Gridiron Capital

Founding Managing Partners Tom Burger and Kevin Jackson jointly lead the investment committee and firm governance. Burger and Jackson co-founded the firm in 2004 and maintain shared authority over capital allocation. The firm does not publicly disclose a CIO role, reflecting the co-managing partner model common among operationally oriented middle-market buyout shops.

Gridiron seeks North American founder-led businesses in industrial technology and services, branded consumer products, and business services. Target companies typically generate $5 million to $25 million in EBITDA — small enough that institutional competition is thin, large enough to justify dedicated operational support. The firm favors situations where the selling founder intends to remain with the business post-close.

Gridiron deploys a dedicated in-house operating resources group comprised of former CEOs and functional specialists. These professionals embed with portfolio company management to drive strategic planning, go-to-market execution, and manufacturing efficiency. This model contrasts with firms that rely exclusively on external consultants or board-level intervention.

Yes, the firm operates the Gridiron Foundation, which directs a portion of partnership proceeds to support youth, education, and community organizations. The foundation focuses on the communities where Gridiron's portfolio companies have operational footprints, reinforcing the firm's partnership model with local stakeholders.

The structural differentiator is Gridiron's salaried operating group — former operators who embed with portfolio companies for the full hold period rather than participating only at the board level. This architecture positions the firm as a succession partner capable of professionalizing family-run businesses, supplying a management layer the target company may never have had.