and exceptional guest experiences across merchandising, visual storytelling, marketing, and operations. At the same time, it’s a highly sophisticated logistics engine, managing one of the most complex supply chains to deliver the right product, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price. And we deliver. What I’m most proud of is how this organization continues to grow talent, create opportunity, and invest in people. The greatest full-circle moment? Watching my daughter begin her journey here this same week—joining a best-in-class internship program, 25 years after I started mine. If you know, you know—this is a very special place. Emma Mendez
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Benito Mendez shared thisGreetings from Juneau, AK! 🏔️ Starboard Group’s 2026 Leadership Listening Live Alaska is in the books—and once again, it delivered exactly what makes it so powerful: connection, insight, and action. 🎯 Led by our CEO, Lisa Bauer , LLL is built on a simple yet meaningful mission—meet our onboard teams where they are, listen deeply to their perspectives on product and experience opportunities, celebrate their successes, and most importantly, close the loop by sharing the actions we’ve taken based on their feedback. 🔁 Over the past 12 months, we’ve visited more than 50 ships across the globe. 🌍 This Alaska session alone brought us to 14 ships, connecting with over 200 team members across six cruise lines. The energy, passion, and readiness of these teams to deliver an exceptional 2026 Alaska season is truly inspiring. 🚢✨ And what a backdrop to do this work—Alaska remains one of the most remarkable cruising destinations in the world, with its majestic glaciers, historic ports, and extraordinary wildlife creating unforgettable guest experiences. 🐻🐋🦅 A heartfelt thank you to our incredible onboard leaders and their teams—Eddie, Nikola, Tamara, Aleksandra, Adnana, Shahnawaz, Christian, Devika, Justin, and Gabriel—for the warm welcome, strong leadership, and valuable insights. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Equally, thank you to our cruise line partners and our shoreside teams whose relentless focus on operational excellence—from assortment development and supply chain to marketing and visual merchandising, as well as training and development—continues to shape our culture and create meaningful career pathways for our teams. 💼📦🎨📚 Wishing everyone a fantastic and successful 2026 Alaska season ahead! 🌟 Lisa Bauer John McGirl, DBA MSc. Ivette Pimentel Starboard Group
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Benito Mendez shared thisRead this 👇 and read it again! 100% this is the way to unlock true potential. Great post Robertson Hunter Stewart ! Thank you!Benito Mendez shared thisThe greatest gift of leadership is building a team that wants each other to win. Read that again. Not a team that competes internally. Not a team that hoards information. Not a team that celebrates quietly when someone else fails. But a team that genuinely wants each other to succeed. That is leadership. Because when: • People share knowledge freely • Feedback is given to grow, not to diminish • Success is celebrated collectively • Credit is distributed, not claimed • Mistakes are owned without fear You don’t just have performance. You have trust. And trust scales. In my years teaching management and working with hospitality teams, the highest-performing departments were never driven by ego. They were driven by alignment. Front office supporting housekeeping. F&B supporting sales. Revenue supporting operations. No silos. No politics. Just shared success. The irony? When individuals focus on helping others win… They win more themselves. Real leadership is not about being the star player. It’s about building a team where everyone plays to make each other better. That’s culture. That’s sustainable performance. That’s leadership. What are you doing today to help someone else on your team win? _ _ _ Follow Robertson Hunter Stewart for more on leadership and management.
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Benito Mendez shared thisAmazing week with the team! Excited to bring new products, elevated experiences, and some very cool exclusive surprises to delight our sales teams and guests in the near future—stay tuned. Thank you to everyone at Starboard Group who supports and drives our Swiss Timepieces business. Your passion and hard work continue to propel our success.Benito Mendez shared thisWatches and Wonders 2026 | Geneva 🇨🇭 Watches and Wonders 2026 once again proved why it remains a defining moment for the global watch industry—bringing together craftsmanship, innovation, and the enduring legacy of Swiss timepieces. At Starboard Group, our watch business is built on a foundation of trust—trust in the craftsmanship of our brand partners, trust in the quality and retail excellence we deliver, and trust in the long-standing relationships we continue to nurture. Events like this are a powerful reminder of the strength and depth of those partnerships. We are proud to collaborate with some of the most respected names in the industry, bringing their stories and innovations to guests around the world through curated, elevated retail experiences. 📸 Left to right: Tiffany Garcia, Benito Mendez, Caryl Capeci, Stan Lomnicky, Lisa Bauer With thanks to our brand partners: Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Piaget, Bvlgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer, BREITLING, Franck Muller Asia Pacific, Jacob & Co, Montres NORQAIN SA, Oris, Bremont Watch Company, Frederique Constant, Movado Group, Inc #WatchesAndWonders2026 #SwissTimepieces #LuxuryWatches #StarboardGroup #Partnerships #CurateAVibrantWorld
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Benito Mendez shared thisRecently, I read: “One of the biggest opportunities in retail is turning a single-item purchase into a full assortment.” It stuck with me because it perfectly reflects how we think about merchandising at Starboard Group. At Starboard Group , Curating a Vibrant World is deeply intentional. The role of the buyer has evolved into something more meaningful—a curator of style, experience, and emotion. This reflects a broader shift from transactional consumption to identity-driven selection. Today’s consumers aren’t just buying products; they’re buying portals into a lifestyle. Curation flips the script—from selling features to shaping a point of view. In many ways, that point of view becomes more valuable than the product itself. And in a world of endless choice, the paradox of choice is real. The best merchants don’t add more—they edit better. They reduce cognitive load, build trust, and create clarity through a focused, high-intent assortment. Proud of the merchant leadership and teams who bring this to life every day—with curiosity, creativity, and intention. Courtney Keenan Claudia Crousillat Jessica Perez Ramona Pino Raquel Baro Maíra Nuñez da Cunha, MBA Matteo Assalino Lindsey Mitchell Karla Nedeski Caryl Capeci Tiffany Garcia Lisa Tam Patricia Rodriguez Renan Murta Holly Hendrickson Donald Hayes Tania Lia Noble Viviana Demello Jasmine Chavez #starboardgroup #curatingavibrantworld #summerdestinations
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Benito Mendez shared thisFriday thoughts! Grateful for the coaches and teammates that push me. 100% this 👇Benito Mendez shared thisOne of the most important lessons in elite performance is learning to live outside of comfort. Tom Brady spoke recently about how most people retreat the moment things feel uncomfortable. In high level MMA training, discomfort is not a warning sign. It is confirmation you are on the right path. The role of a great coach is not to make things easy. It is to demand more when it would be easier to settle. That pressure develops discipline, resilience, and leadership under stress.
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Congratulations Caroline Zimmerman !! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Benito Mendez reacted on thisSo proud to see Caroline Zimmerman bring this project to life! As a leader, one of the most rewarding parts of my role is watching my team develop, take ownership, and grow their confidence along the way. Seeing Caroline contribute to the development of this collection alongside our Invicta Watch Group partners is a great example of that growth and excellence in action. So proud of you, Caroline! 👏 ✨Benito Mendez reacted on thisExcited to see a project come to life that I've had the opportunity to help develop alongside the talented Invicta team. Introducing the Invicta Caribbean Exclusive Collection, created exclusively for Starboard Cruise Services. Inspired by the vibrant colors, energy, and beauty of the Caribbean, this collection features 8 unique styles, including 4 men's and 4 ladies' watches designed to capture the spirit of travel and adventure. It's incredibly rewarding to collaborate on a product that combines thoughtful design, strong partnership, and a unique retail experience for cruise guests around the world. A big thank you to the Invicta team and everyone involved in making this collection a reality. #Invicta #StarboardCruiseServices #ProductDevelopment #RetailInnovation #CruiseRetail #WatchIndustry #Teamwork #TravelRetail Invictawatch Starboard Lisa Tam Lauren Williams Viktoriia Logvinova
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Benito Mendez reacted on thisBenito Mendez reacted on thisMarli New York has entrusted its representation across Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America to MLG, with Yannick Jordi and his team managing the brand. Marli was founded in New York in 2014 by Maral Artinian, third generation of a jewellery family, and has grown to a serious wholesale presence worldwide without a conglomerate distribution machine behind it. Clear ideas, executed with discipline for a decade. Modern without chasing a trend. Very few young jewellery brands manage that. Most spend years imitating houses a century older and wonder why nobody remembers them. I'm enthusiastic about this one. Our region buys jewellery seriously and buys it with taste, and it has been underserved by brands that treat Latin America as somewhere to clear stock rather than build a clientele. Marli is the opposite proposition. It rewards the client who wants something considered rather than something loud, and it stacks, layers and lives on the wrist every day rather than sitting in a safe. Eighteen boutiques in ten years, independently. That tells you what this brand is capable of. It's with excitement that I can support the team with my experience and my market relationships… and we look forward to once again leading independent luxury distribution in territories where we have been present for more than 25 years. Now let's build it properly here.
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Benito Mendez liked thisBenito Mendez liked thisTo close out the third day of TFWA Cannes 2026, Global Travel Retail Magazine returned to the seafront for the Lagardère Travel Retail party. The evening featured music, entertainment and expertly crafted cocktails, capturing the energy and excitement that make TFWA Cannes such a standout event. TFWA (Tax Free World Association)
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Benito Mendez liked thisBenito Mendez liked this🥂 What a lovely way to start the week in Cannes! 📸 Yesterday, we hosted our very first DFNI–Frontier Meet the Team drinks at Rosana Cannes, supported by FASHIONPHILE. Thank you to everyone who joined us, it was a pleasure to see you all and cheers to the week ahead. 🍸 Our Recommerce in Travel Retail panel brought together: 📌Irina Bezsonoff, Director of Commerce at Heinemann Americas, Inc. 📌Sarah Davis, Founder & CCO of FASHIONPHILE 📌Claire Mclennan, Category Director – Lifestyle at Harding+ Thank you to our brilliant panellists for sharing their perspectives on recommerce and its current place in travel retail. Here’s to a fantastic week in Cannes, we look forward to seeing many of you at the Frontier Awards on Wednesday! 🏆 📸 More pictures here : https://lnkd.in/e2AAw9um #DFNI #FrontierAwards26 #TravelRetail #Recommerce
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Benito Mendez reacted on thisBenito Mendez reacted on thisBy The Beach Suncare, the fun, exciting and sensorial new suncare brand co-founded by Jessica McGratty-Singer and Andrew Glass, has had a sensational launch year both in travel retail and domestically in the United States, expanding in the cruise channel, breaking into airports with some key listings and being featured in 600 Target stores within its reimagined Target Beauty Studio. Read this exclusive story below. https://lnkd.in/emCE9-H7 See this story and more in the 2026 Travel Markets Insider special edition October magazine published for the 2026 TFWA (Tax Free World Association) World Exhibition and Conference. Download a PDF here: https://lnkd.in/exU76CPg Read as book here: https://lnkd.in/ejubj6G5 #dutyfree #travelretail
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Benito Mendez reacted on thisBenito Mendez reacted on thisAlexander Wong, Warehouse Associate, Distribution Center, is our 2026 Mid-Year MVP Winner for DC – Get It Done! 🌟 At Starboard, MVP—Most Vibrant Player—recognizes team members who bring our values to life through the impact they make every day. Get It Done means Deliver. Drive. Excel. Alexander is recognized for bringing that mindset to life through his consistency, dedication, and commitment to keeping work moving forward—qualities that are essential to the fast-paced work of our Distribution Center. Behind every product that reaches our ships is a team working with focus and purpose to help ensure our operations stay on course. As part of our Distribution Center team, Alexander’s contributions support the work happening across Starboard and help us deliver the experiences our guests ultimately enjoy around the world. Join us in celebrating Alexander and this well-deserved recognition as he helps us Curate a Vibrant World! #Starboard #MVPSpotlight #PeopleOfStarboard #GetItDone #DistributionCenter #OurValues #VacationRetail #CurateAVibrantWorld
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Leadership for Business Performance
LVMH - London House
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