# Oakland Standard Co.

Oakland Standard Co. is a Private Equity based in Birmingham, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** Birmingham, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Birmingham, MI, United States
- **Founded:** 2015
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.oaklandstandard.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/oakland-standard-co-

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Oakland Standard Co. is a Michigan-based private equity firm investing in lower middle market industrial businesses. It is operationally focused and invests in businesses and management teams that want more than just capital, targeting situations where an operational approach and strategic support create value by building strong companies over a long-term horizon. Focus is on industrial businesses often overlooked by larger investors, including niche manufacturers, value-added distributors, general industrial and automotive, and building products.

## Sectors

- Industrial Tech
- Automotive
- Building Products
- Distribution

## People

- Bryan Tolles — Founder & Managing Partner
- Tim Flannery — Principal
- Evan Schultz — Vice President
- Joe Conroy — Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Oakland Standard Co.?

Bryan Tolles is founder & managing partner and leads the investment team alongside Principal Tim Flannery and Vice President Evan Schultz. Joe Conroy serves as partner for portfolio management, bridging deal execution and operational oversight. The team operates from Birmingham, Michigan.

### How does Oakland Standard source deal flow?

The firm targets lower middle market industrial businesses that larger investors overlook, including family-owned companies seeking recapitalization, corporate carve-outs, and out-of-favor industries. Its website states it focuses on situations where an operational approach and strategic support can build long-term value, rather than competing in broad auctions.

### What investment stages and check sizes does Oakland Standard target?

The firm targets platform companies with less than $10 million in EBITDA, focusing on buyouts and recapitalizations. Add-on acquisitions have no minimum size. This positions Oakland Standard below the typical mid-market private equity fund, in a space where operational improvement can be the primary value driver.

### Which sectors does Oakland Standard focus on — and which does it avoid?

The firm concentrates on niche manufacturers, value-added distributors, general industrial and automotive businesses, and building products. It does not invest in technology, healthcare, or consumer businesses, and explicitly avoids sectors that fall outside its industrial operating expertise.

### How does Oakland Standard separate its portfolio operations from its investment team?

Joe Conroy serves as partner for portfolio management, a distinct role from the deal-sourcing investment team, bridging capital allocation and operational execution. This embeds post-close value creation inside the firm rather than relying on outside consultants or operator networks.

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- [Oakley Capital](https://altss.com/profile/oakley-capital-private-equity)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:41.444Z

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