Gridiron Capital

Gridiron Capital is a private equity investment firm founded in 2006 and based in New Canaan, Connecticut. The firm focuses on investing in middle-market companies across niche manufacturing, business services, and specialty consumer products. Gridiron Capital's team consists of partners with backgrounds in family-owned businesses, allowing them to provide significant operational support and expertise. The firm collaborates with owners and management teams committed to building and growing their enterprises through a shared strategic vision. Gridiron Capital typically invests in companies with enterprise values between $75 million and $575 million and targets investments ranging from $20 million to $75 million. The firm seeks to acquire majority stakes in portfolio companies, emphasizing the importance of a company's culture and people in achieving success.

Hank Barrett

Associate

Rohit Basu

Associate

Ty Black

Associate

Thomas A. Burger

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Eugene Conese Jr.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Rachel Eichelberger

Associate

Edward Francis

Operating Partner

Ryan Gardner

Associate

Kallie Hapgood

MD, Investor Relations

Patrick M. Harlow

Operating Partner

Scott Harrison

MD, COO

Will Hausberg

MD

Brynn Jackel

Associate

Kevin Jackson

Managing Partner

Andrew Kahn

VP

Sean Kelley

MD, Business Development

Christopher King

Principal

Jessica Kurys

CFO and Chief Compliance Officer

Jeffrey W. Peterson

Operating Partner

Douglas Rosenstein

Principal

Joe Saldutti

MD

Joseph A. Saldutti

MD

Ryan Shearmire

Associate

Brad Skaf

Principal

Bradley S. Skaf

Senior Associate

Owen Tharrington

MD

John Warner

MD

Kirk Wawrzyniak

Associate

Nick Weido

VP

30 past transactions

The Service Companies

Acquisition in 2018
In the hospitality industry, The Service Companies is the unrivaled provider of cleaning, staffing and managed services, because only The Service Companies approaches their work with dedication, professionalism and a keen attention to detail that leads to best-in-class results. Because our offering and expertise is both broad and deep, we are able to flexibly tailor their services to the diverse needs of our customers in an economical way. Their quality standard is part of our culture, and driven by our ‘Service Code’, which guides our approach, performance and all our interactions with our customers, and their guests. Service is not just what we do – it is who we are.

Fitness Cubed, Inc.

Private Placement in 2020
Fitness Cubed, Inc. manufactures connected fitness products. It offers Cubii, an under-desk elliptical trainer that enables office dwellers to get some basic exercise at their desk. The company sells its products online. Fitness Cubed, Inc. was formerly known as FunPower LLC. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Erie Construction

Private Equity Round in 2021
Erie Construction is a construction company that offers home remodeling services.

Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC

Private Placement in 2020
Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC develops, manufactures, and distributes outdoor sports products for hunting, sport shooting, and rugged outdoor. Its products include digital infrared motion detector scouting cameras, laser sights and super-bright LED, halogen, and krypton lighting products. The company offers many recognizable brands in the hunting and outdoor product market, including Stealth Cam, Walker’s, Muddy Outdoors, Birchwood Casey, Hawk, Cyclops, Western Rivers, American Hunter, HME, SME, and others. It sells its products through specialty retailers, online distributors, and big-box outlets across the United States and Canada. Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC was founded in 1999 and is based in Irving, Texas.

Dent Wizard International

Acquisition in 2015
Dent Wizard is the undisputed leader in the automotive reconditioning services market in North America - Nation's largest provider of automotive reconditioning services - Over 1,600 technicians servicing over 4,000 customers - Diverse customer channels, including Auction, Dealer, Rental, Finance & Insurance (F&I), Body Shops, Hail, and Retail - Services Include: Paintless Dent Repair, Bumper Repair, Wheel Repair, Windshield Chip Repair, Chip and Scratch Repair, Headlight Brightening, and key programming and replacement services

Leaf Home Solutions

Private Equity Round in 2016
Leaf Home Solutions is a direct-to-consumer provider of branded home solutions.

Jacent

Acquisition in 2019
Jacent was formed in 2016 by the merger of LaMi Products and ATA Retail Services, two pioneers in impulse merchandising with a combined 60 years of experience. With the industry’s largest database of retail intelligence, the deepest inventory of impulse products, and the most experienced team, They’re the premier strategic merchandising partner to North America’s retailers.

Colibri Group

Acquisition in 2019
The Colibri Group provides learning solutions to licensed professionals who strive to be among the best in their fields. Through five leading brands – McKissock Education, Real Estate Express, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, Superior School of Real Estate, and Elite Professional Education, the company serves over 500,000 professionals annually within the real estate, healthcare and personal care markets, among others. Its learning products give working professionals a competitive edge by combining up-to-date information, practical on-the-job application, and online accessibility.

Dent Wizard International

Merger/Acquisition in 2015
Dent Wizard is the undisputed leader in the automotive reconditioning services market in North America - Nation's largest provider of automotive reconditioning services - Over 1,600 technicians servicing over 4,000 customers - Diverse customer channels, including Auction, Dealer, Rental, Finance & Insurance (F&I), Body Shops, Hail, and Retail - Services Include: Paintless Dent Repair, Bumper Repair, Wheel Repair, Windshield Chip Repair, Chip and Scratch Repair, Headlight Brightening, and key programming and replacement services

Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC

Merger/Acquisition in 2020
Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC develops, manufactures, and distributes outdoor sports products for hunting, sport shooting, and rugged outdoor. Its products include digital infrared motion detector scouting cameras, laser sights and super-bright LED, halogen, and krypton lighting products. The company offers many recognizable brands in the hunting and outdoor product market, including Stealth Cam, Walker’s, Muddy Outdoors, Birchwood Casey, Hawk, Cyclops, Western Rivers, American Hunter, HME, SME, and others. It sells its products through specialty retailers, online distributors, and big-box outlets across the United States and Canada. Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC was founded in 1999 and is based in Irving, Texas.

Stable Step LLC

Private Placement in 2019
Stable Step, LLC designs, manufactures, and sells orthotic insoles and athletic shoe inserts for foot pain relief. The company offers insoles, footwear, socks/sleeves, stretching, bracing, post op, and footcare accessories for men, women, and kids. It also offers products online. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in West Chester, Ohio.

The Service Companies

Merger/Acquisition in 2018
In the hospitality industry, The Service Companies is the unrivaled provider of cleaning, staffing and managed services, because only The Service Companies approaches their work with dedication, professionalism and a keen attention to detail that leads to best-in-class results. Because our offering and expertise is both broad and deep, we are able to flexibly tailor their services to the diverse needs of our customers in an economical way. Their quality standard is part of our culture, and driven by our ‘Service Code’, which guides our approach, performance and all our interactions with our customers, and their guests. Service is not just what we do – it is who we are.

AML RightSource

Merger/Acquisition in 2020
AML RightSource LLC provides managed services for anti-money laundering (AML) transaction. The company offers financial crimes advisory services, such as retainer services, financial crimes strategy consulting services, AML consulting services, and investigative services. It serves financial services, retail banking, and insurance industries. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio with additional offices in Highland Hills, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; Buffalo, New York; and Ontario, Canada.

GSM Outdoors

Acquisition in 2020
GSM Outdoors specializes in developing and marketing innovative products for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast market. GSM owns several industry-leading brands including Stealth Cam, Walker’s, Cyclops, Western Rivers, American Hunter, HME, and SME. GSM’s strong focus on innovation, product development, rigorous quality control, and customer support has earned it a reputation for delivering top quality outdoor gear backed by industry leading customer service.

Rough Country

Merger/Acquisition in 2017
Headquartered in Dyersburg, TN, Rough Country was one of the founders of the off-road industry and remains one of the fastest growing manufacturers and marketers of aftermarket suspension products and off-road accessories with a product portfolio covering ~90% of truck and Jeep models on the road. Rough Country offers best-in-class service and value to its enthusiast customer base, with same-day shipping, a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, and a lifetime replacement warranty.

LeafFilter North, Inc.

Private Equity Round in 2017
LeafFilter North is a major gutter protection company in North America. The Company is the sole manufacturer, seller, and installer of LeafFilter’s patented and branded gutter guards, providing customer support throughout the entire sales and installation process. LeafFilter currently serves regions in 34 states through 36 office locations across the United States and Canada and has installed over 27 million feet of gutter protection product to date. The company was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Hudson, Ohio.

Vertical Supply Group

Private Equity Round in 2022
Vertical Supply Group supplies arborist equipment and supplies, tree service supplies, and tree surgeon equipment. It offers tree climbing gear and kits, such as tree climbing ropes; throw line and big shot products; rope and gear storage products; tree harnesses/saddles; carabiners, snaps, and connectors; pulleys and blocks; split tails; ascenders/descenders; tree climbing spikes, spurs, and pads; safety lanyards; friction management devices; personal protective equipment; aerial lift products; tree books and DVD videos; tree climbing kits; and miscellaneous tree climbing gear. The company also provides arborist rope bags and tree rigging equipment, including rigging ropes, tree lowering devices, rigging connectors, rigging pulleys and blocks, tree rigging slings, rigging kits, aerial lift accessories, rigging books and DVD videos, and miscellaneous rigging accessories; and tree rigging and climbing ropes, which include tree climbing ropes, tree rigging lines, accessory cordages, splicing tools, and rope tools and accessories. In addition, it offers tree tools/saws, such as wood cutting and tree trimming equipment, log and leaf moving tools, tree and pruning ladders, tree measuring tools, chipper and stumper parts, wood cutting books and videos, and miscellaneous wood cutting gear; and various safety/clothing products. Further, the company provides plant health and tree health products, other tree gear products, and gift certificates. It serves tree care professionals, tree enthusiasts, and tree care workers; and tree climbing advocates, such as botanists, educators, scientists, and recreational climbers. Vertical Supply Group was formerly known as Sherrill, Inc. and changed its name in 2019. Vertical Supply Group was founded in 1960 and is based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Class Valuation

Acquisition in 2021
Class Valuation is an Appraisal Management Company (AMC), delivering outstanding quality and service to each and every client. Class Appraisal has partnered with over 400 mortgage lenders and over 6,000 of the highest performing residential appraisers in the country. Class has consistently been ranked #1 in client service by several of the nation's Top 10 mortgage lenders, and has been recognized as a top place to work, along with receiving many industry awards from NAMB, HousingWire, and MPA.

Colibri Group

Merger/Acquisition in 2019
The Colibri Group provides learning solutions to licensed professionals who strive to be among the best in their fields. Through five leading brands – McKissock Education, Real Estate Express, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, Superior School of Real Estate, and Elite Professional Education, the company serves over 500,000 professionals annually within the real estate, healthcare and personal care markets, among others. Its learning products give working professionals a competitive edge by combining up-to-date information, practical on-the-job application, and online accessibility.

AML RightSource

Acquisition in 2020
AML RightSource LLC provides managed services for anti-money laundering (AML) transaction. The company offers financial crimes advisory services, such as retainer services, financial crimes strategy consulting services, AML consulting services, and investigative services. It serves financial services, retail banking, and insurance industries. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio with additional offices in Highland Hills, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; Buffalo, New York; and Ontario, Canada.

Cubii

Venture Round in 2020
Fitness Cubed is a health and fitness company that offers Cubii, an under-desk elliptical trainer, which integrates wirelessly with mobile devices and fitness trackers. Cubii facilitates unconscious leg movements, which provide its users with a basic exercise to keep blood flowing through their regular workdays, without causing any distractions. Cubii enables its users to choose the intensity level of their exercise. It comes with a mobile application that tracks their exercise through revolutions, distance, calories, and more. The application connects wirelessly with Cubii and existing fitness tracks. Its users are able to share their progress with their families, friends, and co-workers through social networks.

Rough Country

Acquisition in 2017
Headquartered in Dyersburg, TN, Rough Country was one of the founders of the off-road industry and remains one of the fastest growing manufacturers and marketers of aftermarket suspension products and off-road accessories with a product portfolio covering ~90% of truck and Jeep models on the road. Rough Country offers best-in-class service and value to its enthusiast customer base, with same-day shipping, a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, and a lifetime replacement warranty.

Foundation Wellness

Merger/Acquisition in 2019
Manufacturer and supplier of branded and private-label orthotic solutions dedicated to footbeds/insoles, foot care products, orthopedic braces, sports support, and ergonomic safety products. The company platform works with podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other clinicians to bring orthopedic wellness products to clients and provide them with clinically recommended and high-quality products, it offers private label products to original equipment manufacturers and distributors in the medical, footcare, orthopedic soft goods, safety & military markets, thereby offering podiatrist-recommended orthotic solutions directly to consumers and specialty retailers.

Foundation Wellness

Private Equity Round in 2019
Remington Products Company designs and manufactures custom engineered cushioning products. The company offers products made from various open and closed cell polyurethane foams, elastomeric gels, fabric and leather top coverings, and pressure sensitive adhesives. It offers durable and disposable products primarily for OEM footwear and foot care industries, as well as for various industries, including medical, sporting goods, military, industrial, apparel, packaging, automotive, electronic, and consumer products. The company was founded in 1934 and is based in Wadsworth, Ohio.

M&D Distributors

Secondary Market in 2022
Founded in 1943 and based in Humble, TX, M&D Distributors is a longstanding one-stop aftermarket distributor of mission-critical diesel engine parts and components within primarily Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. M&D’s wide product portfolio includes new and remanufactured fuel injection, turbocharger, engine part, and filtration products from the world’s top-tier manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers. The Company also provides additional services through its internal rebuilding capabilities and a wide range of services, including part matching, diagnostics, repair, and technical assistance, including Diesel University.

Jacent Inc.

Merger/Acquisition in 2019
Jacent Inc. sources, warehouses, ships, and stocks impulse items to retail stores across the United States and Canada. It offers merchandising solutions, such as fixture displays; product showcases; and program design and management solutions. The company also offers retail insights and services, such as audits and shelf stocking to help stores. It serves grocery chains, general retail chains, independents, and wholesalers. Jacent Inc. was formerly known as Lami Products, Inc. and changed its name to Jacent Inc. in 2016. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania with an additional headquarter office in California. It has automated warehouses in the United States.

Dent Wizard International

Venture Round in 2017
Dent Wizard is the undisputed leader in the automotive reconditioning services market in North America - Nation's largest provider of automotive reconditioning services - Over 1,600 technicians servicing over 4,000 customers - Diverse customer channels, including Auction, Dealer, Rental, Finance & Insurance (F&I), Body Shops, Hail, and Retail - Services Include: Paintless Dent Repair, Bumper Repair, Wheel Repair, Windshield Chip Repair, Chip and Scratch Repair, Headlight Brightening, and key programming and replacement services