Born in Jackson, Tennessee, Isaac “Ike” Benton grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, learning Spanish and using his bicycle and public transportation to get around as a boy. Living in a colony, he saw the terrible effects of cultural degradation and learned that preserving traditional culture and history creates a unique sense of place, lifts the people’s spirit and benefits the local economy.

Forty-three years ago, Ike enlisted in Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), served in Albuquerque and never left. His experience as an employer in his small architecture firm makes him well-understand the challenges and needs of small businesses. He has two wonderful, grown children. With his wife Elaine, he lives near downtown with his cat in a solar adobe home he designed and constructed.