We are entrepreneurial investors who have operated growing businesses.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Our team has a diverse background of operating, investment & advisory experience, which has included working with a variety of companies ranging from members of the Fortune 500 to smaller, more nimble organizations.
INVESTMENT & OPERATIONS TEAM
Gary n. lewis, MANAGING PARTNER
Gary N. Lewis is the founder and Managing Partner of Aquila Equity Partners, an entrepreneurial private investment firm focused on partnering with growth-focused management teams and operating businesses which generate between $1mm and $20mm in EBITDA. He brings greater than 20 years of private equity investing, investment banking and operational experience to the firm, including involvement in approximately $8 billion in transaction and advisory assignments.
edwin j. lukas, STRATEGIC PARTNER
Edwin J. Lukas is a trusted advisor to public and private companies, clients and colleagues. He has over 25 years of experience in corporate law, acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate governance, capital markets, business development, and private client services. Mr. Lukas is the founder of Vistula PLC, a business law firm for emerging and established companies, investors, and family enterprises. He previously served as executive vice president and general counsel of a prominent single-family office in the Great Lakes Region, and he is currently on the board of Charthouse Holdings LLC, Pinnacle MEP Holdings LLC, P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTSI), United Petroleum Transports, Inc. and Universal Traffic Services, Inc. Lukas is also a former partner of Bodman PLC in Detroit.
Andrew reed, STRATEGIC PARTNER
Andrew Reed is an experienced operating executive having spent over 30 years working with publicly-traded, family-owned and private equity-owned companies. His industry experience has extended from consumer products and specialty retail to building products manufacturing/distribution and distributed labor service businesses across the US. With deep expertise in marketing and sales, product lifecycle management and opening new markets, he has a bias for driving revenue growth. However, Andy also has a keen understanding of lean organizations, supply chain management and operational efficiencies. He has a passion for integrating new businesses into a company portfolio. In doing so, Andy focuses on preserving the success-drivers, while augmenting the organization with development resources to accelerate its growth into the next chapter of its history.
Bobby Weiland is a Senior Associate with Aquila Equity Partners. In this role, Bobby helps drive the acquisition due diligence and transaction execution processes. In addition, Bobby works with our operating company leadership on their growth and value-creation strategies and supports their financial planning and analysis teams.
Christiana Sanker, Operations & transaction coordinator
Christiana Sanker is an Operations & Transaction Coordinator with Aquila Equity Partners. In her role, Christiana assists with the due diligence and transaction execution processes, as well as helps to ensure a smooth transition and successful onboarding for new acquisitions and partnerships. Additionally, Christiana collaborates with the Aquila leadership team on the growth and development of operations for both Aquila and our portfolio operating companies.
ADVISORS
LAITH YALDOO, STRATEGIC PARTNER
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Laith Yaldoo is a highly successful entrepreneur who has spent the last 25 years serving as a trusted advisor, investor and executive. He has led several ventures, including their formations, management, funding, operations, identifying and contracting with strategic partners and dispositions in various industries, including electronic payments, telecommunication, retail, biotech, healthcare and back-office management.
timothy E. moffit, STRATEGIC PARTNER
Dr. Timothy E. Moffit is a serial entrepreneur who has started or acquired 12 businesses in the past 25 years. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in an array of industries including healthcare, consumer / retail, food & beverage, niche manufacturing and business and consumer services. Tim has deep experience in mergers and acquisitions and business valuation, as well as all facets of operations and growth, including general management, strategy, process optimization, supply chain management, sales & marketing, and accounting & financial management.
MICHAEL JANISZEWSKI, STRATEGIC PARTNER
Michael Janiszewski is an executive leader with global industry, consulting, and investor experience building businesses through fundamental transformation of strategies, organizations, and platforms. His expertise is in working with mission-driven firms to produce profitable growth from vision to delivery, while preserving and building on the strengths of a firm's unique culture. Mike's 20 plus year track record spans success in competitive strategy, business transformation, M&A, operational excellence, digital innovation, new venture creation, and high-performance team development. He has global multidisciplinary leadership experience in financial services, technology, hospitality, travel, healthcare, and the public sector.