CenterOak Partners
CenterOak Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control-oriented investments of $50–150 million in lower-middle-market business services, industrial services, and consumer services companies, managing over $2.5 billion across three funds.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CenterOak Partners does
CenterOak Partners LLC is a Dallas-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control-oriented investments in lower-middle-market companies with enterprise values of $50–500 million and EBITDA of $7–35 million. The firm invests equity checks of $50–150 million and targets three core sectors: Business Services (facilities management, professional services, engineering and infrastructure services, environmental services, machinery maintenance and repair), Industrial Services (outsourced industrial services, specialty distribution, industrial technology solutions), and Consumer Essential Services (residential HVAC/plumbing/electrical, auto aftermarket, pest control, lawn care). The senior team, led by CEO and Managing Partner Randall Fojtasek alongside Managing Partner Jason Sutherland, Partner & General Counsel Mike Salim, and Partner William Henry, has invested together for over 20 years and traces its lineage to Brazos Private Equity Partners, where Fojtasek co-founded and managed $1.4 billion across three funds.
The firm earns revenue through standard private equity economics: management fees on committed capital and carried interest from successful realizations. CenterOak manages three funds — Fund I ($420M, August 2016), Fund II ($690M, April 2021), and Fund III ($1.1B+, August 2024) — collectively representing over $2.5 billion in equity capital commitments, with Fund III closing at its oversubscribed hard cap. The firm has completed 180+ transactions to date and maintains a dedicated Operating Partner network drawn from former CEOs of portfolio companies (Greg Kiser of Shamrock Environmental, Andy Kadrich of Turf Masters Brands, Robert Rosenfield of TruRoad, William Scheller of BlackHawk Industrial, Aakash Shah of Vivify, Steve Vetter of Ennis-Flint) to support portfolio value creation.
CenterOak's go-to-market is relationship-led rather than marketing-led. Deal flow is sourced through an extensive two-decade network of family/founder-owned businesses, management teams, and intermediaries, supplemented by industry event participation and earned media via press releases. The firm's portfolio companies distribute services through direct-to-consumer field operations, franchise networks (e.g., Wetzel's Pretzels with 350+ locations), and B2B dealer/distributor networks. Recent platform activity includes the June 2025 acquisition of NOW CFO (extending into outsourced finance and accounting), the January 2025 formation of Solid Ground Solutions (foundation repair), and the April 2026 acquisition of Grismer Tire & Auto Service, alongside realizations of Shamrock Environmental (sold to Republic Services in February 2025) and Turf Masters Brands (sold in December 2025).
CenterOak Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CenterOak Partners
- Legal name
- CenterOak Partners LLC
- Website
- https://centeroakpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CenterOak Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control-oriented investments of $50–150 million in lower-middle-market business services, industrial services, and consumer services companies, managing over $2.5 billion across three funds.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CenterOak Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)
Keywords
Where CenterOak Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CenterOak Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fund Management / Investment Returns: CenterOak generates returns through successful investment exits in portfolio companies. The firm manages three funds with total equity capital commitments of $2.5 billion. Revenue is derived from management fees and carried interest from successful realizations. The firm targets business services, industrial services, and consumer services sectors with a focus on creating value through organizational development, operational improvements, and transformational growth.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
CenterOak Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CenterOak Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm that makes control-oriented investments in lower middle-market companies with $50-500 million enterprise value and $7-35 million EBITDA, deploying equity investments of $50-150 million. The firm invests across three core sectors—business services, industrial services, and consumer services—managing three funds with $2.5 billion in total equity capital commitments and creating value through operational improvements, organizational development, and transformational growth initiatives.
Product overview
CenterOak Partners is a private equity firm that does not offer a discrete technology product or software platform. The firm manages equity capital commitments and makes control-oriented investments in lower-middle-market companies across three core sectors: Business Services, Industrial Services, and Consumer Services. The firm's investment activity encompasses acquiring, developing, and exiting portfolio companies rather than selling a standalone product. Consequently, there are no named products, modules, or service offerings in a product-intelligence sense to enumerate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CenterOak Equity Fund I, L.P.
- CenterOak Equity Fund II, L.P.
- CenterOak Equity Fund III, L.P.
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed over 180 transactions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CenterOak Partners
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CenterOak Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CenterOak Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bob RosenfieldcoreCenterOak Operating Partner and former CEO of TruRoad, joining the Board of Directors of Grismer Tire & Auto Service. Brings significant automotive service sector experience to support the new investment.
- John MarshallminorFormer majority owner of Grismer Tire & Auto Service, retaining equity interest in the recapitalization transaction. Represents the firm's approach to partnering with family-owned businesses.
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPminorServed as legal counsel to CenterOak in multiple transactions. Major international law firm providing corporate legal services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CenterOak Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- H.I.G. Capital: Large global private equity firm with significant activity in the lower middle market. CenterOak's Will Estes previously worked at H.I.G., indicating comparable deal-size focus and a similar value-creation approach to control investments in services-oriented companies.
- Sun Capital Partners: Middle-market private equity firm focused on operationally intensive investments in services and consumer businesses. Bobby Rutherford (CenterOak Principal) came from Sun Capital, reflecting a directly comparable operating model and target sector overlap.
- Linsalata Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on family and founder-owned business services and industrial companies. Eric Holter (CenterOak Managing Director) previously worked at Linsalata, confirming strong overlap in check size, sector focus, and investment style.
- Garnett Station Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm targeting founder and family-owned business services and consumer services companies. Rich Reuter (now CenterOak Managing Director) joined from Garnett Station, reflecting directly comparable sector mandate and check size.
- Heartwood Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in family and founder-owned business services, industrial, and consumer services companies. Mark Langer (CenterOak Managing Director) previously worked at Heartwood, indicating closely aligned strategy and target profile.
- Brazos Private Equity Partners: Dallas-based private equity firm and the direct predecessor organization to CenterOak. Founded by the same senior team (Fojtasek, Sutherland, Salim, Henry) and is the closest comparable in strategy, sector focus, and team composition.
- MPE Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in industrial and business services companies. Evan Fisher (CenterOak VP) previously worked at MPE Partners, reflecting directly comparable sector mandate and check size.
- Sole Source Capital: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on industrial and business services companies. Will Estes previously worked at Sole Source, indicating directly comparable target sectors and investment size.
- Trinity Hunt Partners: Dallas-based lower middle-market private equity firm investing in founder and family-owned business services companies. Strongly comparable in terms of geography, sector focus, and check size to CenterOak.
- The Halifax Group: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in business services, industrial, and consumer services companies. Comparable in target sector mix, check size, and value-creation approach to CenterOak.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CenterOak Partners social profiles
Digital presenceCenterOak Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CenterOak Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
CenterOak Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CenterOak Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CenterOak Partners
What does CenterOak Partners do?
CenterOak Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm that makes control-oriented investments in lower middle-market companies with $50-500 million enterprise value and $7-35 million EBITDA, deploying equity investments of $50-150 million. The firm invests across three core sectors—business services, industrial services, and consumer services—managing three funds with $2.5 billion in total equity capital commitments and creating value through operational improvements, organizational development, and transformational growth initiatives.
Is CenterOak Partners a public or private company?
CenterOak Partners is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was CenterOak Partners founded?
CenterOak Partners was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CenterOak Partners based?
CenterOak Partners is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does CenterOak Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: fund Management / Investment Returns.
Who are CenterOak Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are H.I.G. Capital, Sun Capital Partners, Linsalata Capital Partners, Garnett Station Partners, Heartwood Partners, Brazos Private Equity Partners, MPE Partners, Sole Source Capital, Trinity Hunt Partners and The Halifax Group.
Does CenterOak Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for CenterOak Partners.
What industry is CenterOak Partners in?
CenterOak Partners's product category is Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAD, Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANACAO, Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.