The Connelly Group
The Connelly Group is a family-owned private equity firm based in Clearwater, Florida, that invests in and operates small service-industry companies (insurance, IT, staffing, real estate) across the southeastern United States, targeting businesses with EBITDA under $2.5 million and exiting to large publicly-traded acquirers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersClearwater, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Connelly Group does
The Connelly Group is a family-owned private equity and advisory firm headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, founded by John Connelly in 1982 and formalized in its current multi-generational form in 2019 with the addition of his daughter Kaley Connelly. The firm invests in and builds private companies in service industries — including insurance, banking, information technology, staffing, and real estate — concentrated in the southeastern United States, targeting businesses with EBITDA of less than $2.5 million and emphasizing operational execution, strong management teams, and sustainable growth. Its investment model relies on long-term, self-capitalized family capital rather than institutional limited partners, with returns generated by building portfolio companies and ultimately exiting to large publicly-traded strategic acquirers.
The firm's current portfolio comprises four wholly-owned operating subsidiaries — Tower 8 Staffing (independent staffing firm), Dynamic Solutions Group (managed IT services), Orange Bay Properties (real estate investment), and Generatio Companies (multi-industry holdings) — each operated as an independent entity within its sector. The firm's track record includes three marquee exits to scaled public companies: USAmeriBank sold to Valley National Bancorp in 2017 for $816 million, The Connelly Insurance Group acquired by Brown & Brown, Inc. in 2020, and CCF&N (Connelly Carlisle Fields & Nichols) acquired by Hub International in 2013. The firm also operates the Marilyn & John Connelly Charitable Fund for philanthropy focused on auto-immune diseases, working families, state-university capital projects, and faith-based organizations.
The business model is private-equity-style value creation through concentrated equity ownership, operator involvement, and a long-duration capital base. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and regional: direct outreach to founders and entrepreneurs in SE US service industries. Revenue mechanics flow primarily through the operating subsidiaries rather than via fee-based asset management, and the firm does not appear to raise outside capital or charge management fees to third-party limited partners.
The Connelly Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Connelly Group
- Legal name
- The Connelly Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://connellygroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Connelly Group is a family-owned private equity firm based in Clearwater, Florida, that invests in and operates small service-industry companies (insurance, IT, staffing, real estate) across the southeastern United States, targeting businesses with EBITDA under $2.5 million and exiting to large publicly-traded acquirers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Connelly Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Banking Philanthropy & Impact Advisory (FSABADAJ)
Keywords
Where The Connelly Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clearwater
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Connelly Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Management: The firm generates returns through equity investments in private companies across insurance, banking, information technology, and staffing sectors. Success is based on building portfolio companies and eventually selling them to larger publicly-traded companies at enhanced valuations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
The Connelly Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Connelly Group is a family-owned investment firm that invests in and builds private companies in the insurance, banking, information technology, and staffing sectors. Since 1982, the firm has provided long-term capital, strategic insight, industry knowledge, and business connections to portfolio companies, primarily targeting service-industry firms in the southeastern United States with EBITDA of less than $2.5 million. The firm also offers advisory services and operates the Marilyn & John Connelly Charitable Fund for philanthropic activities.
Product overview
The Connelly Group operates as a family-owned investment firm offering private equity management, philanthropy, and advisory services. The firm's portfolio includes four current investments: Tower 8 Staffing Solutions (independent staffing firm), Dynamic Solutions Group (managed IT services), Orange Bay Properties (real estate), and Generatio Companies. The Group has also successfully exited investments in insurance (Brown & Brown Insurance, CCF&N) and banking (USAmeriBank). These portfolio companies operate as independent entities within their respective sectors rather than as modules within a unified platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tower 8 Staffing Solutions
Companies that use The Connelly Group
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Connelly Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Connelly Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Connelly Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Centerbridge Partners: Large multi-strategy private investment firm with a lower-middle-market PE arm that competes with family offices like The Connelly Group for founder-led service businesses and exits via strategic acquirers.
- KKR: Global alternative asset manager with a substantial lower-middle-market and middle-market PE platform that competes for the same strategic exit transactions (e.g., USAmeriBank-type regional banks, insurance brokerages) targeted by The Connelly Group.
- Main Street Capital: Publicly traded lower-middle-market debt and equity investor; a relevant incumbent comparator for check size, sector mix, and target company profile in US service industries.
- Thoma Bravo: Large-cap private equity firm specializing in software and technology-enabled services, relevant as a competitive bidder and strategic acquirer for IT services portfolio companies like Dynamic Solutions Group.
Regional players
- Mercato Partners: Salt Lake City-based growth equity firm investing in lower-middle-market technology and consumer services companies; comparable in check size and stage but focused on the Mountain West rather than the Southeast.
Direct peers
- Capital Alignment Partners: Nashville-based family office/private investment firm targeting founder-led lower-middle-market companies, directly comparable in family-office structure, long-term capital orientation, and focus on service and specialty businesses.
- Brookwood Financial Partners: Massachusetts-based private investment firm focused on lower-middle-market acquisitions, with a comparable patient-capital, founder-friendly approach and operationally engaged investment style.
- Gulf Atlantic Capital Partners: Florida-based private investment firm focused on lower-middle-market companies in the southeastern US, with a similar regional and segment focus to The Connelly Group's service industry mandate.
- Ballast Point Ventures: Tampa, Florida-based lower-middle-market growth equity firm investing in service-oriented businesses across the southeastern United States, directly comparable to The Connelly Group in geography, check size, and sector focus.
Others
- Brown & Brown, Inc. Large public insurance brokerage that has acquired The Connelly Group's insurance portfolio company and represents the strategic acquirer exit path the firm targets; relevant as both a counterparty and a comparable outcome benchmark.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Connelly Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Connelly Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Connelly Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Connelly Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
The Connelly Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Connelly Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Connelly Group
What does The Connelly Group do?
The Connelly Group is a family-owned investment firm that invests in and builds private companies in the insurance, banking, information technology, and staffing sectors. Since 1982, the firm has provided long-term capital, strategic insight, industry knowledge, and business connections to portfolio companies, primarily targeting service-industry firms in the southeastern United States with EBITDA of less than $2.5 million. The firm also offers advisory services and operates the Marilyn & John Connelly Charitable Fund for philanthropic activities.
Is The Connelly Group a public or private company?
The Connelly Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Connelly Group founded?
The Connelly Group was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Connelly Group based?
The Connelly Group is headquartered in Clearwater, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Connelly Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Management.
Who are The Connelly Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Centerbridge Partners, KKR, Main Street Capital and Thoma Bravo. Mercato Partners is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Capital Alignment Partners, Brookwood Financial Partners, Gulf Atlantic Capital Partners and Ballast Point Ventures. Brown & Brown, Inc. is listed as an others.
Does The Connelly Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Connelly Group.
What industry is The Connelly Group in?
The Connelly Group's product category is Private Equity Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABADAJ, Private Banking Philanthropy & Impact Advisory. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.