A Cauldron Spotlight: David Bentkowski, business law professor, former mayor, author and attorney – The Cauldron
Meet David Bentkowski, J.D., a distinguished figure in business law, whose journey through academia has not only shaped legal minds but left an enduring impact on his students.
Photo Credit: David Bentkowsi
Joining CSU as an adjunct professor in 2011, Bentkowski started by teaching labor law, business law and administrative law, and now solely focuses on business law. His classroom is not only a place of learning but also a vibrant area where students are encouraged to question, analyze and apply legal principles to real-world scenarios.
With the majority of CSU being members of Generation Z—indeed, about 80% of the University’s students are between the ages of 18 to 29—Bentkowski recognizes that he is teaching the next generation of lawyers and business professionals.
“I have two young daughters, and I want them to grow up in a world where they have the same opportunities that prior generations had,” Bentkowski explains. “The best way for that world to exist is for the country to return to its core values.”
Bentkowski openly expresses his love for the United States and hopes for students to take action on causes they are passionate about.
Having 11 years of experience at CSU, he shares his support for the city and urges current students to utilize the opportunities downtown Cleveland has to offer.
“You have to realize, the city is your campus,” Bentkowski states. “At Cleveland State, you are in a thriving, cool city. You also have a network for your career, there are opportunities here. You can graduate for cheap with a job in the bag.”
During his own time at the CSU College of Law, then known as Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Bentkowski took his own advice. While he was attending law school, he served two terms on the Cleveland City Council after winning 75% of the vote against a 10-year city council president. This experience then led to his interest in lobbying and becoming an attorney.
Bentkowski earned his J.D. within three years after entering law school early at 20 years old. He had previously earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Toledo, where he double majored in political science and journalism. With a suitcase full of academic accolades, Bentkowski stepped into the legal realm as a licensed attorney and has been in the field for the past 27 years.
On top of his accomplishments as an attorney and professor, Bentkowski has multiple other titles to his name, including political activist, mayor, author and communications operative.
“My political top of the mountain was working for a president, and I was on stage with him the night he got elected,” Bentkowski shared. “I worked on the presidential transition team, which was a tremendous honor.”
Having served as the mayor of Seven Hills, Ohio for two terms from 2003-2011, Bentkowski takes pride in his ability to make change, citing himself as, “the first elected official to draw attention to the dangers of public bathrooms/showers.”
During his mayoral experience, Bentkowski wrote a book titled “The Power of Proclamation,” highlighting a mayor’s ability to issue proclamations.
“When I was mayor, I would see that other elected officials would give our proclamations like candy and they would use it to get votes. I said ‘That’s a good hustle! I can use these proclamations to promote my small town.’”
Bentkowski would then reach out to celebrities or athletes who planned on coming to Cleveland and would try to give them a proclamation. The proclamations would be heavily based on whatever good cause the celebrities support.
When the former mayor would meet the incoming celebrities, he would then ask for donations to help support Seven Hills. The book is filled with stories of the interactions between Bentkowski and the celebrities.
In addition to his current position at CSU, Bentkowski is also the General Council for Naturepedic and edits the legal materials that all Ohio attorneys use.
With a laundry list of accomplishments and experiments, Bentkowski prioritizes his students by explaining the hard truth and important knowledge for everyday life in the business world.
Students are able to contact Bentkowski via email at [email protected]