Century Park is proud to be named to Inc.’s fifth annual Founder-Friendly Investors list, honoring the private equity, venture capital, and debt firms with the best track records of success backing entrepreneurs

The final list recognizes 218 firms that remain actively involved with the businesses they invest in, and that have earned the trust of the entrepreneurs they support to help drive growth.

“Now more than ever, founder-led companies need financing partners that offer guidance, expertise, and understanding—not just capital. These are the private equity, venture capital, and debt firms that have founders’ backs when it comes to accelerating growth,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business Media.

To see the complete list, go to: www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2023

Cirtec
Medical, LLC

"Since investing in Cirtec, Century Park helped management focus on the bigger picture — to see what is possible. We achieved great success with Century Park’s guidance."

Brian Highley

CEO, Cirtec Medical, LLC

Overview

Headquartered in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota with offices in Los Gatos, California and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Cirtec Medical, LLC is an ISO 13485 and FDA registered provider of outsourced medical device design, engineering and manufacturing services primarily for the cardiovascular, neurostimulation and orthopedic markets. The Company’s reputation is particularly strong in the development of active implantable and minimally invasive devices. Cirtec serves medical device OEMs and medical device startups looking to minimize the capital outlay of developing a medical device while gaining access to Cirtec’s deep domain expertise.

Details

Headquarters – Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Industry – Medical Devices

Website – cirtecmed.com

Lynx Grills, Inc.

When I first joined Lynx, I was impressed with Century Park’s focus on developing a working relationship with management based on trust, support, and guidance. It’s a formula that really helps small and mid-sized companies remain efficient and focused through periods of rapid growth as well as periods of economic challenge.

Mike Doyle

CFO, Lynx Grills, Inc

Overview

Lynx Grills, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of superior-quality, high-performance outdoor kitchen products. Lynx’s products include a selection of premium stainless steel barbeque grills sold under the Lynx brand as well as complementary cooking, storage, refrigeration and food preparation accessories.

Details

Headquarters – Downey, California

Industry – Consumer Products

Website – lynxgrills.com

Moss, Inc.

"Century Park’s support and focus helped Moss navigate one of the greatest economic challenges of our time far better than our competition — allowing us to seize market share, build a more resilient business, and create long-term value for our shareholders."

Charlie Corsentino

Chairman, Moss, Inc.

Overview

Moss, Inc. is a leading provider of tensioned fabric solutions to the exhibit, event, and retail interiors industries. Moss has been the provider of choice for fabric-based visual communication solutions since pioneering the tensioned fabric concept more than 30 years ago.

Details

Headquarters – Chicago, Illinois

Industry – Specialty Manufacturing

Website – mossinc.com

ICM Products, Inc.

"When evaluating strategic alternatives for ICM Products, Inc., my number one objective was to find an equity partner that I could trust with the business we had built for the last 22 years. After having met with a number of firms over the years, we decided to partner with Century Park because they demonstrated a level of honesty and integrity from day one that we had seen from very few others."

Ken Charboneau

Founder , ICM Products, Inc.

Overview

ICM Products, Inc. is a key supplier of niche silicone chemicals with expertise in developing specialized silicone polymers, defoamers and emulsions. The Company has an extensive portfolio of proprietary silicone blends that are used in a broad range of applications and end markets including personal care, food processing, mold release, cleaning, coatings and automotive care.

Details

Headquarters – Cassopolis, Michigan

Industry – Specialty Manufacturing

Website – icmproducts.com

Hi-Tech
Rubber, Inc.

"In our search for equity partners, we found lots of sources of money. However, we found few people who we wanted as our partners. From the outset, we felt a natural connection with Century Park. Years later, we couldn’t be happier to have had them as part of our team."

Bill Sherman

Former President, Hi-Tech Rubber, Inc.

Overview

Hi-Tech Rubber, Inc. is a leading custom molder of precision elastomeric components utilized primarily in the medical industry. Century Park Capital, management, and another private equity firm acquired a majority interest in the company to meet the personal needs of the seller and enable him to fund his estate plan. After completing four acquisitions significantly expanding the company’s product lines, the company was sold to a publicly traded acquirer.

Details

Headquarters – Anaheim, California

Industry – Specialty Chemical

Aqua-Flo, LLC

Overview

Aqua-Flo, LLC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of pumps to the leisure water industry. Aqua-Flo primarily sells its high performance pumps and pump parts to large original equipment manufacturers and pool builders. Its products are used in the commercial and residential portable spa, hot tub, jetted bath, swimming pool and water garden industries. Aqua-Flo’s products generally range in size from ½ hp to 5 hp.

Details

Industry – Specialty Manufacturing

Ryan’s Express Transportation Services, Inc.

"Century Park Capital’s ongoing support and strategic guidance have been invaluable to us. Their advice and creative ideas have helped create value in our business. It has been a true partnership."

John Busskohl

President & CEO, Ryan’s Express

Overview

Ryan’s Express Transportation Services, Inc. is a leading provider of premium motor coach and chauffeured transportation services. The Company services customers located within the western United States.

Details

Industry – Transportation

Dickinson Frozen Foods, Inc.

"Dickinson Frozen Foods and Century Park Capital Partners had a very productive partnership. Century Park’s financial and strategic expertise helped Dickinson Frozen Foods grow to become a key processor and marketer of premium frozen vegetables to other food manufacturers and to the food service industry. Century Park’s support and guidance on value-added activities were also key ingredients in our successful sale of Dickinson Frozen Foods."

Peter Reijula

Former Chief Executive Officer of Dickinson Frozen Foods, Inc.

Overview

Dickinson Frozen Foods, Inc. is a leading provider of individually roasted potatoes, onions and vegetable blends to large industrial food processors and food service companies. Century Park Capital invested in the company as part of the then-owner’s retirement plan. During our investment period, Century Park helped Dickinson complete an important acquisition of a complementary business, implement a major plant expansion, roll out a new MIS system and penetrate new market channels.

Details

Headquarters – Eagle, Idaho

Industry – Food & Beverage

Becker Underwood, Inc.

"At our initial meeting with Century Park Capital, they told us that they invested in individuals, collaborating with management to build businesses. They did not pretend to be experts in our industry, but did promise to provide us with capital and guidance. They impressed us with their honest, down-to-earth approach. After spending four years with them as our equity partner, we were even more impressed."

Roger Underwood

Former CEO & Chairman, Becker Underwood, Inc.

Overview

Becker Underwood, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of environmentally-friendly, specialty chemical products for the amenity turf, lawn care, aquatics, seed, and landscaping markets. Century Park Capital completed a structured majority recapitalization of the company to accelerate its growth and enable its two owners to diversify their personal holdings. After completing eight add-on acquisitions and increasing earnings by over four times, the company was successfully sold to a larger private equity firm.

Details

Headquarters – Ames, Iowa

Industry – Agribusiness

Website – beckerunderwood.com

Covercraft
Industries, LLC

“When you relinquish control of your 50-year-old family business you hope your new partners will respect the traditions, the culture, and the team you have created. My association with Century Park has been everything I could have hoped for and more. It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to work with Guy, Adam, Matt, and the rest of the board, plus the management team put in place to shepherd Covercraft’s growth through this exciting time. They have done an outstanding job creating value and positioning the company for the future with our new partners."

Marty Lichtmann

Former Covercraft President & CEO

Overview

Covercraft Industries, LLC is a market leading player in the custom automotive accessory market, providing premium quality exterior and interior protection products. The Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of custom-patterned vehicle covers, with a library that includes more than 80,000 distinct automotive patterns. Additional product lines include custom front and rear seat protectors, front end masks, dash board covers, floor mats, window heat-shields and pet protection products, among others.

Details

Headquarters – Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Industry – Consumer Products

Website – www.covercraft.com

Eckler’s
Enterprises, Inc.

"I think we were very lucky to have worked with Century Park. They built a great working relationship based on trust and competence and helped guide us through a challenging economic environment in a manner that has made Eckler’s a larger, more profitable, more efficient, and better focused company."

Matt Jordan

CEO Eckler's Enterprises, Inc.

Overview

Eckler’s Enterprises, Inc., based in Titusville, Florida, is a direct marketer of parts and accessories for classic cars. Eckler’s sells restoration, accessory and performance parts for each of its car models under separate catalog titles and websites, which are all managed under a centralized infrastructure. Eckler’s, which was founded to serve the Corvette market, has since diversified into 1955-1957 Classic Chevy, 1958-1972 Chevy, classic Chevy Trucks, First Generation Camaro, Later Generation Camaro, Chevelle, El Camino, Mercedes and Porsche.

Details

Headquarters – Titusville, Florida

Industry – Consumer Products

Website – ecklerscorvette.com

Kidsline, Inc.

"After meeting Century Park Capital and then reviewing their proposal, we were sure we had found a true partner who understood our business model, its attributes and challenges, and understood and appreciated our needs and expectations. They delivered exactly what they promised. Always supportive and available for consultation, they added enormous value in their areas of expertise but assiduously kept from meddling in the company’s day-to-day operations."

Michael Levin

Former President and CEO, Kidsline, Inc.

Overview

Kidsline, Inc. designs, produces, and markets infant bedding and coordinated accessories. Century Park Capital proposed and completed a minority recapitalization that met the owners’ liquidity goals and also allowed them to retain control of the company. The company doubled revenues and profits through organic growth over a relatively short investment period and was sold to a publicly traded acquirer, which provided an attractive return to Century Park and provided the original owners a “second bite of the apple”.

Details

Headquarters – South Gate, California

Industry – Consumer Products

Website – kidslineinc.com

The Mochi Ice
Cream Company

"Mochi ice cream is an emerging and growing specialty food category, and with its innovative and high-quality products, The Mochi Ice Cream Company is the category leader. This is a truly rare and exciting opportunity to grow both the category and The Mochi Ice Cream Company business by bringing this ethnic-influenced and on-trend product more fully into the general market via strategic selling, strong consumer marketing and product innovation."

Russell Barnett

Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer

Overview

The Mochi Ice Cream Company is a 106-year old producer of specialty frozen desserts. The Mochi Ice Cream Company is credited as being the creator of mochi ice cream, a handheld and portion-controlled ball of premium ice cream enrobed in a soft and chewy rice cake. The Mochi Ice Cream Company is the domestic market’s largest producer of this Japanese specialty frozen dessert. The products are distributed through both regional and national grocery chains and independent stores. They are also distributed in Japanese and general food service locations under the brand names Mikawaya and MyMo.

Details

Headquarters – Los Angeles, California

Industry – Consumer Products

Website – www.mymomochi.com

Specialty Manufacturing, Inc.

"After having spent nearly 30 years working in large industrial corporations, I have found the partnership and support provided by Century Park to be a breath of fresh air. Century Park was always there to support us in a way that fostered a spirit of entrepreneurship that was both motivating and challenging. Their experience and expertise provided the guidance we needed to help move the company forward."

Joseph Uebbing

Former CEO, Specialty Manufacturing, Inc.

Overview

Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. is a leading supplier of niche components to the bus and rail markets. Products include safety components and lighting systems.

Details

Industry – Specialty Manufacturing

Dominion Care

"Dominion Care has done a tremendous job building out a variety of vital services for its clients and consumers throughout Virginia. Partnering with Century Park will allow the introduction of additional resources, infrastructure, and expertise to help the company grow and expand the scope and impact of what they do throughout the mid-Atlantic area."

Dr. Peter Zucker

Executive Council Member

Overview

Dominion Youth Services (“Dominion Care” or “Dominion”) is a leading provider of behavioral and mental health services primarily to the youth and adolescent market in Virginia. The Company provides a comprehensive array of professional services to Virginia’s children and young adults dealing with behavioral health, educational, and mental health challenges, as well as those with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. Services include school, clinic and home-based counseling for those at risk or suffering from mental illness, psychiatric consultation, life skills training, mentoring, services for individuals with autism, programs for those with intellectual disabilities, educational services including private day schools, and independent living services for young adults.

Details

Headquarters – Richmond, VA

Industry – Healthcare

Website – dominion.care

ROM Corporation

"With the guidance of Century Park, ROM Corporation was able to make four acquisitions and position our company strongly for the future. These acquisitions helped change the mindset of many of our customers. We built on our existing relationships and became a trusted partner with a portfolio of products that helped to improve worker productivity, safety, and ergonomics."

Jeff Hupke

Former CEO, ROM Corporation

Overview

Headquartered in Belton, Missouri, with additional locations in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and West Saint Paul, Minnesota, ROM Corporation is a leading manufacturer of safety related products to the emergency, food distribution, and industrial sectors. ROM’s emergency line consists of roll-up doors, hose bed covers, LED compartment lighting, heavy-duty cargo trays and scene lighting products. The Company also produces a variety of ramps and trailer-access products sold primarily for use on refrigerated trailers used in the food distribution industry. Lastly, the company produces customized, engineered to order, safe access solutions for industrial applications as well as ergonomic ladder rack solutions for use on utility vehicles.

Details

Industry – Specialty Manufacturing

Packaging
Plus, LLC

"Century Park breeds success by making it a priority to know the individuals at their portfolio companies on a personal level. This facilitates communication and helps us establish and accomplish our goals, and resolve issues efficiently."

Joe Rokus

Former President and CEO, Packaging Plus, LLC

Overview

Packaging Plus, LLC was sold to an industry participant. Prior to the transaction, the company was an integrated, single-source provider of packaging solutions. The company’s products and services included thermoforming, injection molding and contract packing.

Details

Headquarters – La Mirada, California
Industry – Packaging

Nova Advisory

Overview

Nova Advisory is a technology consulting firm focused on implementation and managed services for OneStream cloud products. The Company supports Fortune 500 and middle market companies in the implementation of OneStream’s enterprise performance management (EPM) software. As an OneStream partner, Nova Advisory employs industry-renowned consultants with expertise in designing and delivering complex enterprise-wide solutions.

Details

Headquarters – Bellevue, Washington

Industry – Software & IT Services

Website – https://www.novaadvisory.com/

JustFOIA

"We're fortunate to have a supportive partner in Century Park, whose investment and strategic resources have been vital to our growth and success. Their support has allowed us to accelerate our expansion and enhance our offerings, ultimately benefiting our valued customers. We look forward to continuing our partnership to achieve even greater heights."

Donny Barstow

CEO JustFOIA

Overview

JustFOIA is a provider of a SaaS product that allows state and local government customers to more efficiently fulfill public records requests. JustFOIA’s automated records request product has a variety of features, including redaction, advanced reporting, and workflow automation. JustFOIA also has several use cases outside of traditional FOIA records requests, such as building requests, lien requests, and subpoena requests.

Details

Headquarters – Tallahassee, FL

Industry – Software & IT Services

Website – www.justfoia.com

business-solutions-partnership-strategy-concept 1

MCCi

"We’re excited to partner with Century Park for our next phase of growth. We were highly selective in our search for a new partner and chose Century Park because of their shared vision of providing outstanding value to our clients and their track record of backing businesses at a similar stage of strategic growth and transformation."

Donny Barstow

CEO of MCCi

Overview

Founded in 2003, MCCi is an IT solutions provider offering maintenance, support, managed services, installation and integration, and software resale of enterprise content management (“ECM”) software and other business process software solutions. MCCi has a diverse client base including cities/local government agencies, commercial, education, law enforcement, and other support/integrators. Additionally, the Company recently developed and commercialized a SaaS software offering, JustFOIA, as a solution for state and local governments to more efficiently fulfill public records requests.

Details

Headquarters – Tallahassee, FL

Industry – Software & IT Services

Website – www.mccinnovations.com

Accelalpha

"I considered how best to achieve business growth while continuing to provide a high quality of service to our customers. I wanted to work with a private equity firm that shared our commitment to customers, partners, and employees, so I strategically selected Century Park, whose values align with our own. Century Park is well-known for partnering with experienced management teams to yield positive market growth while continuing to foster a culture of customer-centricity and service excellence. With this investment, we accelerate our vision to become the premier partner for a broad suite of solutions across multiple geographies and industry verticals."

Nat Ganesh

CEO of Accelalpha

Overview

Accelalpha is a technology consulting firm focused on the implementation of Oracle products both in the cloud and on premise in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The Company supports Fortune 500 and middle market companies in the implementation of Oracle’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Global Trade Management (GTM), Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ), Oracle Transportation Management (OTM), and Warehouse Management System (WMS) software. Accelalpha is positioned as a boutique consultancy with competencies in some very technical and specialized applications. Accelalpha employs over 100 experienced consultants across the five practice verticals with deep technical knowledge in Oracle’s product suite. Accelalpha is an Oracle Cloud Certified Partner and is recognized by Oracle as a Cloud Excellence Implementer, the key certification from Oracle, in the U.S. and Asia.

Details

Headquarters – Bellevue, Washington

Industry – Software & IT Services

Website – www.accelalpha.com

NCP Coatings

"I partnered with the Century Park team in early 2021 with the purpose of finding a strong performance coatings platform to acquire and build. NCP is a robust competitor in the military and industrial performance coatings markets with a unique, technology-driven product portfolio and long-standing customer base spanning multiple decades in some cases."

Doug Holmberg

CEO of NCP Coatings

Overview

Founded in 1948, NCP Coatings develops and manufactures technologically advanced performance coatings for the military, industrial, commercial, and forestry end markets. Building on the Company’s legacy as a coatings supplier to Studebaker military automobiles after World War II, the Company remains a valuable supplier to the U.S. military, as well as a trusted research and development partner to U.S. military research labs. The Company has also built an impressive product assortment that is sold into various industrial and commercial markets, as well as unique tree marking paints used by the U.S. Forestry Service.

Details

Headquarters – Niles, MI

Industry – Chemicals

Website – www.ncpcoatings.com

CJ Pony Parts

"We are so excited to be joining the Century Park family. With the auto aftermarket and e-commerce expertise they are bringing to CJ Pony Parts, we absolutely feel like we have picked the right partner for our next chapter of growth."

Mike Large

President of CJ Pony Parts

Overview

Founded in 1985, CJ Pony Parts is an e-commerce platform that sells restoration and performance parts to auto enthusiasts around the world. The Company is the number one player in the Classic Mustang aftermarket, with a broad product assortment of over 65K SKUs. In addition, CJ Pony Parts has developed an industry-leading library of online educational content for its customers. The Company’s market-leading YouTube channel serves as a “go-to resource” for Classic Mustang product instruction and installation trainings, and currently has over 200K subscribers. In addition to serving the Classic Mustang community, CJ Pony Parts also offers a growing assortment of parts for late model Mustangs, trucks and Jeeps.

Details

Headquarters – Harrisburg, PA

Industry – Auto Aftermarket

Website – www.cjponyparts.com

Century Park Name to Inc.’s 2023 List of Founder-Friendly Investors

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