We seek to partner with entrepreneurs and operators
to build market leading companies

Committed investment pursuits with executive operators looking for a dedicated partner

Providing industry depth and experience to management teams through a shared vision

CEO1ST Partners Program

The CEO1ST Partners Program provides industry depth and knowledge to high-potential companies by connecting them with a proven executive in their industry. CEO1ST executives can take on many shapes—serving as CEO, Chairman, Lead Director, Board Member, or other roles— all depending on the objectives of the incumbent team and executive.

Every CEO1ST opportunity is backed by an obsessively researched, deeply believed investment thesis that is pertinent to your industry niche. Through this approach, we deliver rapid execution to help you reach the next stage of growth.

How we partner
01
Thesis Development

The underlying foundation of the CEO1ST program is built upon an investment thesis in our core sectors of focus. We proactively work alongside our executive partners to research, formulate, and refine the thesis. We then partner with companies at an inflection point where execution can make an impact.

02
Collaborative Execution

Our CEO1ST executives provide strategic acumen, operating experience, and industry depth to the companies we partner with, acting as an extension of their team. Together, we aim to provide unparalleled support through our network of resources.

03
Value Creation

Our approach creates an expansive network, where insights drive strategic relationships and opportunities. Next, we apply a number of tested playbooks—defining clear priorities, growth strategies, operational initiatives, and more— as we seek to create value.

Supporting The Evolution of the CEO Role

CEO1ST partners are deployed in various leadership roles within Frontenac portfolio companies.

    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    Lead Director
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO & Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Lead Director
    Founder & CEO
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    Lead Director
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO & Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Lead Director
    Founder & CEO
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    Lead Director
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO & Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Lead Director
    Founder & CEO
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    Lead Director
    Chairman
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO & Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Lead Director
    Founder & CEO
    CEO
    CEO & Chairman
    Executive Chairman
    CEO
    CEO
    Executive Chairman
    Chairman
    CEO
    Bob Grubbs is a long-time industrial distribution leader. Bob formerly served as Executive Chairman of GNAP and Ohio Transmission Corp. under Frontenac's ownership.
    Tim Smith serves as the CEO of CCI Prime with experience across branded and private label food manufacturing businesses.
    Mike Jenner is an experienced technology services executive. He currently serves on the board of Integris.
    Joe Eichelberger is a seasoned industrials executive. Joe formerly served as Chairman at A.H. Harris during Frontenac's ownership.
    Phil Derrow is a long-tenured industrial distribution leader. Phil formerly served as CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp under Frontenac's ownership.
    Jim McGivern is a seasoned water services and products executive. Jim currently serves as Executive Chairman at Newterra.
    Aziz Virani is a seasoned technology and consulting services executive. Aziz serves as Chairman of RCG Global Services.
    Bob Aiken is a food industry veteran. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co.
    Ty Field, a training and education industry veteran, currently serves as Executive Chairman of CertainPath and CEO of Scholarus Learning.
    Rebecca serves as CEO at CertainPath. She has helped grow and lead the business for the last 20+ years.
    Charley Hale is a long standing industrial executive. He currently serves as CEO of MCE and Chairman of EFC International.
    Bob Karp, an experienced tech-enabled automotive services executive, serves on the board of Dealer Services Network.
    Rashaad Bajwa, an experienced IT industry executive, is the founder and CEO of Integris.
    Olivier Amice, a veteran in the pet industry, served as CEO of Whitebridge Pet Brands during Frontenac's ownership.
    Brendan Deely serves as CEO of EFC International and Chairman of Integrated Openings Solutions.
    Sean Griffin has 38+ years of experience in foodservice and wholesale distribution and serves as Chairman at City Line Distributors.
    Tim Jax serves as CEO of Crofter’s Organic. Tim is a long standing leader in the food and beverage industry.
    Michael Stratos is the CEO of Ideal Integrations. Michael founded the company in 2003 and has led its growth since inception.
    Don Maltby is a long-tenured transportation and logistics executive. Don currently serves as Executive Chairman at Zipline Logistics.
    Nelson Eng serves as Chairman at Ideal Integrations. Nelson is a veteran technology services executive with 30+ years of experience.
    Joe Lopez co-founded Integrated Openings Solutions (IOS) in 2018 and continues to serve as CEO of the company.
    Bob Grubbs is a long-time industrial distribution leader. Bob formerly served as Executive Chairman of GNAP and Ohio Transmission Corp. under Frontenac's ownership.
    Tim Smith serves as the CEO of CCI Prime with experience across branded and private label food manufacturing businesses.
    Mike Jenner is an experienced technology services executive. He currently serves on the board of Integris.
    Joe Eichelberger is a seasoned industrials executive. Joe formerly served as Chairman at A.H. Harris during Frontenac's ownership.
    Phil Derrow is a long-tenured industrial distribution leader. Phil formerly served as CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp under Frontenac's ownership.
    Jim McGivern is a seasoned water services and products executive. Jim currently serves as Executive Chairman at Newterra.
    Aziz Virani is a seasoned technology and consulting services executive. Aziz serves as Chairman of RCG Global Services.
    Bob Aiken is a food industry veteran. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co.
    Ty Field, a training and education industry veteran, currently serves as Executive Chairman of CertainPath and CEO of Scholarus Learning.
    Rebecca serves as CEO at CertainPath. She has helped grow and lead the business for the last 20+ years.
    Charley Hale is a long standing industrial executive. He currently serves as CEO of MCE and Chairman of EFC International.
    Bob Karp, an experienced tech-enabled automotive services executive, serves on the board of Dealer Services Network.
    Rashaad Bajwa, an experienced IT industry executive, is the founder and CEO of Integris.
    Olivier Amice, a veteran in the pet industry, served as CEO of Whitebridge Pet Brands during Frontenac's ownership.
    Brendan Deely serves as CEO of EFC International and Chairman of Integrated Openings Solutions.
    Sean Griffin has 38+ years of experience in foodservice and wholesale distribution and serves as Chairman at City Line Distributors.
    Tim Jax serves as CEO of Crofter’s Organic. Tim is a long standing leader in the food and beverage industry.
    Michael Stratos is the CEO of Ideal Integrations. Michael founded the company in 2003 and has led its growth since inception.
    Don Maltby is a long-tenured transportation and logistics executive. Don currently serves as Executive Chairman at Zipline Logistics.
    Nelson Eng serves as Chairman at Ideal Integrations. Nelson is a veteran technology services executive with 30+ years of experience.
    Joe Lopez co-founded Integrated Openings Solutions (IOS) in 2018 and continues to serve as CEO of the company.
    Bob Grubbs is a long-time industrial distribution leader. Bob formerly served as Executive Chairman of GNAP and Ohio Transmission Corp. under Frontenac's ownership.
    Tim Smith serves as the CEO of CCI Prime with experience across branded and private label food manufacturing businesses.
    Mike Jenner is an experienced technology services executive. He currently serves on the board of Integris.
    Joe Eichelberger is a seasoned industrials executive. Joe formerly served as Chairman at A.H. Harris during Frontenac's ownership.
    Phil Derrow is a long-tenured industrial distribution leader. Phil formerly served as CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp under Frontenac's ownership.
    Jim McGivern is a seasoned water services and products executive. Jim currently serves as Executive Chairman at Newterra.
    Aziz Virani is a seasoned technology and consulting services executive. Aziz serves as Chairman of RCG Global Services.
    Bob Aiken is a food industry veteran. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co.
    Ty Field, a training and education industry veteran, currently serves as Executive Chairman of CertainPath and CEO of Scholarus Learning.
    Rebecca serves as CEO at CertainPath. She has helped grow and lead the business for the last 20+ years.
    Charley Hale is a long standing industrial executive. He currently serves as CEO of MCE and Chairman of EFC International.
    Bob Karp, an experienced tech-enabled automotive services executive, serves on the board of Dealer Services Network.
    Rashaad Bajwa, an experienced IT industry executive, is the founder and CEO of Integris.
    Olivier Amice, a veteran in the pet industry, served as CEO of Whitebridge Pet Brands during Frontenac's ownership.
    Brendan Deely serves as CEO of EFC International and Chairman of Integrated Openings Solutions.
    Sean Griffin has 38+ years of experience in foodservice and wholesale distribution and serves as Chairman at City Line Distributors.
    Tim Jax serves as CEO of Crofter’s Organic. Tim is a long standing leader in the food and beverage industry.
    Michael Stratos is the CEO of Ideal Integrations. Michael founded the company in 2003 and has led its growth since inception.
    Don Maltby is a long-tenured transportation and logistics executive. Don currently serves as Executive Chairman at Zipline Logistics.
    Nelson Eng serves as Chairman at Ideal Integrations. Nelson is a veteran technology services executive with 30+ years of experience.
    Joe Lopez co-founded Integrated Openings Solutions (IOS) in 2018 and continues to serve as CEO of the company.
    Bob Grubbs is a long-time industrial distribution leader. Bob formerly served as Executive Chairman of GNAP and Ohio Transmission Corp. under Frontenac's ownership.
    Tim Smith serves as the CEO of CCI Prime with experience across branded and private label food manufacturing businesses.
    Mike Jenner is an experienced technology services executive. He currently serves on the board of Integris.
    Joe Eichelberger is a seasoned industrials executive. Joe formerly served as Chairman at A.H. Harris during Frontenac's ownership.
    Phil Derrow is a long-tenured industrial distribution leader. Phil formerly served as CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp under Frontenac's ownership.
    Jim McGivern is a seasoned water services and products executive. Jim currently serves as Executive Chairman at Newterra.
    Aziz Virani is a seasoned technology and consulting services executive. Aziz serves as Chairman of RCG Global Services.
    Bob Aiken is a food industry veteran. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co.
    Ty Field, a training and education industry veteran, currently serves as Executive Chairman of CertainPath and CEO of Scholarus Learning.
    Rebecca serves as CEO at CertainPath. She has helped grow and lead the business for the last 20+ years.
    Charley Hale is a long standing industrial executive. He currently serves as CEO of MCE and Chairman of EFC International.
    Bob Karp, an experienced tech-enabled automotive services executive, serves on the board of Dealer Services Network.
    Rashaad Bajwa, an experienced IT industry executive, is the founder and CEO of Integris.
    Olivier Amice, a veteran in the pet industry, served as CEO of Whitebridge Pet Brands during Frontenac's ownership.
    Brendan Deely serves as CEO of EFC International and Chairman of Integrated Openings Solutions.
    Sean Griffin has 38+ years of experience in foodservice and wholesale distribution and serves as Chairman at City Line Distributors.
    Tim Jax serves as CEO of Crofter’s Organic. Tim is a long standing leader in the food and beverage industry.
    Michael Stratos is the CEO of Ideal Integrations. Michael founded the company in 2003 and has led its growth since inception.
    Don Maltby is a long-tenured transportation and logistics executive. Don currently serves as Executive Chairman at Zipline Logistics.
    Nelson Eng serves as Chairman at Ideal Integrations. Nelson is a veteran technology services executive with 30+ years of experience.
    Joe Lopez co-founded Integrated Openings Solutions (IOS) in 2018 and continues to serve as CEO of the company.