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In the heart of Bainbridge, Georgia, a beam of dedication and community spirit shines brightly through the efforts of Glennie Cox Bench. As the President and Chief Financial Officer of Southwest Georgia Oil Company since 2018, Bench’s influence exemplifies generosity and professionalism in her personal pursuit. She demonstrates exemplary leadership within her company and is considered a steadfast pillar of strength in her community. She serves as the Chairperson of the Hospital Authority for Memorial Hospital and Manor. Her efforts contribute to regularly improving the quality of healthcare services and fortifying the hospital’s ties with Bainbridge through her public accountant financial background. She is also a member of the Bainbridge City Council, where she has served three terms. 

She balances a demanding career, family responsibilities, and community service with determination, inspired by the significant impact dedicated individuals can have on their communities. Raised in a family committed to community and civic service through politics as city council members, state legislature, and secretary of state for Georgia, she was instilled with the expectation to contribute meaningfully to the general public. Under her stewardship, SWGA Oil has grown significantly, successfully operating a 150-million-gallon wholesale operation of 80 convenience and grocery stores, employing 1,300 people across three states.

Mike Harrell, the CEO, acknowledged her leadership qualities and describes her as “ferociously loyal to her family, this community, and Southwest Georgia Oil Co.”

“I was humbled by it because you don’t recognize that other people see things in you, maybe that you don’t even see in yourself,” Bench said. “And it’s not as though you go out about your day trying to be those things, you naturally are.”

Reflecting on her journey, she remembered the numerous challenges faced by her organization, from stabilizing hospital finances—transforming them into a sleeping giant—to responding to devastating hurricanes. Despite these hurdles, it was the moments of triumph and resilience that truly defined her success. For Bench, success meant contributing to the greater good and ensuring the prosperity of the organizations she cherished.

Bench is deeply dedicated to our hospital. There is an untapped potential. Overseeing the financial aspect effectively, they are ready to launch new and exciting facilities and services for the community. “Our goal is to transform Bainbridge into a small healthcare hub,” Bench said. “Encouraging people to come here instead of heading to Dothan, Tallahassee, Albany, or Thomas.”

When asked why she took on so much for Bainbridge, Bench’s answer was simple but profound: “I love this community, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility towards it. When you are committed, you owe it to the organization to be ferociously loyal. These are my people, my community, our company, our hospital. I get very emotional about challenges to those organizations, and I’m determined to support them with all I have.”

Her husband Steve Bench, former decorated high school football coach and current Decatur County Sports Hall of Fame Board of Director, occasional question of “why” she cares about Bainbridge so much always lingered in her mind. But Glennie’s answer was clear: when someone believes you have something valuable to contribute, and you have the time and willingness to commit, it’s worth the effort. Her involvement in various roles ensured that Southwest Georgia Oil Company remained an integral part of the communities it served.

There is no such thing as self-made success without adversity or setbacks. The ability to balance many different things is not unique to Bench. Still, it is something that all women who work outside the home face. 

“I think women in our community would understand that it has its own unique challenges. I have always felt very supported in trying to strike that balance, whether it’s from my husband or our son or Mike Harrell, the owner of our company,” Bench said. “There’s always been the grace of abundant flexibility from all of those people that you live with or work with, and that requires some give and take.” 

Katherine Schaeffer, a research analyst at Pew Research Center, found in the 2023 Fortune 500 list that women CEOs reached an all-time high of 10.6%, with 53 women leading major U.S. companies.

 “It is unusual. In fact, Bench said. “I just got off the phone this morning with a woman who wants me to speak at a conference because it is so unique to have the president of a company in our industry be a woman. It is becoming less unusual as time passes.”

Overseeing a company like Inland Oil & Gas Corporation involves setting new standards and policies, creating new management levels, and coordinating various projects. But it also comes back to being the heartbeat of a community. 

“It is immensely rewarding, specifically having come off of a hurricane season where we had three hurricanes come through Florida and Georgia and a little bit in Alabama,” Bench said. “Seeing how our retail stores embrace the need to serve their community during those times is one of the most rewarding things about it; our stores believe they are in service to their communities, and so they take it seriously that they try to stay open to the last minute until it’s just not safe for them to be open.”

Because success is subjective, it can be defined in multiple ways. It might refer to short-term goals or overall life achievements. However, for Glennie Cox Bench, success is determined by organizational success. 

For her, focusing on organizational success means emphasizing the collective achievements and growth of the group they are part of. It’s about fostering a thriving, productive environment where each member can contribute their best, leading to the organization’s overall success.

“I don’t think about personal success. If Southwest Georgia Oil is successful, then I feel successful,” Bench said. “If Memorial Hospital is successful, I feel successful. If the city of Bainbridge is successful, then I feel successful. So, it is defined by those organizations.”