Woodland Management

Woodland Management

Woodland Management was founded in 2004 by Tom Bernstein after he built and sold three companies, including Leed’s. Michael Bernstein, the leading family member, directs investment activity and also manages Partners Edge Funds. The family’s wealth originated from the growth of Leed’s into a global supplier of promotional products before its integration into Polyconcept. The office deploys capital through direct co-investments, SPVs, fund-of-funds commitments, private equity, and real estate. Asset classes include buyouts, core-plus, growth equity, opportunistic, recapitalizations, and value-add strategies. Confirmed holdings include Custom Ink, Interlight, ITS Logistics, Mission Lane, Phenix Salon Suites, Polyconcept, Worksite Medical, and Artisanal Brewing Ventures. Allocations span North America with primary activity in the United States. The team consists of Michael Bernstein, Steve Halpern, Christopher Elston, and additional professionals. Steve Halpern oversees private-equity activities and independent-sponsor relationships. Christopher Elston manages investments across private equity, venture capital, real estate, and public markets. In 2024 Max Bernstein joined the firm after a career in the ski industry. Michael Bernstein serves as Board Chair of Tree of Life and as a Trustee of Chatham University. Woodland Management maintains a hybrid structure that combines internal direct investing with the external fund platform Partners Edge. This arrangement allows the family to source co-investments alongside independent sponsors while retaining control over permanent capital allocation. The model separates operating-company oversight from philanthropic vehicles such as the Marci Lynn Bernstein Fund.