Benninghoff attended Penn State University from 1980 to 1981. His professional experience includes working as a Carpenter for Frank Castamento Construction/self-employed from 1979 to 1989, for Mount Nittany Medical Centre as an Orderly from 1981 to 1989, as a Deputy Coroner from 1985 to 1991, as the Centre County Coroner from 1991 to 1996, as a Supervisor for Mount Nittany Medical Centre from 1992 to 1996 and for the Bellefonte Medical Arts Center.
