Joe Lawler, Vice President of private equity investment firm Wind Point Partners, discussed their executive-first investment model with Shields Meneley clients and staff at this month’s Client Networking Lunch. Wind Point Partners was founded in 1984 and has since raised over $2.8 billion in commitments and acquired over 90 platform companies as well as 160 add-on acquisitions. Lawler joined the company in 2009 and serves on the board of Knape & Vogt. He holds a BS in economics and finance, summa cum laude, from Boston College and an MBA, with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Lawler explained that Wind Point Partners brings a distinctive strategy to the table when acquiring a company, identifying top executives with crucial skills and middle market companies in need of new management. He discussed the three key elements they focus on in every transaction: the top caliber executive, the middle market company, and the path to value creation. Wind Point recruits executives to be their partners in selecting and acquiring companies. These are middle market companies that are well-positioned with value creation opportunities matching the executives’ expertise. Wind Point then identifies the growth and operational improvement opportunities that these executives can take advantage of by developing and implementing a tactical value creation plan.
We would like to thank Joe Lawler, Wind Point Partners, and our clients and guests for making this Client Networking Lunch a success.