Align, Commit, Invest, Execute
Acquisition of Electromac Group
The Electromac Group is a Canadian-based capital equipment manufacturer of tooling equipment and a full-scale cold and hot stamped parts supplier to the automotive industry. While at Milestone Partners, David led the firm’s investment in the company. During this time, in close collaboration with Board Members Pat Bartling, Dan Dolan and the management team, the company refined its long-term strategy and the Board supported investment in three new hot stamping lines in a new facility, doubling the size of its U.S. based facility and a significant acquisition, which added three more facilities and a major OEM customer to diversify it revenue stream. A large integrated steel manufacturer acquired Electromac because of its industry leading growth and margin profile.
Acquistion of The Goddard Schools
Acquistion of The Goddard Schools the leading franchisor of childcare centers throughout the U.S. While at Wind River Holdings, David worked with management to carve the company out from a larger franchising entity. David sourced, evaluated and structured the firm’s investment in the company and participated in Wind River’s strategic planning process to refine the company’s focus and establish alignment and understanding across the operating functions. The company grew consistently for 20 years, yielding steady cash flows while increasing the number of schools from 100 at acquisition to 600 in June 2022 when the company was acquired by a private equity firm who recognized the strength of the company’s business model and its market leading position.
Philadelphia Mixers
While at Wind River Holdings, David spent three years as VP of Sales and Marketing at Philadelphia Mixers, a Wind River portfolio company and a manufacturer of engineered industrial mixing equipment serving the chemical process and municipal water and wastewater sectors. In 2002, the company had stable revenues for the prior twenty years, David participated in hiring a new CEO and Wind River’s strategic planning process and then joined the company to serve in an operating role as the company developed a service capability and leveraged its superior technical capabilities. Recently, the company was acquired by a strategic buyer who recognized how the services created opportunity to demonstrate technical excellence, which led to new product sales opportunities.
Pat and I worked together at P&H Mining (Joy Global), and his operation leadership we were able to unconstain the factory during a mining upswing, leveraging the market. Terrific operational excellence thought leadership, and execution.
- Mark SandercockDavid is a very strong executive. He is passionate about his work and knows how to build strong and capable teams. He operates with integrity, thoughtfulness and tenacity.
I had the privilege of working with David while he was a Partner at Milestone Partners, which had acquired PPHC and The Electromac Group. In his role, he presided over PPHC and I reported to him and the Board of Directors.
David assembled a team of board members with diverse capabilities in finance and manufacturing who were able to act as an extension of or leadership team. Not all boards are functional and putting the right board together takes a good understanding of the business. I commend David for his intelligent analysis of our current and future needs in assembling a winning board.
David knows when to question and get involved and when to back away and let the leadership team execute. He helped keep us focused and on track, assuring that our initiatives aligned with the interested of all stakeholders. His financial strength, operational understanding and strategic inclination were exactly what we needed.
Pat is one of the best strategic thinkers and process change managers I have had the pleasure of working with. His ability to understand where a business is and where it has to go is exceptional.
- Einar TangenDavid is a thoughtful, inclusive leader, analyst and strategist. David served on the Kids Smiles Board of Directors for 14 years and as Chairman of the Board for two terms. During his Chairmanship, David spearheaded the Board’s strategic planning process and using his keen business acumen and inclusive planning style, helped our leadership team grow the organization’s budget and detail revenues from two to four million dollars and implemented a strong board committee structure. This structure stands today and allows Kids Smiles to capitalize on our Board’s varied expertise to advance our goals. David was a key leader in enlisting savvy and strong board members and continues to be a strong business mentor and advisor to myself and Kids Smiles.
- Cheryl A. JanssenIn more than 25 years in industry, I’ve never experienced a more dedicated and hardworking manager than Pat Bartling. Despite leading a very large global operations organization, he was a visible and approachable leader. When on site, not a day went by that he wasn’t on the shop floor, listening to people closest to the process, following up on our highest priorities, and focusing the team on our most critical strategic initiatives.
- Tony PheiferDavid is a highly qualified executive focused on supporting portfolio companies to achieve their fullest potential. He is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to help the Management team solve problems.
David and I worked together when Milestone Partners owned Eliason Door. Working with David, he supported bringing in a high caliber senior management team to turn around the business. Together, we crafted a solid strategic plan that allowed us to move from the bank workout group to realizing a 3x return on Milestone’s investment. David was a calming voice on the Board during those tough conversations.