Ed Bendokas launched his career in the financial services sector with RBC Daine Roucher and Principal Financial Group, holding Series 7 and 65 licenses, as well as Life and Health Insurance credentials. After three years, Ed transitioned from the large banks to establish Island Management LLC in early 2007.

Following his tenure with Principal Financial Group and RBC, Ed spent numerous years as a syndicate trader specializing in IPOs, secondaries, new issue corporate bonds and new issue municipal bonds with a family office in New Jersey. In addition, he participated in a private roll-up in 2018 where he led M&A activities achieving $100 million in sales within three years. This period enabled him to forge strong relationships on Wall Street which have continued to benefit his clients and businesses.

In January 2021, Ed joined Skylark as Director of both Mergers and Acquisitions and Investor Relations. Today, Ed and the team at Skylark Ventures offer consulting services to both public and private companies, leveraging Ed’s extensive network to connect emerging growth companies with institutional capital providers and assisting in their transition to private exits as well as public market liquidity events.

Over the years, Ed has co-founded several ventures including his original consulting firm, a hedge fund, and an HVAC roll-up. He is also active in the nonprofit sector, fundraising for St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, a prep school where over 90% of the students receive need-based financial aid.

A former college football player at the University of Northern Colorado, Ed and his wife, Cindi, split time between their hometown of Brick, NJ and Islamorada, FL. Outside of work, Ed enjoys deep-sea fishing in the Atlantic off the coasts of New Jersey and the Florida Keys.