Ben Sanders
Ben Sanders would be the first to tell you there’s not much drama in his story. “I’m what most people would consider boring,” he jokes, half serious, half Southern charm. But spend a little time with him, and a more interesting truth reveals itself: Ben may not chase extremes, but he’s built a life rich in relationships, shaped by travel, and full of stories worth telling.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Ben is the oldest of three brothers. His childhood was classic and steady—suburban life mixed with weekends on his grandparents’ farm where tractors, cows, and chickens offered a welcome contrast. It was a simple life, and he liked it that way.
“I played French horn in the high school band. I was last chair,” Ben says with a laugh. But music wasn’t the point—friendships were. And that theme carried through to college at Mississippi State, where he chose marketing as a major (“least amount of math,” he admits) and stayed close to the friends he’d grown up with.
But college didn’t capture his imagination. So he took a break and headed west—literally unloading UPS trucks in Denver. “That was a quick education in what I didn’t want to do,” he says. Back to school he went, and in a twist of fate, his career would eventually center on the same world he briefly labored in: trucking.
Starting out as a dispatcher, Ben matched loads with trucks—a role that took him from Mississippi to Atlanta, then Minneapolis. Eventually, his work sent him to Northern California before returning full-circle to Minnesota. “I’ve always loved exploring different cities and cultures. Each place had something new to teach.”
In 2005, Ben hit pause and took a solo trip through Europe—a long-dreamed adventure. With a camera in hand and a heart open to experience, he wandered through France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. The architecture, languages, and food were all new, but it was the people that left the biggest impression. “I’ve always enjoyed hearing different perspectives. You realize how big the world is—and how connected we all really are.”
Back in Minneapolis, Ben found a role at J.B. Hunt, and not long after, found Pam—an equally adventurous soul who matched his love for travel and conversation. “Pam is a big personality. She’s so easy to be around,” he says, with a grin that says he still can’t believe his luck.
In recent years, Ben has found joy in a few new passions: cigars and poker. “I’m not a bluffer. I’m not a risk taker,” he says. “But poker challenges me in surprising ways.” His methodical approach and ability to read a room have earned him the nickname “The Hammer” at the monthly poker nights—a title he meets with a chuckle and a shake of the head.
At Round Table, Ben brings the kind of quiet depth that anchors a room. He listens well, shares thoughtfully, and seeks out common ground. He reminds us that adventure doesn’t always have to be loud—it can be found in asking good questions, trying something new, or simply choosing to connect.