Gardner Standard

Gardner Standard

Gardner Standard was established in 2009 by Mike Healy. The firm manages wealth from the Healy family’s Gardner Hardware Company, a Minnesota enterprise started in 1884 by H.B. Gardner and later led by successive family members including Lawrence Healy and Stephen Healy. The firm executes buyouts, add-ons and carve-outs in lower middle-market companies. It deploys capital across aerospace and defense, engineered products, manufacturing, industrial services and OTC consumer brands. Confirmed holdings include Shadin Avionics, acquired from The Wright Group in June 2020, and a minority stake in McNally Industries alongside Susquehanna Private Capital. Operations remain concentrated in North America with portfolio companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and other states. Mike Healy leads investment activities. The team includes Ryan Yost as Director of Talent and Business Development, Craig Mell as Controller and Kathy Sturgeon as Operations Manager. Additional offices are not disclosed. Philanthropic vehicles include the Healey Family Foundation and the R And H Healy Family Foundation. Gardner Standard maintains a direct ownership model that retains minority positions after partial exits, as seen with McNally Industries in 2019. This structure allows continued influence over platform strategy without full control requirements typical of larger private equity sponsors.